WANTED: S3 Steering Rack

[Andrew Willcox]

Hi, Does anybody have a steering rack for a S3 narrow track for sale.  Car is ex-academy car which I assume has a 8% rack unless anyone tells me different?

Current rack badly worn,just investigating replacement and repair options.

Thanks

[7 wonders of the world]

There easy enough to rework or there are companys to help if you want it done for you.

Tazio found a desent place might be worth sending him a BM

 

[Andrew Willcox]

Thanks, will send Tazio a message.  Would consider raking on the overhaul myself... if I can source the parts etc.

Any advise where I might get parts from?

Messaged Phil B to see if I can get hold of the article he has on rack overhaul.

Will also start a tech thread to see what inputs I get.

[7 wonders of the world]

Racks are Titan,

who wont normally sell you parts as its a Caterham part....... and Caterham arent interested in stocking the parts..

service at its best !

If you push Titan they will sell bits but with a steep min order value...

[Wrightpayne]

I'm sure I read in the archives it shares parts with the mk 1 lotus elise rack and there was a set of repair instructions available.

I could be talking complete rubbish though!!

[Andrew Willcox]

Ok, I did message Phil B to try and get a copy of the Elise article he referenced but no word back yet.

Rack is now on bench, managed to eliminate a lot of the play through adjustment but I'm a bit concerned about the corrosion on the passenger side of the rack itself.  If I can get instructions I will strip and examine further....

[Jonathan Kay]

Racks are Titan,

who wont normally sell you parts as its a Caterham part....... and Caterham arent interested in stocking the parts..

...

I'm sure I read in the archives it shares parts with the mk 1 lotus elise rack and there was a set of repair instructions available.

...

 

Yes, lots in the archives. That's why we need those wikis. But as second best:

• https://www.google.com/search?q=site:lotus7.club+rack+titan
• https://www.google.com/search?q=site:lotus7.club+rack+elise
• Rebuild notes from SELOC.

Jonathan

[Rob Walker]

When you say its worn, I presume you mean there is play/latency in the steering wheel and the wheels don't move.  If that's the case its simply a matter of readjusting the nylon shoe that pushes the pinion further into mesh with the toothed rack.  The adjustment is actioned by slackening off the lock nut near the steering column spigot then inserting a 5mm allen key into the shoe cover and adjusting out the play, tighten up the lock nut following adjustment.  If your super keen you may like to remove the shoe cover and shoe and jam some LM grease into the rack before proceeding wit final adjustment.

[Andrew Willcox]

Thanks both,

I have the rack out and have improved it with the adjuster - but the rack still feels rough and the other end is quite corroded where it passes through the nylon bush.  I really want to disassemble, clean and re-grease before I know if it is good - hopefully it will be!

So the next challenge is how to pull the pinion out - that will be tomorrows quest.

Thanks for the links Jonathan, some good info here on grease types etc.

[njhendo]

Andrew,

I will have a virtually new 8% steering rack from my 2019 Academy Car for sale in about a week's time. After a bump at Silverstone in August 2019 the old rack was replaced - since then the brand new rack has done 2x15 minute races and 1 test day (4x20 minutes). I am upgrading it to the quick rack.

Let me know if your refurbishment doesn't achieve the result that you want, and are still after a replacement rack.

Neil