Which steering rack?

[497adam]

Am I right there were two types of rack fitted to 172's? If so how do you know which one you have?

 

[FLOBALOB]

SMI is generally the one you want, thats for right hand drive vehicles I believe.

 

[497adam]

Cheers

 

[497adam]

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewitem?itemId=231105706522

Has anybody tried these ? Seem a good price

 

[FLOBALOB]

Just bought the black versions of these myself, cheaper even than standard pattern stuff or genuine Renault. Haven't fitted yet though, got tie rods and track rod ends to do at same time. Will probably be fitting next weekend so will update with opinions then.

 

[497adam]

How long do they take to fit on a ramp?

 

[Chip-mk1]

An hour or so probably on a ramp if its your first time, its only 4 bolts (well 5 including allow the rack to move by loosening the one where it joins the column) but they are awkward to get at which makes it harder than it sounds.
5 minutes job with no engine and box in the way though, lol.

 

[497adam]

It's in at Birchdown in a few weeks but there's quite a long list already

 

[497adam]

Ordered a set

 

[Chip-mk1]

I ordered a set of those powerflex ones, and rather worryingly they arrived complete with grease and instructions telling me to use it.

Mental!

The last thing you want on these bushes is ANY sliding at all of the rack in the bush or the bush in the chassis so I can think of no reason at all to use a grease when fitting them!


They are also worryingly shiney and smooth, and hence I think run the risk of allowing more movement than the rubber ones by having a worse friction co-efficient ptoentially, but on the plus side they are a lot firmer so will hopefully clamp the rack in place with more pressure in the first place.

Will give them a try and see how they compare.

 

[Tony Hunter]

Get the sandpaper out Chip, rough them up a little.

 

[Chip-mk1]

Get the sandpaper out Chip, rough them up a little.

have considered it but the downside is it will lose surface strength if I do that, so I think I will try them as they are initially

Quiet tempted to just solid mount the rack like on other cars TBH, im not convinced of any value at all to some flexibility, I know it will make a slight difference to vibration through the wheel but I dont think it will be an issue still.

 

[Cup_Phil]

They tell you to use the grease on the outside of all powerflex bushes to prevent the bracket from pinching or bunching the bush up. It's really only supposed to allow the bracket to slide easier over the bush.
Obviously you wouldn't use the grease on the inside

If they've written that in the instructions they might be getting some claims for written off cars lol

As for vibration - nope, utter b****cks. My rack is bolted directly to the subframe as it's a DCi one and there's no extra vibration through the wheel at all - just a quicker turn and a better feel

 

[Chip-mk1]

They tell you to use the grease on the outside of all powerflex bushes to prevent the bracket from pinching or bunching the bush up. It's really only supposed to allow the bracket to slide easier over the bush.
Obviously you wouldn't use the grease on the inside

If they've written that in the instructions they might be getting some claims for written off cars lol

As for vibration - nope, utter b****cks. My rack is bolted directly to the subframe as it's a DCi one and there's no extra vibration through the wheel at all - just a quicker turn and a better feel

In the case of the rack bushes, both the inside and the outside need to grip, and movement on either surface will be steering play. There is no way I would use grease on either, and none is needed to allow it to fit as the bracket is in two semi circle halves like a conrod so you dont have to drift the bush into it, you simply insert the bush then put the clamp over it.

They just have added their "default" instructions and not thought about the specifics of the application.

 

[Cup_Phil]

Yeah but I suspect they'd have assumed when putting the half back on it could stick on the bush and pinch it
Lots of bushes use the split halves - the ARB bush is the same etc... and they all say to put grease on the outside to prevent them being pinched.

I know what you're saying though.

 

[Chip-mk1]

Its different when its two exactly semi circular halves, there isnt the risk of pinching

 

[Cup_Phil]

I bet some would manage it

 

[Tony Hunter]

FFS!

 

[497adam]

They had arrived when I got home from work. They do feel pretty slick

 

[Chip-mk1]

They had arrived when I got home from work. They do feel pretty slick

They would make better bearings than bushes going by the feel of them, lol.

 

[497adam]

How do they compare to solid nylon ones?

 

[Tony Hunter]

They are rubber and not solid.

 

[497adam]

I meant in terms of friction