Transit steering

Todays Delivery :) ,, the steering rack ,Genuine TRW reconditioned rack. £50 + delivery. Outright sale (No surcharge)-
I had been quoted £165 +vat + (£50 s/c) locally.

IMG_4265.jpg


Just needs fitting :(:(:(:(

Autodata disk says only 2hrs to fit .:D:D

I will keep this thread updated when Its fitted.:)
 
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Its got beyond a joke , after having old rack removed. Descoverd the new rack is Scrap !!.

The threaded hole where the feed pipe retaining bracket fits is stripped.

And there isnt enough alloy to have it rethreded.

Was cheap for a reason.

New rack needed monday.

At least Ill get some satisfaction returning it Personaly next week !!
 
Alzi1967 said:
Its got beyond a joke , after having old rack removed. Descoverd the new rack is Scrap !!.

The threaded hole where the feed pipe retaining bracket fits is stripped.

And there isnt enough alloy to have it rethreded.

Was cheap for a reason.

New rack needed monday.

At least Ill get some satisfaction returning it Personaly next week !!
Click to expand...

Was it sold as "perfect".
If it was very cheap it could be worth your while repairing it, can it not be helicoiled? or fill with Devcon, drill & re-tap? depending on where the hole is, can you not drill through & fit a nut and bolt?
It's only a pipe bracket after all.

Frank
 
Hi Frank ,Thanks for replying :)


Not sure if it will repair, but looking at the pic there might be enough alloy left to re drill and tap . but would have to check what size bolt head will fit the actual clamp

the clamp holds the high pressure hydraulic lines in under about 100 psi + pressure.

Cant drill through and nut and bolt it because of the direction of the hole , It will go into the steering shaft.

Its the hole on the left at the bottom this is the old rack ( New 1 on van before we noticed problem)

psrack.jpg


Ive not used devcon so dunno about that.

I might try my local engineering firms on monday lunchtime regarding helicoil, I know they work on cylinder heads.


it was sold : as a new reconditiond rack. No mention of any damage etc. but it was on everyones fav auction site. but is a business seller with loads of other racks etc and good feedback.

But to be honest i only have wednesday to do it,

It has to be right for weekend , as we are up at kielder forrest complex marshaling on the pirelli international rally.

Oh whilst apart the strut and balljoint all moved free without the rack connected, but the lower joints were not under load.

Alan
 
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I would go for the helicoil option. If you drill it out, you mighten weaken the unit. When the bolt is tightened, it could crack if it is Aluminium.

Find a little Engineering firm. It is easily done but because it is a blind hole, it is best to get somebody experienced to do it.

Best of luck.
 
Thanks maingate,

Just had an e-mail from the guy i bought it off, he says

"Hi Alan just got in and found your email, i am very sorry this has happened, i brough these racks from a motorfacters that was closing down, i was under the impresion that the pipes pluged in and were held with a clamp, but was wrong, the rack was not listed as new but reconditioned but thats not the point, is it possible to have a photo of the hole where the thread is supposed to be, and of coarse a photo of the rack on the van please, i will of coarse refund you the cost of this rack i supplied and the cost of the shipping, but i cannot refund any cost for the work, sorry, regards Keith"

So if thats the case and he refunds then fair enough.

But will put another 1 on.just to be safe. If this fault passed original quality control , then what else could be wrong - I aint taking the chance.

But anyway I will keep the post running.

Alan.
 
Alzi1967 said:
But will put another 1 on.just to be safe. If this fault passed original quality control , then what else could be wrong - I aint taking the chance.

But anyway I will keep the post running.

Alan.
Click to expand...

I hadn't realised that bracket clamped the pipes into the ports, I assumed it was just a bracket. I didn't know that the rack was supposed to be reconditioned, either.
I agree with what you say about quality control, some people's idea of "reconditioning" means a degrease and a fresh coat of paint.
I'd stick the old one back on until I could be sure of a suitable replacement, at least you know it's faults and that it "works", even if erratically.

Frank
 
Have been concidering the options.:cool:

Will be getting a rack from the local motor factors tommorow. eeeeekk:eek::eek:
at least the old 1 is off so no surcharge.

Better safe (For everyone) :) than sorry.:(

If i get a refund for the scrap 1 then all the better.:)


Alan.
 
alzi i down my m8s (in wolverhampton)on tues transit/convoy breakers and also round corner from a transit only breakers if you want i could source you a part if you give me details i.e reg no. etc part no. and i could get u a price and i only down road in wigan so could meet ya to drop off etc

tony
 
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Thanks Tony ,

I appreciate the offer , But I have decided on another (Ha ha) recon rack. this time from a reputable source (I have used same motor factors for 25years).Its garenteed for 2yrs that way.

Many Thanks again for the offer though !!
 
Well here we go again

another rack - thistime its got a garantee !!

IMG_4296.jpg



Its not from my usual supplier , they couldnt get 1 till tommorow.


Anyway this 1 has the required threads to hold the clamp in place :):)

IMG_4299.jpg


This is the quality control pass docket , So it might be ok


IMG_4300.jpg


Anyway I phoned around , the only place that had 1 was EK Brakes - on the phone was £149.69 inc vat (and take the original van 1 back exchange)


IMG_4301.jpg


i went to pick it up :( ouch this will hurt!!!


IMG_4302.jpg


Went in to the trade counter , and low and behold a friend that I hadnt seen for a few years stood behind the counter, after a brief exchange of how ya doins etc, got 15% off aswell. result :D:D

ANYONE WANT TO FIT IT ???

And a full refund just received from the original "reconditioned" rack.
 
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2hr 20mins Rack fitted :)

Just have to road test now :rolleyes: and if all is well "wheel alignment" more money:(
 
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:(

tracking done Tuesday .:)

any better?? ........... NOOOOOO :mad:

Wednesday Evening

stripped the steering colom , oiled and regreased everything on it , still the same


Today

Fitted 2 new lower ball joints today , 1st one N/S took 3hrs , It had about 3/4mm play in it.

It was a swine to get out of the lower arm, The ball joint was Knackerd.


the 2nd one took 1.5 hrs, removed hub carrier and arm in one, .Fairly straight forward ,no play or damage to ball joint but changed it anyway..

Now the steering isnt Light. its just heavy and strugles to self centre after turning a corner.:confused::confused:

This Is now beyond a joke.


I have fitted ,

Brand New pas Pump - the pulley on the old pump was chipped anyway.
New / Recon Steering rack - All fully bled through. -old rack needed doing anyway.it was worn- tie rods were worn and play inside- the body
Fluid changed about 5 times now - its lovely and red now.
2 new track rod ends - just to be sure
Pas Fluid Reservour cleaned
2 new lower ball joints - 1 was worn anyway
Stripped /cleaned/ greased whole steering colomn / uj's
There are no leaks or Crimped pipes.

But I guess this only leaves the Top mounts or the struts themselves, but need to get some H/D spring compressors first before I can do these.
the ones Ive got will only do Car springs.

:rolleyes: or am I missing something ????????
 
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Alzi1967 said:
:(

:rolleyes: or am I missing something ????????
Click to expand...

YES!!

From your original description of your problem:- intermitent power assistance, together with the dirty/contaminated fluid I would suspect that one of the rubber pipes has collapsed internaly (probably the suction/feed pipe from the reservoir to the pump). This can happen even though the pipe looks perfect from the outside.
 
Hi

It was only the original fluid brownish. But that was probly the original fluid from 2001 when the van was made.For the last few weeks its been new red and clean.

The pipe from the reserviour to the pump is only about 5 inches long , It feels like its still intact , its quite hard rubber , and when its been taken off there was no sign of it perishing or collapsing.

Heres a picture

IMG_4308.jpg


Although what ill do is try some 15mm copper tube inside it tommorow temporarilly to make sure it doesnt collapse, The rest of the lines are fairly high pressure, and not under any vaccum.

Its worth a try at least .,Thankyou
 
To continue Geoff's theme (and I'm speaking generally here, I don't know anything about the Transit system) one of the pipes should have a non-return valve, usually crimped into the "rubber" pipe and you can't see or get at it. given that it lives in a constant flow of lubricant it should never seize but I suppose that if at one time a bit of debris had got in there............?

The cost of these pipes is outrageous for what they are, I had one go when I worked at Hiflex, if it wasn't for the valve, I could have made my own replacement - sickening :mad:

Rgds
Frank

(still think its the strut top bearing though)
 
Its looking like it may be the top bearing :eek::eek:.

I have found a slight knocking noise from that area today on the o/s :(

but anyway heres a picture of the power steering system .

IMG_4311.jpg


As far as I can tell/see there are no valves in the pipes , 1 of them has been replaced recently before I bought the van.Its new and shiney looking.


This is the design of the strut

part number 3 is a bearing

IMG_4312.jpg



obviously the steering colomn

IMG_4315.jpg


And the setup of the bottom ball joint


IMG_4313.jpg


I definatly have flow through the system.you can see it in the reserviour.

Just trying to locate some spring compressors that will do these HUGE springs.:(
 
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