I replaced my steering rack about a year or so ago. It was such a pain to do I've ignored the issue, but I'm wondering what I messed up. I only have about one full turn counter clockwise. Before I started the process I read through everything I could find, just to make sure knew what I was doing. I distinctly remember finding the indent to ensure the rack was centered. I also remember it didn't appear that both sides were equal, but I assumed it was just due to the mounting position in the car. Once it was installed it still looked off, but I knew I'd found the indent so I didn't think much of it. I'd already connected the power steering lines too, and had no desire to investigate by removing them again. Well sure enough I missed something because I have a lot less ability to make a tight left turn now. Now that time has passed I may dig back into it, but I can't even figure out what I messed up. It's not a big deal, but just bothersome. It's all nicely aligned too, so I'd have to get that done again as well. Any thoughts where my mistake was? Thanks,

 

Your mistake was not centering the rack properly. Whatever indent you found was not the right one. Your car is in a dangerous state, IMO.

• Get the car up in the air, turn the sterring wheel so the wheels point straight ahead,
• Examine the tie rods (the bits connecting the rack to the steering arms) and see if they look to be pretty well the same length (measure where they poke out of the rack to the ball joint). Assuming they do:
• Undo the column to rack splined connection, turn the column so it marries up with the new splined position and reconnect.
• Test the system for proper lock to lock symetrical action
• Centre the steering wheel if necessary by removing and replacing it as required.

If the tie rods are very far out in their lengths (say more than half an inch) adjust them at the ball joint ends. Remember that each rod must be separately adjusted, and if one side is shortened by (say 6) turns the other side must be lengthened by the same amount. Doing this carefully will preserve your alignment.

 

Is there any chance that in the rebuilding process the indent location could have been done incorrectly? I had my brother help me with the process and we both confirmed that we had located the indent. We might both have been wrong, just was such a critical part of the process I’m surprised we both found the same wrong spot.

also, any idea how many of the uninstallation steps need to be completed before being able to get at the spline connection? From memory I think I could get to it from the drivers wheel well pretty good. Thanks

 

On a RHD car you can pull the lower column off the splines without having to undo anything else. As long as you have access, you should be able to do the same on yours. Nothing else has to be removed.