2.8 steering rack

[metalheaven]

Cars pulling to the left and power steering is heavier to turn right. So assuming a bearings gone in the rack.

My question is, someone had mentioned that you can swap your old rack for a re-con unit with a company but they were unsure who and if they still do it? They send you recon unit and you send you them yours back once you have the new one fitted.

Anyone heard of this?

[Bug]

My local motor factors do that!
Pay a surcharge and get it back when the old rack goes back to them.

[nigecapri]

AFAIK up north most factors send them to a re-con specialist in Dewsbury. You could arrange to have your item sent off & re-conned if you want the original back for sentimental reasons but most should be fine.

[Ghia15]

There is a way to adjust them so that the fliud moves more evenly in the rack.

Tis could stop it feeling heavy one way and pulling the other.

Will see if I can find the instructions for you as I think Stefan sent them to me to do on the 3.0, Havent tried it though as the car is not used much and have been busy with other cars and dissertation.

I think it is all done by the valves under the cover just under the steering coloum goes.

Take the cover off, with front wheels in the air, and adjust. then start the engine and keep doing it until the wheels stay straight.

Might be worth sending stef a pm to confirm the method

[metalheaven]

Motor factors? Hmm i think its a bearing as it went after i got smashed up a curb from behind was fine before that. Will any motor factors do it?

[caulkie]

There is a way to adjust them so that the fliud moves more evenly in the rack.

Tis could stop it feeling heavy one way and pulling the other.

Will see if I can find the instructions for you as I think Stefan sent them to me to do on the 3.0, Havent tried it though as the car is not used much and have been busy with other cars and dissertation.

I think it is all done by the valves under the cover just under the steering coloum goes.

Take the cover off, with front wheels in the air, and adjust. then start the engine and keep doing it until the wheels stay straight.


Might be worth sending stef a pm to confirm the method

this is what did and it worked
http://www.capripower.co.uk/forum/index ... djustment/

[Bug]

Motor factors? Hmm i think its a bearing as it went after i got smashed up a curb from behind was fine before that. Will any motor factors do it?

So you hit a curb and then it started?
More than likely something as simple as a bent track rod end or steering arm.
Should have said before!
If you've hit something fairly hard and then you have steering issues there's a fair chance the two could be related.

[metalheaven]

I did 1st think that. And i asked And was told it was most prob the bearing as the cage is really loose, hence me looking for a re-con unit. But i will go check track rod ends have some ready to go on.

[nigecapri]

Other weak points that bend are the radius arms (tca's) just out from the anti-roll bar hole and the corner mounts for the anti-roll bar which stretch away from the corner they're bolted to - roll bar bolts also bend & stretch!
Any one or a combination of these can give steering problems & if they're creamed then sort first before paying on the rack. The rack should only be damaged if the steering was on full lock either side when it was hit, otherwise I would expect it to be stong enogh to take a jolt either way (depends how hard it got smacked)

[metalheaven]

I was stationary and got hit by a volvo at 40mph which took me off the road and onto the curb

[shaynes]

Hi All,

RE: this is what did and it worked
http://www.capripower.co.uk/forum/index ... djustment/

When I try to go to this link I get [#10342] We could not determine which forum this topic is in.

Can anyone advise or repost please?

Steve

[shaynes]

Please Ignore previous request, I hadn't validated my capripower logon.

doh.

Steve

[Terra-Kotta]

Capri who?

[PeterG2.8]

No need to go to that site, it's all here.....

The following article describes how to adjust the rack.

It is common for the power steering racks fitted to 2.8 injection and 3.0L Capri’s to feel as if the power assistance in not balanced, in other words it is easier to steer one way than the other. In some cases; mine included, the unbalance can be so bad as to feel if there is no assistance turning right but over assistance when turning left. The usual cure has been to replace the rack with a new unit costing around £120 plus all the hassle that goes with it only to find the problem still exists but in a different manner.
The actual problem lies within the rack itself and is generally due to slack assembly methods at the point of rack manufacture and can be resolved quickly and with no cost, except your time.
Adjustment
The valve that needs adjusting lies at the end of the pinion shaft and is adjusted by removing a locking tab and moving the inner race clockwise or anticlockwise with respect to the outer race.
Start by jacking up the front of the car and removing the road wheels while supporting the car on axle stands. Disconnect the track rod ends but don’t unscrew them from the rack otherwise you’ll need to reset the tracking, I find the best way to get the track rod ends off without knackering the joint or rubber boot is to remove the split pin and nut and then apply downward pressure on the track rod end stud, with this done use a hammer to strike the part the track rod end goes through, with a good pressure and a good hit they will separate quickly; usually by the third hit.
Now start the engine, the steering wheel will move fully to one direction depending on which way it was easier to turn when driving on the road, stop the engine. On the rack remove the two bolts holding bearing cover in place (this is the domed pressed steel one at what looks like the end of the steering column and NOT the 6mm thick steel one) and withdraw the cover; expect oil to come out. Remove the locking tab by carefully bending the tabs forward then remove the nut and the locking washer. Turn the inner race ¼ turn anticlockwise if the steering turned left or ¼ turn clockwise if it went to the right, now refit the locking washer and nut and nip up the nut to retain things then refit the cover and two bolts. Centralise the steering and start the engine again, take a note of which way the steering turns and how quickly, by comparing this to the first time you can estimate how much further the inner race needs to be turned. Repeat this until the steering does not turn by itself when the engine is started and feels balanced when turning by hand. When you are happy remove the cover and refit the locking tab, by this time you will have destroyed the gasket so fit another homemade one or use instant gasket then fit the cover and two bolts.
You will need to replace the oil that came out, use a syringe to force 200mL of oil under the steering rack gaiter where it joins the track rod and then slowly turn the steering fully left and right to distribute the oil; use ordinary engine oil as this is for lubrication only, the steering rack hydraulic system has not been disturbed.
Refit the track rod ends and wheels and test. If it was anything like my own car you’ll be amazed at the difference the driving experience is, all for free. .

[Bug]

I agree with the complete method! Done it myself.
Except I didn't bother to disconnect the rack. Just jacked it up and left the wheels hanging.

Don't get in the way though, cos initially it will snap round (usually to the left) at a hell of a rate. In fact, it's useful to have someone in the car to slow the movement by holding the steering wheel.
Do be sure to brief them on what will happen. AND make sure their thumbs are not inside the rim cos they WILL get broken.