Rack end is worn out.

[hugereductions]

Need to replace rack end on VR. Is there a step by step I can look at? Should I undo the rack end before the tie rod?
Cheers fellas.

 

[hakhawk]

moved. howto section is for CREATING a how-to, not asking how to do something.

 

[dave-the-sparky]

peice of cake. the rack end unscrews out of rack just take the boot off bend the lock tabs back and unscrew. screw new one in bend lock tabs back screw tie rod end back on and get a wheel alignment. if you use ramps undre front wheels instead of stands and screw tie rod on until it slips back in to stub axle it will be close enough to get you to a tire joint. hope this helps.

 

[BoNeZ-01]

Hey guys, I'm hijacking this thread here to save making yet another one on the same subject.

Q: Has anyone been able to use the existing lock washers on the rack ends when installing new tie rods, instead of replacing with new ones, and it worked/locked ok/safe to do? :help:

The kit I bought off eBay(2 tie rods/2 tie rod ends) didn't come with new lock washers, and I'm out of time & money this week, plus none of my local places have new VR/VS lock washers anyway! :bang:

I really need to plan this all out today, so I can get it all done early tomorrow morning(It's decided to rain today! :realangry), as well as book it in today for a wheel alignment tomorrow arvo if this method is safe and works ok.

I haven't had a chance to check on the condition of the existing lock washers yet, but any quick replies from those who have actually done this and have been successful would be very much appreciated, thanks! :thumbsup:

 

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

The joys of buying off Ebay. The rack ends should come with lock washers, every one that I have bought did.

It would be OK to re use them if they ended up bending in a different spot, but because of thatab, the bend in the same spot every time.

 

[BoNeZ-01]

lol.. Yeah, I assumed buying from a drive line and CV specialist, even though through ebay, they would of come with them, I should of checked the details more closely..

 

[BoNeZ-01]

Update: It stopped raining, so I decided to check out the lock washer, looks good enough to reuse I think?

Now, next question: How do I hold the rack end* to undo and re-tighten?
There is only the round end of the rack on the left side, there's nothing to grab on to with tools?

Do I need to use *a flat section on the other end, on the right hand side rack end?
If I use something like a stilsons pipe wrench on this *left rack end*, wont that mess up the smooth surface where it goes through the seal in to the rack?

 

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

The part with the flat spots gets replaced too so it doesn't matter what you use. Once you bend the washer out of the way you can get a shifter on to it.

 

[BoNeZ-01]

Yeah, but what what I mean is, where do I lock on to the shaft that goes in to the rack itself to undo the tie rod?
Do I just use the stilsons on that shaft, but as close as I can to the tie rod's ball joint case, the part with the flat spots?
From what I read in the book, the shaft that goes in to the rack can't have stress put on it, or it can damage the internals.

 

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

You can hold it with stilsons as close to the rack end as possible. There will be a mark on the shaft where it stops, thats as far as it goes in through the seal so the part outside the seal doesn't touch anything. If you get what I mean.