[TPR] Baby needs a new....

[Asa Jay Laughton]

Howdy all,

I talked with Adam at Pantera Performance Center today and the rack an
pinion both looked pretty toast to him too.  In the stash of extra
steering rack parts they have, he thinks they may have a good rack and
pinion gear set.  He's going to check it all and get back to me with
prices and labor costs to put it all back together for me.

I'll probably be sending all my rack parts to him by the end of the
week.  He said he can have it turned around in a couple of days, so as
long as the price doesn't break my bank, I should have it back in the
car within two weeks.

I've not heard back from Mike yet, but I'd almost wager he won't have a
spare rack and pinion gear set laying around, though he may have a
totally different rack he'd be willing to sell me.  Even so, I think
I'll stick with PPC Colarado.

SSCC or bust,
Asa

Asa Jay Laughton, MSgt, USAFR, Retired
& Shelley Marie
Spokane, WA
******************************     
http://www.racingagainstautism.com
http://www.teampanteraracing.com
http://facebook.com/racingagainstautism


On 7/8/2013 9:51 PM, Asa Jay Laughton wrote:
> ... Steering Rack.
>
> Sam and I headed into the garage tonight to pull the steering rack.  The
> job at hand was to inspect the rack and pinion, and replace the tie-rod
> ends.  It took the usual amount of time to pull the rack, and Sam was
> pretty good at finding the right wrenches tonight.
>
> Once out, I decided to put grease fittings in the new rod ends.  This
> was an easy job.  Once I had the hole in the cap it was easy to see the
> lightweight grease (and hardly any of it) that was used on the balls.  I
> wouldn't complain except I like a bit more grease.  These were sourced
> from The Maserati Guy and I think they are top notch.  Once I added the
> zerk, I pumped in a bit more grease.
>
> Then it was on to the rack.  Moving the pinion by hand, I felt a
> distinct "notch" kind of feeling at steering center.  Now, for those who
> have been following the soap opera (and only very few have), you'll
> remember I had complained about a very slight jerk left or jerk right
> with just a touch of pressure in the opposite direction as the cars
> present bearing.  In other words, if I was holding slight pressure to
> the left, keeping the car going straight, and then backed off slightly
> and began to put a little pressure to the right, the steering would jerk
> suddenly in that direction; not much, not uncontrollable, but it was
> -very -annoying.
>
> Well, that "notch" I was feeling by turning the pinion by hand was
> probably what I had been feeling in the car.  I noted at what position
> it would be on the rack, about four inches in from the last gear groove
> in the rack.  I then removed the pinion.
>
> Aha.  I need a new pinion gear for starters.  Note the attached photos. 
> The gear is very worn and is showing signs of deterioration.  There is a
> small spot on the left on the side of one tooth that is worn below the
> surface, the gear is beginning to destroy itself.
>
> Once I had the rack out, I noted which gear teeth were at the four inch
> mark.  Aha.  I need a new rack too.  The gear teeth here are also -very-
> worn and you can see from the photos there are changes in elevation
> where the wear pattern is present.
>
> Note the rack and pinion appeared to be well greased in the housing. 
> For the photos I cleaned them up with a shop rag, thus they still look a
> bit dusty from the rag.
>
> Ladies and gentlemen, I need a new steering rack.  At the very least, I
> need a new rack and a new pinion.  The rest of the parts I have are in
> fine condition.  The bushing was replaced some years ago and the boots
> were sourced new about four years ago and are still in fine shape, as is
> the rack housing.
>
> A new rack from Pantera Performance Center (copied on this email) was
> quoted at $1,500 last November (prices may have gone up).  I'm not
> certain what a rebuilt rack would entail, but I certainly do NOT want a
> rack and a pinion that look like what I currently have.
>
> Advice?  I've got less that two months to get this handled.
> Thanks,
> Asa
>
> PS.  I'll post larger photos in the TPR gallery later, I'm currently
> have trouble getting them uploaded.
>
>
>
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