Steering Rack Rebuild

Several months ago there was a post from someone who was cleaning up a steering rack that had been driven with torn boots for some period of time. Some one (Tom B maybe) had written a good reply on what to do and look for. I've searched the archive and can't put my fingers on the original post.

I'm in the same boat. My B ('74 CB) had torn boots when I bought it and I'm finally getting around to taking care of this. The records I got with the car show it was only driven 450 mi/year for the last 3 years.

I'm reluctant to pull the inner joints since I can't find a source for new locknuts. From what I can see they look reasonably clean. Can the locknuts be removed and reused? What's the best technique for removing them with minimal damage? Seems like the only way to do a decent job cleaning it up is to get the rack out of the housing.

A few drops of oil came out when I removed the pinion bearing cover, but not much. The copper plunger has a slight trough in it. Should it be replaced?

Many thanks for you help.

In my humble opinion, some things just aren't worth rebuilding!! I really don't know how many fail, but I am sure that it is not many!! Buy a good used and clean it up and I'm sure that you will be waaaaaaaay ahead!! GOOD LUCK!!

Gary is right, but there's no better way to figure out how something works than taking it apart and ruining it. When I tried this, I never could get the lock nuts off. JDW posted on this and recommended that the inner tie rods only need to be replaced if there's discernable play. Someone responded that the joint in there can get dirt and rust in inside it and could stand inspection at least. You could try to take it apart; if you ruin the lock nuts, buy a used rack to replace it!

As for the copper plunger, Tom B recommends rotating it 90 degrees and re-using it. That's what I did.

Seems like the write up you remember was Ken Lessig. I had saved it but cannot find it anymore

Thanks Gary, Kurt, Gerry for your advice. Rather than keep fixing it until it's broken, I'm just going to clean it up, replace the boots, gaskets and pinion seal and see how it goes. I talked to Bob Ford at Brit-Tek. He suggested soaking it in solvent in a wallpaper tray and flush it out good and oil it up.

All the best - Paul