Excessive steering rack play....

[Red Westie]

I seem to have an excessive amound of play in the N/S of the rack (up/down movement in the end of the rack itself) I'm guessing a worn bush as apposed to pinion/rack wear. Has anyone tackled a similar repair, changed the bush? are the parts still available?

L/H/D power steering on an 89 Westy California.

Martin

[T'Onion]

Hi Martin have you looked on brickwerks ? Simon does the poly bushes , I know t'hulley has them on his van , (it hasn't got p/s) ,remember Ian saying it improved the handling no end

[Red Westie]

Poly bushes? aren't these the mountings for the rack? the play is internal.....I'm talking blind but I assume that there are nylon sleave type bushes internally holding the rack as it moves back and forth...I think I need a scimatic/detailed parts drawing for a P/S rack.
Thanks for replying.
Martin

[kevtherev]

spotted this on theSamba Martin
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=259700" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[T'Onion]

the play is internal

sorry Martin didn't know that.

[Aidan]

Martin
the repair kit is obsolete from VW now and getting parts from ZF seems pretty difficult, they are just not interested in 30 year old trechnology anymore.
I had a couple of racks rebuilt by western power transmissions in Bristol, but one of them leaked immediately and the other one I don't know as I sold it out to someone who had the same problem as you, so I now no longer have a spare myself.
The lhd rack is also obsolete now - I'd try and get a new one from classicparts if I was you - but it'll likely be over a grand now.
If anyone knows how to get ZF onside this is an ongoing issue for all of us with factory ps and if they can be pursuaded to help keep us on the road that would be great.
I'll be hassling WesterPT later in the week as he's supposed to be sending back the rack he failed to fix with some new seals so someone else can have a go at fixing it (rechroming the rack bar first) so we'll see if he's got anywhere with ZF but I don't hold out much hope to be honest.

[kevtherev]

Difficult to swallow but they chuck PS components away in the US..

[Red Westie]

Aidan...I'm in conversation with an EX ZF manager who still has contacts....no gaurantees but he is going to ring and speak to one of the main guys in charge of ZF steering. He needs the 10 digit number off the rack (three lots of numbers...a four and two three's)..I dlon't suppose you have it do you? I'll be getting under the van at the weekend otherwise. Cheers matey.
Martin

[Aidan]

Martin
mines a bit muddy, but I've just spoken to David in ireland who has a rhd rack on the floor, he'll call me in abit with that one's number; I may be able to see mine if I drop the spare wheel and clean up a bit, I'm on with welding a patch on the van cos it failed mot yesterday so I'll try and get you the lhd number too.

[CovKid]

Might be worth trying these too as they're specialists in this area and say they can rebuild pretty much anything:

http://www.powersteeringonline.co.uk/st ... xes_uk.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Red Westie]

Several options: this place being one:
£150.00 to rebuild your own with repair kit and new gaitors plus they offer a 2 year warranty. L/H/D ZF power steering rack.
I spoke to a guy called Steve.
Based in Tamworth the guy sounded like he new his onions but haven't tried him yet.

http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/ACS-POWER ... QQ_armrsZ1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Martin

[Aidan]

Martin
good find that cheaper than WPS and they have been poor on the warranty with the leaking one and never get back to me I'll be hassling them again today.
I did go under my van but the ZF plate is on the top of the rack and small and corroded and not legible with a mirror
David has turned his workshop upside down and not found his spare rack, but I imagine if you try this lot and have success then he'll be wanting to get it done too

[BAYVELLE]

I have a spare LHD power steering rack up my workshop that i can have a look at the numbers on if you want? Its not for sale but happy to look for any part numbers etc if needed.

** short notice i know but if you let me know this morning i can have a look later, if not it will be next week as im off on my Stag weekend tonight!

[ermie571]

Bayvelle - enjoy your stag do....could you just post up the numbers, or PM Aidan or Red Westie with them....then if needed they have them....

Aidan is gnerally very busy, so may not get on this morning

taa everso!

Em
x

[BAYVELLE]

Right just had a look and as follows:

Small ali plate rivited on has :
7839 955 118
282157 0190


Vw / Audi logo underneath has :
251 422 061

Also cast into metal by where the fluid pipes connect and rod to steering rack connects :
7882 138

Hope this makes sense and helps?

Oh and rack is from a 89 / 90 Bluestar.

Cheers
Darren