I may need a steering rack!!??

[RonR]

You don't mention checking the steering UJ or adjusting the play in the pinion Jethro, I'd try those before setting about removing the rack.
I don't think anyone has found replacement steering arms that will fit - that's not to say they don't exist though.

I remember finding a thread years ago where someone adjusted the arms by unpeening the locating rings and swapping them side to side to give fresh metal for re-peening. Not sure I'd want to do this myself though, getting it wrong could have grave consequences.

[JethroGreenfinger]

You don't mention checking the steering UJ or adjusting the play in the pinion Jethro, I'd try those before setting about removing the rack.
I don't think anyone has found replacement steering arms that will fit - that's not to say they don't exist though.

I remember finding a thread years ago where someone adjusted the arms by unpeening the locating rings and swapping them side to side to give fresh metal for re-peening. Not sure I'd want to do this myself though, getting it wrong could have grave consequences.

Hi RonR, sorry yes, it has a new UJ and I will give the adjuster a go. However, the play is in the road wheel, not the steering wheel so I'm not sure the adjuster will deal with that. I will try though.

[RonR]

Jethro, Have a look here at Matt (Torquehorse)'s thread where he rebuilds a steering rack, including the arms.

[JethroGreenfinger]

That's spot on, thanks. I'll investigate further.

[JethroGreenfinger]

I enthusiastically wound up the adjuster, only to find I could no longer turn the steering wheel! So I backed it off a bit. There is still too much play for an MOT, so I guess a refurb rack will be the next stop

[TorqueHorse]

Oomph, sorry to hear the rack isn't playing nice. When you say it has movement at the wheels, does it move equal amounts at both wheels, and reciprocally (like if it was up on jacks and the wheels were hanging in the air)?
Trying to narrow down if you think it is the rack and pinion gear teeth have worn down and have too much play (which I think would show up at both wheels), or if it is in the inner ball joints (which I think would show up in just one wheel at a time).

Inner ball joints, while we don't have a part number, would seem to be able to be sourced easy enough from something else.
The actual rod with the teeth though might be harder to just get as a replacement piece, and might need to get a whole rack replacement.
Good luck either way, and please report back on what fixes it for you.

Cheers

[JethroGreenfinger]

Hello TorqueHorse, thank you for getting back to me and for your brilliantly descriptive posts.

It is kind of hard to test the impact of moving 1 wheel against the other, without an assistant, which I don't have. However, to me it feels like the play is at the point where the outer shaft enters the cast ail rack body. So I'm inclined to think that the issue is the inner ball joints.

Anyhow, I noticed on it's second to last MOT in 2010, that "slight free play was detected in the steering". As it has only done a handful of miles since that test, I am going to speak 'earnestly' with my local MOT tester, and ask whether it can have deteriorated beyond an 'advisory' in so few miles?! I really need to get some road miles on it to see if there are any other major failings. If everything else is mostly good, I think I will go for a refurb rack.

It has done over 150k miles, so it probably deserves a 'new' one!

[JethroGreenfinger]

Just to tidy this up, cos I find it really frustrating when people ask a question, seem to find an answer but don't share what it was!

So I didn't need a new steering rack, thank goodness. And thanks for all the advice from everyone. I needed new tie rods (drum sticks) and track rod ends.

Tie rods are MAPCO49020 M14 x 1,5 thread on both ends and 300mm long. This is slightly long, so I trimmed 20mm off the outer end.
Track rods are NRC7704 as per VW Golf Mk1 etc. I trimmed 10mm off the inner end of these, to ensure enough adjustment.

I works like a dream, feels fantastic and only cost about 30£.

Hope that helps someone else one day.