Steering Rack Bush fix - Another Way
 

I’m sure most of you are aware already of the common issue with the steering rack bushes on the X300. The bush becomes soft with age and there is also an air gap that allows excessive movement of the rack relative to its mounting brackets, resulting in vague steering sensation.

The standard fix is to insert some nylon type shims between the outer edge of the bush and the rack body. This is covered very well by @Don B in this post

Steering Rack Stiffening Bushes DIY



I had an issue with my rack in that the bushes had migrated out of the mounting brackets so the standard fix was not an option.


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...cde1f9c153.jpg


Here's a picture of the traditional fix. Credit @Cafcpete for the picture of his car.


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...a845b05e17.jpg



I decided on an alternative approach. This also works for racks where the bush is still firmly in place where it should be. I know because I have done it on another rack.



Firstly, I cut away all of the bush that was visible between the mounting bracket and the rack. Both sides. After a few tries I found the best tool was a coarse wood blade in a Multi-Tool.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...5c0a61465b.jpg



https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...fbdc539eae.jpg




I bought some Polyurethane Resin. This is a 2-part product that when mixed sets rapidly to a hard plastic. Various hardness grades are available. I chose a product that is Shore D 45 hardness (about same as Shore A 90). I did a trial casting with the product making a small piece about same thickness as the new bush would be. I tested it scientifically :p by compressing in a vice and also hitting it hard with a big hammer. It proved very robust indeed.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...5dd83ef8be.jpg




I then created a “mould” around where the new bush needed to be. It’s a tricky shape. I used a mixture of foil tape, silicone bleed tube, plasticine and hot-melt glue gun. I left a small gap at the top to allow the resin to be poured in to the mould.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...9f2beec9e1.jpg



https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...1b6b3190ad.jpg

After allowing the resin to set, the mould can be removed. I suggest doing this as soon as the resin has gone off, but not completely hardened. This will allow you to easily trim any excess resin with a sharp knife.


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...9a86968286.jpg



I refitted the rack, had the alignment checked and adjusted and road tested the car. No discernible extra harshness or vibration from the steering and the previous vagueness has gone, so I’m happy with the repair.

Brendan,

Well done! What a great solution!

Do you think it could be done with the rack installed in the vehicle, maybe with a syringe to inject the resin into the "mold"? Or is rack removal mandatory?

Thanks for sharing your creative technique and great photos!

Cheers,

Don

Thanks Don. I guess it would be possible to do this with rack on car but obviously much more difficult.

I think the hardest part would be getting a secure mould around the rack. That was tricky even with it on the bench. Even then I had some weeping from the mould and needed to keep topping up with a bit more resin until it started to go off.

With your dremel tool removing some material and then with a putty knife knocking on it to spin the work around to you

Bring the aluminum tape over the top so the ends join together on the bottom , after pressing into place make a hole in the top

With a flex hose on the end of a syringe ....

The refill batch would be mixed later to have a later cure time

Easier said then done

Bravo !!!


are you free to join NASA and train for the Artemis (sp. ?) moon mission. With a creative
brain like you onboard the flight is sure to succeed no matter what unknowns arise.

Z

Would we get to be on the talk show tour before launch?

All wearing Jag Force patches and funny jumpsuits.and ascots

Before and especially afterwards. Afterwords so you / we could regale the viewers about how owning a Jaguar prepared you to fix the broken what-cha-ma-call-it with baling wire, super
glue, and baking soda.

Z

Soooooo There I Wasssssssssssssssssss

That is a very elegant solution by b1mcp and I congratulate him on his ingenuity.
There is another much less elegant fix to the steering rack problem common to X300 and XJ40s.
It involves wrapping around the joint/rubber between the steering rack and the mounting with 1/8 inch or 3mm wire.
It is then held in place (and disguised?) with hose clips.
This then holds the rack firmly in place and stops the wandering.
There will be a bit more "road feel" as there is no shock absorption.
I have done this on an XJ40 and an X300 and assure you it does work.