Steering Rack

[bobinyelm]

Originally Posted by mln385

Don't suppose you took any pictures of this issue? Kind of concerning their replacement to you was used!!

I kept the old washers and still have the removed rack (Reg said they didn't want it back).

I could photograph the washers and the end of the actual rack to illustrate where the tabs should be if they are intact, but I don't have a website where photos can be linked to. If you (or someone else) does, I'd be happy to send some photos to you, and you could "post" them.

I don't know why Reg sent a used rack assembly that had been removed from another car and disassembled (I re-used my inner tie rod assemblies).

Other than several smile-shaped "divits" in the aluminum rack housing casting from edge-of-hammer-strikes (I don't know why anyone would beat on the casting with the edge of a hammer), and dents in the very ends of the rack (where someone evidently used a hammer to unlock the tie rod locking tabs, and missed, hitting the rack itself), the used rack appeared to be OK, though it was rather tight as well (but not as tight as the one shipped with my car).

I carefully dressed out the metal on the steel rack itself raised by the hammer-strikes with a file (so they wouldn't damage the internal rack bushings), and don't think they will affect operation in the least.

I am a bit concerned that with the front end on jack stands that the steering wheel is VERY hard to turn (less so than w/ the other rack, anyway), but perhaps this is normal, and will bed-in after some driving, or when the car is on the ground.

My car sat under a car-cover for a year before receiving it's engine, so technically BD didn't have to do anything for me, and could have said my warranty expired precisely a year after the car left their facility regardless of the fact it hadn't 'turned a wheel.'

I appreciate that Reg was kind enough to help at all, and that I am that much closer to getting my car licensed and on the road! I must say spending some time in SW Washington State driving my friend's car has renewed my enthusiasm to drive my Cobra (though I won't have the beautiful scenery and roads, or the 72 deg temps to do so).

Bob