Replacing rack ends - Can I do it myself?

[SweetWagon]

Pretty sure you have to run a dummy idler without power steering on the old buick.

The lock washers you can grab from any steering specialist, my bloke gave me a handfull for free. Take note of how they sit on your current rack ends. The new ones will be flat. Once they're in there (they lock into the rack end), and the rack end is tightened up to about 80nm (or just as tight as you can bloody well get them), then smash the ends of the washers down with a small hammer, so they "lock" around the flat parts of the rack

And you're done!

Keep in mind you have to pry back the old lock washers before you can remove the rack ends

Thanks morton, I take it would be a bad idea to reuse the washers. I will get some new ones then Dad seems to think the rack needs to be re-shimmed, so looks like ill be pulling it out afterall.

Cheers

 

[Morton]

I can't see any problem with reusing the old ones, so long as you don't totally molest them on the way out. They're not a brittle metal, so they won't fail straight away.

I still wouldn't do it, though. Steering and brakes are the two things you don't **** with

 

[Calaber]

I reckon you could be suffering from what is called "rack rattle", caused by the bearing supporting the rack wearing out and allowing the rack to move up and down, or forwards and backwards within the rack housing. The bearings on the old Commies were only hard plastic and they wore out pretty frequently.

I've had a look at the manual but it only shows the bearing sitting on the rack bar after removal, so I don't know if it's still prone to wearing out, but if your steering has lots of k's on it, and you've tried everything else, it's certainly worth a try.

 

[Morton]

Speaking of racks, how hard is it to source actual racks with different ratios? I'm not talking about entire steering racks, but literally the rack inside the housing.

And, are power steering and manual steering racks interchangable? I know power steering cars have a tighter ratio, while manual racks have more lock-to-lock turns.

I'm interested in changing my ratio rack for a power ratio rack, while mantaining manual steering. Anyone know anything about this?

 

[Calaber]

Speaking of racks, how hard is it to source actual racks with different ratios? I'm not talking about entire steering racks, but literally the rack inside the housing.

And, are power steering and manual steering racks interchangable? I know power steering cars have a tighter ratio, while manual racks have more lock-to-lock turns.

I'm interested in changing my ratio rack for a power ratio rack, while mantaining manual steering. Anyone know anything about this?

Hi Morton

There was definitely a manual steering rack available for early VN's - I imagine there's a
pretty fair chance it would have been a carry over part from VL's like so many other parts were.

If that's the case, then comparing a VL manual rack to a VN power rack would let you know how interchangeability went, but it might be simpler just to seal the power rack to prevent fluid loss and remove all pump hoses and pump etc.

 

[Morton]

Nah, the manual racks all had a longer ratio, because they wanted to reduce the steering effort required to turn the wheel.

I would also like to keep the manual rack, as it has a smaller physical presence in the engine bay

 

[Calaber]

Nah, the manual racks all had a longer ratio, because they wanted to reduce the steering effort required to turn the wheel.

I would also like to keep the manual rack, as it has a smaller physical presence in the engine bay

If you try to fit a variable ratio rack without power assist, you are going to find the steering wheel effort is bloody heavy. By having a lower steering ratio, the manual steering reduces the steering effort.

Even if you find a linear ratio rack with a higher turning ratio, you will find the steering effort increased markedly.

Years ago, my HT V8 Premier came stock with a manual standard steering ratio of 20:1. The GTS had the fast ratio of 16.7:1 without power steering. If you optioned power steering, you also got the faster ratio.

I fitted the faster ratio but without power steering. The car was nicer to drive once on the move, but incredibly heavy at low speeds. That could be what you would experience.

 

[Morton]

Bah, I don't care The car isn't a daily - it's only for use at speed. I'm well aware of what the driving experience would be like - I currently drive a car with manual steering but what I'm concerned about - is whether it's possible to change racks within a unit

 

[SweetWagon]

Bah, I don't care The car isn't a daily - it's only for use at speed. I'm well aware of what the driving experience would be like - I currently drive a car with manual steering but what I'm concerned about - is whether it's possible to change racks within a unit

Success!! I got new rack ends in the post today and just changed over the buggered one, apart from my alignment being way out the knocking is gone completely only noises now are the typical dash rattles I do beleive the rack is on its way out but for now im happy, now to book alignment tomorrow
Thanks for everyones input
Cheers.

EDIT: stillson wrench work great changing the rack end, thanks Morton!

 

[Morton]

No worries mate, now let us know how the dash rattles come along