How to tell if your steering rack is any good.. (Page 1/1)
Threedog MAY 19, 08:51 PM
I am currently rebuilding the front suspension on my 87GT, and I am wondering how I can check the health of the steering rack? Everything else is getting replaced, but I don't want to get an aftermarket rack if I don't need one as they are usually of lower quality(the car only had about 50k miles on it).

When the car was on jacks with wheels and control arms off I had a friend hold the outer tie rod ends(disconnected) and feel while I moved the steering wheel, and if I moved the wheel even the tiniest bit the tie rod ends on both sides responded instantly. Does that tell me the rack is good? I had a guy who gave me an alignment a few years back say that there was a few degrees of play in the rack, but no one has said anything since on other alignments.

Is there another way to test it?
olejoedad MAY 19, 08:55 PM
50K miles?
If the boots are good, and there is no noticeable play, your good to go!
Threedog MAY 19, 08:59 PM

quote
Originally posted by olejoedad:

50K miles?
If the boots are good, and there is no noticeable play, your good to go!



Exactly what I wanted to hear! Yeah the boots are good, thanks!
cvxjet MAY 19, 10:31 PM
I rebuilt my 1985 SE V6 front suspension approx' 2 years ago.......Although the grease boots were all damaged, the BJs and Tie Rods were still tight....That is After 200,000 miles of hard use- including a lot of canyon running, some really poorly maintained roads, and a number of gravel roads.......
Crasian MAY 19, 11:09 PM
I just redid all my suspension also with RCC coilovers front and WCF coilovers rear and full Poly. My rack seemed ok with no load up in the air, but wiggle it with the wheels on the ground showed it had worn tie rods and a worn bushing. I just rebuilt the rack and OMG, I was surprised how imuch “tighter” the steering felt. Mine had 90K so obviously more wear. I guess it’s different for everyone, I’m a car mechanic and I am kinda OCD about some things... I would suggest leaving it alone also, it’s lretty low mileage, and it’s more work and $ ....

-Crasian
Threedog MAY 19, 11:11 PM
Part of the thing is that I’m gonna track this thing pretty soon. I really want a nice, tight steering. Where do you get the stuff to rebuild and how did you do it?
Crasian MAY 19, 11:32 PM
Got all of my rack parts from Rodney Dickman. I rebuild near everything that is rebuildable so I have done racks before. There is a great write upon how to do it so I won’t get into that. Only minor issue was the final “preload” adjustment, it took a few test drives and adjustments to get the correct “feel” back.

-Crasian
theogre MAY 20, 12:28 AM
50K is good on paper... But need to check for damage from corrosion and hitting holes, curbs, etc.
Why? 50K maybe fraud to other owner(s) can't drive.

Note that holding a wheel etc does not test the rack reliability. Fiero and Many other vehicles Wheel bearing are not "preloaded" and must have a little play or you will fry the bearings. Some ASE and other "experts" can claim you have whatever BS problems to make money with Nothing wrong w/ the car because most owners never knew this fact.


quote
Originally posted by Threedog:
Part of the thing is that I’m gonna track this thing pretty soon. I really want a nice, tight steering. Where do you get the stuff to rebuild and how did you do it?

Just the rack or whole suspension?
Whole suspension most BJ's and "Rubber" parts are still available 84-87 cars. Polly CA bushing are problems to many and not just of infamous noise problems. I'm not the only one that tells people to not use polly except maybe some special cases like polly cradle end "bushings" that won't wear out or make noise because they don't move much. See my Cave, Suspension Parts etc.

Rack and most steering column parts are not available to most except a few common parts and rondey's rack PS end bearing.
Sometimes can find rack rubber boots because some are used in more then just Fiero.

------------------
Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave

Tony Kania MAY 20, 10:15 AM

quote
Originally posted by Threedog:

Part of the thing is that I’m gonna track this thing pretty soon. I really want a nice, tight steering. Where do you get the stuff to rebuild and how did you do it?




One of your best forum members for this is actually Patrick. He auto crosses his Fiero and has done it for quite a while. Perhaps shoot him a PM.

Pics of your car Threedog? I saw some before, and it really is not a bad ride.