steering rack preload, anyone tried it?

Mac · Post by **Mac** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 1:49 am

http://www.dreamsofdrifting.com/ae86/rackpreload/

I'm going to give it a shot on my tercel, i got a clunk in the steering right now.

takza · Post by **takza** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 4:11 am

Power or manual? I'd be real careful to avoid oversnugging it.

Mac · Post by **Mac** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 4:48 am

I'm manual, it seems we can't make it tighter than it is without a washer, but we can make it looser, so with a washer i should be abel to get it just right.

Typrus · Post by **Typrus** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 1:40 pm

Just be sure not to set it much past factory tense-ness... Lest you will end up having to replace it. And those manual racks are a pretty penny!

simon84 · Post by **simon84** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 1:59 am

And those manual racks are a pretty penny!

I second that!
I had mine replaced and drove out of the place with a new rack and a new clunk in the steering.
They guy at the repair shop said it was the steering column. There is a U-joint next to the rack input and that is the problem. I was not impressed but I was told that the new rack was necessary to get the alignment done. I'd just finished putting in a lift.
Along with the new exhaust, that was $1100 into the car that day.
I now have another steering shaft to put in so that should eliminate the clunk. Hope to get to that soon.
Anyway, just a reminder that the steering column is one more place to check as a source of clunks. It's fairly obvious. When turning at slow speed on smooth ground you can feel several clunks as the steering wheel is turned.

takza · Post by **takza** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 6:22 am

simon84 wrote: I now have another steering shaft to put in so that should eliminate the clunk. Hope to get to that soon.

Those universals get dry and then get loose. If you oil them before they start to loosen up..they last indefinitely? Drip some oil on them every 3 months or so. I've already replaced mine.

I think what is most likely to get loose on the manual racks are the inner tire rod ends and the bushing on the pass side end of the rack.

Mac · Post by **Mac** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 10:01 am

I just finished adjusting the preload, really easy, used a pipe wrench to loosen off the holding gizmo, and a bolt and a wrench to take out the hex nut.

i found that a engine oil drain plug gasket fit perfectly.

takza · Post by **takza** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 8:48 am

Need to be careful though...the rack wears most in the straight ahead position...so if you snug it too much straight ahead...it can be too tight when turned either way...maybe causing the bushings to wear faster? Need to do this with the wheels off the ground to see if it still turns Ok.

Mac · Post by **Mac** » Tue Dec 25, 2007 3:33 am

I did it with the wheels up off the ground, i was pretty conservative with how much i tightened it too. so far i'm liking it, car feels better on the freeway.

takza · Post by **takza** » Tue Dec 25, 2007 4:00 am

Cool.