Crap, part 2. Now it is the front. PIC

After getting the springs out of the back, and while waiting for answers to the new post about spring size, i decided to move to the front inspection. Everything looked good until i got to the gaitors. I was looking at them, and gave one a squeeze, and air and dirt blew out of a hole in one. So, i removed them and found absolutely no oil/grease or anything. The drivers side of the steering rack was showing some blueing, as if it had been very hot. Everything else looks great, clean etc, so is this a potential problem or as long as i get it all lubed up again wil all be fine.

Also, please look at my latest post under my first "crap" thread and let me know what you folks think

Thanks

Ken

Ouch ..looks like time for new.

Ten bucks says that's blued from the factory when they cut the gear teeth. There's no way in hell there's anything hot enough inside the rack that would blue the metal like that.

I'd clean it up, grease it up and seal it back up.

I'll bet with Scott. Since it does not rotate on bearings etc and just moves left to right and back again, there is no way that would be heat related while in use. As long as it is not worn beyond use and can be cleaned, you will not need a new unit.

Cheers,

Rob

The teeth are heat treated to resist wear. It should be fine.

I certainly would not think that hobbing the teeth on the rack would create that much heat lest the factory was looking to replace the cutters in short order. My opinion is that that rack has been bent at one time and was heated to straighten it out. Hard to tell from the pictures. I'd get an accurate straight edge and see if there are any 'ripples' or 'kinks' along the long axis and if there are, it's new parts time. Although if the steering seems to work with no apparent roughness or binding you are most likely OK. Strange to see that marking and so localized at that.

The racks were heat treated in that one spot which is the straight ahead position. Done that way, since that position will get the most wear.

That does look strange to me also. I'd be with Jim & go on the side of caution. I'd also be concerned as to how much road dirt wound up in the rack. I think I'd pull it apart and clean & inspect everything closely. My Dad always said, most important things on a car are steering and stoping. Going is optional.:)

Thanks guys. The steering has never been an issue before. I'll take it apart and see what it looks like inside, and i'll try the straight dge trick as well

Ken

good news is they are only about $180.00 for a new unit from Moss. There are worse things to have to replace, but I agree try to clean it up, lubricate it and see how it behaves.

rebuild (clean thoroughly) load it up with good lube and new gaitors and all is well.....

Straw to blue comes at about 1200 deg F on tool steel. If you got the rack cooking that hot driving, you'd have a lot more to worry about I'd say.

Ken, I've had several racks apart for different reasons. They all had the heat treated blueing so don't let that worry you.

LaVerne

Thanks folks. So glad to hear i'm ok on this one. Took it apart and everything was fairly clean. There was even a little oil in there, very little mind you. Now, do i lube just inside the gaitors as per the haynes manual, or inside the "box" in the middle as well?

Ken

I'm ready to re-assemble the raks/gaiters. The manual taks of adding 90 weight oil, but i do not have a zerk or as the moss catologue shows an oil fitting. Should i just squirt it in through the ends, fill the gaitors, or what?

Thanks

Ken

I added oil through the top cover with the spring and plunger assembly removed. You can jack up one side of the car and dump it in the end as well. However you like - it'll be a little messy no matter how you do it!