Manual steering rack , tie rod play.

[Pex]

I rebuild almost all suspension/ steering 2020, but I didn’t do anything to the steering rack.
At the time I couldn’t notice any play on the removed steering rack but later when remounted I notice a little play on the steering wheel. It’s a little annoying since I sometimes have to compensate a little to make the car follow my direction.
I can’t notice any play on the steering column (all universal joints are new) but found today, car standing on thefloor, that there are play in the right tie rod when I move the rod up and down which isn’t possible on the left side.
Is it possible to tighten up the tie rod, there is a spring but is it a fixed mounting or can I tighten the “ball housing nut” without taking the whole rack out?

[abowie]

Yes you can tighten the nut. If you break the lock tab I believe they can be had from the usuals.

This might help, although if the problem is caused by asymmetric wear on the ball it also might not.

[Allrand]

I presume it's a rhd. Is it the tie rod or the end of the inner rack that moves up & down? If it's the rack it can be adjusted but adding shims under the removable cap above the rack at the input shaft end.

[dlgis]

On my rack the problem was the springs that had shortened over time and lost some of their springyness. The cup and the large housing nut were fine, and although I had purchased new cups they are now supplied as plastic/nylon replacements and we preferred the look of the metal originals.

[CliveR]

although I had purchased new cups they are now supplied as plastic/nylon replacements and we preferred the look of the metal originals

Obviously I don't know what material your plastic replacements are, but if they were the Teflon typically used in quality joints you might find it worth fitting them for a trial. They usually give lower break-away friction than steel on steel, so less resistance to initial motion which would show as a more fluid response at the start of a turn. Smoother turns, less of a "threepenny bit" motion.
(Assumption that most owners are old enough to decode that description....)

[dlgis]

Thanks for the advice Clive, I’ll see how the steering feels when it’s up and running in a few weeks and go from there. And yes i do remember the threepenny bit, occasionally found under a Christmas pud

[CliveR]

Thanks for the advice Clive, I’ll see how the steering feels when it’s up and running in a few weeks and go from there. And yes i do remember the threepenny bit, occasionally found under a Christmas pud

Arguably my greatest career achievement was getting the term "threepenny bit feel" included in the steering section on the vehicle evaluation sheet of a major Chinese car company. I think they were just humouring the crazy dabizi (big nose) in the corner.

[dxke38]

If its a LHD car then it could be wear in the bronze bush that the rack slides through on the right side allowing it to move up and down and it will require replacement.

[Pex]

Sorry for slow response but haven’t had time to scrutinize the problem, it’s a LH driven car without power steering. The plan is to wait until our short Swedish summer season has ended and then remove and try replace worn parts and rebuild it. Thanks for the input, will probably lift this thread when I start working on it.

[Pex]

I couldn't leave it so I started to really check where the play occurred and it's actually the rubber on the steering rack mounting that moves a lot before the wheels turn. To soft maybe but I will change to polyurethane just to get rid of that problem. Still, there is a little noticeable play in the steering rack itself which I will address later. Now I have more serious problem since the car doesn't crank due to a defect starter motor

[Allrand]

The mounts are quite flexible, did you install the bolts with friction washers which limit the movement of the mounts? If not they will shear off with disastrous results.

[mgcjag]

The steering rack mounts should be attached with a safety system of spacers and large washers so that in the event of the mounts delaminating you still have steering.....details with very good photos are here on the forum...Steve