cjhillman
Posted a lot
1979 Capri (Rolling Project) 1985 Escort mk3 (Daily)
Posts: 1,619
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Hardly used my Capri since "restoring" it and I've just started using it. Seems like the Steering rack started leaking. This was the first thing I replaced on this Car when I got it. Symptom are when turning right the Car doesn't always centre again and pulls to the opposite side of the road. Then sometimes it's fine. Noticed today it had a spot of oil on the floor underneath it. I'm guessing this is my problem (I'll jack it up tomorrow and check TCAs / brakes too) If its this whos good to buy from? I'm going try and get something out of the people I bought this recondition rack from but they only give 1 year warranty and this is 2 years ago (although only sub 500 miles)    |
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Hardly used my Capri since "restoring" it and I've just started using it. Seems like the Steering rack started leaking. This was the first thing I replaced on this Car when I got it. Symptom are when turning right the Car doesn't always centre again and pulls to the opposite side of the road. Then sometimes it's fine. Noticed today it had a spot of oil on the floor underneath it. I'm guessing this is my problem (I'll jack it up tomorrow and check TCAs / brakes too) It's probably the round/triangular plastic bush in the passenger end of the rack. They break into three pieces. Very, very common. A 'recondtioned' rack 25 years ago got a new £1 bush and a squirt of magic black paint. Burtons still sell them, LINK, but they've increased in price since I last looked! If you drive the car hard, then replacing all the internal bushes with bronze ones is worthwhile, but that can damage the rack tube... |
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The leak looks like it could be the pinion seal or the bottom plate (assuming something higher up from the engine isn't dripping on it), the bottom plate is easy enough to fix with a new gasket (there is probably a spring and plunger or shims under there so make sure you don't lose any bits the pinon seal is just a simple seal but you may need to disassemble the rack to fix it though it shouldn't leak much as it is the highest point on the rack, another option is replace the oil with semi fluid grease.
None of the above explains your steering though to check for the bushes mentioned above get someone to wiggle the steering from side to side a few degrees about straight ahead while you feel each of the joints, if the bushes have gone when you grip the inner ball joint inside the gaiter (you can feel it through the gaiter) it will move up and down or front to back, if that is OK jack the vehicle up so the wheels are off the ground and turn the steering slowly from side to side to see if there are any tight spots if there are it's possible the rack is at fault, to be sure you need to take the track rod ends off the strut's so you are only turning the rack.
The other alternative as I mentioned in your vehicle thread is the anti roll bar moving in it's bushes which changes the geometry and is also a known escort / capri issue.
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cjhillman
Posted a lot
1979 Capri (Rolling Project) 1985 Escort mk3 (Daily)
Posts: 1,619
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Cheers guys great advice as always. kevins I will get some help from my girlfriend tomorrow to move the steering as I look for stuff. I might jack it up today to look around the stuff you mention on my own. I'll watch some videos now so I know i'm checking right and probably film my findings to post here. I havent replaced the TCA bushes or anti roll bar stuff so it could be that. I should probably check the rear as well. maybe its shifting there and pulling the car one way? The oil isnt coming from above from what I can see. Just the alternator there. I was reading about steering rack failure and it concerned me a little. Especially with it pulling to the other side of the road.  |
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it will be a long time before a small weep like that causes problems with a manual rack, good thought to check the axle, u bolts often need re-torquing after a few miles
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cjhillman
Posted a lot
1979 Capri (Rolling Project) 1985 Escort mk3 (Daily)
Posts: 1,619
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it will be a long time before a small weep like that causes problems with a manual rack, good thought to check the axle, u bolts often need re-torquing after a few miles It could be this! I didnt really get into the back Axle today. Just went out in the dark and prodded the Rear Anti Roll Bar bushes which are a little old. It used to lean(and pull) to the left at the back but after I replaced the springs and then the front callipers this totally eradicated that problem and its been straight as a die. This one is new though. I did film a what I did today if you fancy having a look? I saw a few videos talking about jacking up under the ball joint to see it move... I couldnt do that with the wheel on this Car, its too close. I did find a real load creak on full lock one way. Also the wheel does seem to move a lot when the steering lock is on but, I duno if thats just a worn steering lock. I didnt check the other side as I couldnt move my Escort  its died today (battery related) and I thought i would concentrate on the side it was pulling too. |
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cjhillman
Posted a lot
1979 Capri (Rolling Project) 1985 Escort mk3 (Daily)
Posts: 1,619
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Starting to think I need to re check the wheel bearing here . Is that too much movement at 5.34 in the vid? not sure when checking these. I've read that RWD cars have more play side to side and also too much play can make it wander off?
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Its never this simple but have you checked your tyre pressures? I have a slow puncture (so slow i never remember to fix it once I've blown it up) and know when I need air in it when the steering starts to pull.
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I've always adjusted taper roller bearings so there is just a perceptable amount of free play, seems to work TR7 has had the same ones for 100,000 miles.
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cjhillman
Posted a lot
1979 Capri (Rolling Project) 1985 Escort mk3 (Daily)
Posts: 1,619
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Took it to the petrol station yesterday to pump up the tyres. Both at the same pressure now and same symptoms. Will check the rear tomorrow incase its the back end. I'll try compare each wheel bearing too. Can anyone recommend any videos or literature about checking/ setting wheel bearings?
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its died today (battery related) and I thought i would concentrate on the side it was pulling too. 