(Home) Stearin rack ajustable

my townie has failed her MOT on exceassive play in the steerin rack, does anybody know if this can be ajusted and how? or will i have to replace the rack? thanx for ne feeds back. ryan

- (#10431) Ryan Woolley, 26 Apr 04 05:22

Excessive play where in the rack?
Free movement at the steering wheel, at the rack ends or the rack itself moving?
Steering wheel - a large hex grub screw on the rack that can take a shim or two may take up the play.
Rack ends easy to find replacemnts and fit, they are not adjustable for play.

- (#10431) Clive (Bristol), 26 Apr 04 07:02

I have not investigated this but, is there a "slipper" on the rack, presumably wedge shaped, which can be adjusted to bring the rack & pinion into deeper mesh ?
I think that there are some comments in the archives.

- (#10431) John Davis (Leics), 26 Apr 04 07:13

Yup, there's a big plug and locknut with the slipper behind it. Be careful tho, too tight and the steering won't self-centre... As Clive says, how much play and where? The gearbox jobbie has a little play, and the valve assy has play by design (but that should disappear when the engine's running). If that's where the play is, go back and argue. Inner rod ends shouldn't have any tho...

- (#10431) David Miller, 26 Apr 04 14:20

Sorry, a bit more information. It failed on excessive movement on o/s rack end. I see from archives that the engine must be running in order to check. If the 'play' is still there, can the end section of rack be replaced?

- (#10431) Ryan Woolley, 28 Apr 04 13:46

If it is track rod ends, the ball joint that connects the end of the steering rack to the wheel, easy to source and replace, if you have a ball joint splitter. If it is the inner ends, the part that the track rod ends attach to and mostly hidden under the rack bellows, most likely Toyota only supply and more difficult to fit.
Both cases required tracking to be reset after fitting.

- (#10431) Clive (Bristol), 28 Apr 04 14:39