Rack tightning??

[Mat_C]

Saw this mentioned on another thread. Is it possible to 'tighten up' the rack?

TIA, Mat.

[Bertybassett]

Hello Mat_C

I have tightened up the rack on my car, but you need to check how warn the yoke is otherwise its a waste of time.

Now for some reason the Yoke is plastic on a Maestro and obviously wear quite easily that is why Maestro steering can become sloppy. However, I have fitted a metal yoke to my car and the steering is fantastic. In fact I test drove a ZR160 and ZS180 this morning and my steering feels nearly as taught as these cars.

[Mat_C]

Cheers Robert - where did you get a metal one from? Did you use a torque wrench to tighten it up or just test drive?

[tony]

sorry to be thick but whats a yoke and where does it fit?

[Simon]

Isn't the yoke the spring loaded thrust button, accessible from a threaded cover on the rear of the pinion housing?

[Bertybassett]

Hi folks,

On the diagram when I am refering to a yoke its pertaining to the bit that is too the left of the spring in the centre. Simon, Yes that is where it can be acessed from, with diffciulty i might add. I belive its a lot easier to take the rack off a adjust it that way. Some nutter had peened the yoke into my last rack consequently was smashed to bits in the attempt to extract it. Mat_C Do not use a torque wrench, it will break rather easily. They way i tested it was to pop the rack on a bench in a clamp and wound the rack backwards and forwards tightening up evry so often until it `felt' right. Its not very scientific, but if its sloppy when you manually pull it back and forth yourself you can imagine the stresses placed on the rack when in driving conditions. So it needs to be quite tight. Please note. This is only worth it if the end seal is not warn either. e.g. If the end seal is warn then there will be play in the rack at the opposite end to the yoke. I think this seal can only be replaced if it is reconditioned.