Steering Rack Refurb

[Ferrino]

I have a used 22% Titan steering rack, which I would like to check over and replace any worn parts. Does anyone have a write-up on this, with pics, please? It seems that Titan will not sell parts directly (and Caterham are not willing to either without buying a new rack), but I notice that Titan also made early Elise racks with a similar design - do the parts on this rack fit the Caterham Titan design?

From crawling some previous posts, it seems that:

i) The white nylon cups (that link the tie rods to the rack) should be replaced.

ii) The nylon thrust pad (which adjusts the pressure on the rack) is either smoothed out or replaced.

iii) To inspect, clean and relube the rack, it seems that the pinion needs to be removed in order to withdraw the rack. Does that need a puller?

Thanks!

[ECR]

This from SELOC

Reconditioning the steering rack (for an Elise but the rack is the same apparently…)

Start by removing the cable ties that hold the gaitors on and sliding the gaitors back to the track rod ends (I left the track rod ends in situ, the theory being the tracking wouldn't be too far out when I put it back together).

This exposes the inner ends of the track rods and the cup joint that they sit in.

You will see that the cup joint has a locknut. Between the lock nut and cup joint body there is a small locking pin (roll pin) that needs to be carefully drilled out (using a 2.5 / 3mm drill bit).

Once the locking pin it removed, it should be possible to (carefully) clamp the rack bar in a vice and undo the locknut using a 32mm spanner.

Once the locknut is released, the cup joint will unscrew from the end of the rack.

Remove the cup joint noting the nylon cup and spring that are in there.

Repeat for the other track rod.

Before reassembly (using new sockets) you need to hone the new sockets to the ball surfaces using a light grinding compound. If this is not done the required load setting will be lost within a few hundred miles.

Upon reassembly the two joints should be tightened to a point where a load of 3 to 4 Kg, applied 152mm down the track control arm from the centre of the ball in the joint (ie right near the end), is required to move it. Lock at this point, re-drill, and pin. A centre punch on the end of the locking pin will spread it slightly, securing it.

At this point, I'd noticed that my rack preload seemed far too loose, in that I could turn the pinion shaft with just my finger and thumb, and that when I did this the rack, to my mind, sounded "noisy". There was also one point in the travel where it went "tight".

I made the decision to strip down the rack and re-lube it.

First step in doing this is to remove the pinion. To do this, first undo the Rack Bar Thrust Pad bolt locking nut using a 36mm spanner, then back out the thrust pad bolt using a 5mm allen key. Then remove the circlip that holds the pinion assembly in, and then use your vice and suitable sockets to press it out of the rack body.

You can then carefully withdraw the rack from the end of the rack body.

After a bit of cleaning and degreasing, I found that the internals were pretty much fine, with the exception of a marked tooth on the rack which was causing the tight spot I'd noticed. I just dressed this with a fine file.

Upon reassembly the Rack Bar Thrust Pad should be adjusted to give a preload that allows a horizontaly mounted rack to be pulled along its entire length by a force of 50 - 70 N.

The rack is made by Titan Motorsport, and they will sell all parts to the public on the condition of a £25 minimum order value. And to be honest, they are very helpful too!

I removed my rack as there was play, which I suspected to be the nylon cups at the inner end of each track rod.

I ordered 2 of the cups (£3.50 each), 2 of the springs that sit behind the cups (£ ), 2 of the locking pins that lock the cups to the locking nuts (£ each), and 2 gaitors (£4.50 each).

[From Titan Motorsport, March 2007: A1161611200A3 - £3.35EA - Nylon shoes, A1161610900A3 - 52p - Spring, A1161916700A3 - 28p - Locking Pin. Note: There is a minimum charge fee of £25]

You will need to source grease to re-build your rack. The "rocol MTS1000" is now know as "rocol Sapphire hi-pressure bearing grease" and the "scheerol mpt2 grease" is actually called "spheerol mp2". I sourced this from RS but there are other places that sell them. Note 400g is a lot but that was all they had at the time I ordered.

 Exploded View

https://www.titan.uk.net/cdn/uploads/casestudies/67-lotus_steering_rack_2.pdf

I can't comment on whether the parts are the same or indeed whether Titan will supply direct ......It might be worth considering ordering the part numbers given and pay the minimum order charge and checking if they are the same

[Tony Whitley]

My half-cocked 2p:  I refurbed my Elise rack following those instructions and that was straightforward.  Some years ago I had tried to do the same with my 7's rack and couldn't drill out the locking pin.  I don't know whether the racks were the same, they looked similar but there was several years between the two.

[Ferrino]

Thanks! I'm at the stage where I need to withdraw the pinion and I was confused because people refer to having to pull the Caterham pinion out through the "top", whereas on my rack the only way it's coming out is by being pushed out the "bottom". I now see that it's because mine is a LHD rack!

It would be good to know if those Titan Elise parts transfer to the Caterham rack, since Caterham only sells the little nylon cups as part of a kit which includes the track rod arms etc., which I don't need. And I understand Titan will not sell parts for the Caterham rack. I am going to guess that the nylon cups are the same...

[7 wonders of the world]

Always nice to see that suppliers support their products by making spares avaiable at sensible prices...... 

This nonsnese that we can't supply Caterham parts and anyway we have a ridiculous minimimum order as we dont really want your business and CC can't be arsed to help - utter bollocks neither deserve the business   

[Bricol]

Afraid its a business - costs more to send you a couple of bits than they make - unless they put a massive mark up on, or charge you minimum order.  And a business is in, err, business to make money, not go bust.

Same in any working business - I know how much some of our stuff costs to make - and I know how much we sell it for.  On initial glance, it looks a horrendous mark-up - but factor in all the design time, handling, storage, picking, packing, sending . . . none of that comes free.

[Tazio]

£ 500 odd quid for a new rack, Caterham said it wasn't worth refurbing my rack as I had to send it to them, and they send to Titan plus reverse...it would be cheaper to buy a new rack, that and the contractural conditions between Titan and Caterham means I personally cannot get it refurbed at Titan!  Commercial madness.  As it was I took mine to a rack refurb place in Birmingham paid my money, got it done.  End result was neither Caterham nor Titan made a bean from me....I say again Commercial madness.

[7 wonders of the world]

No one is suggesting they send them out for free, but they either manufacture or buy in all these small parts in bulk so they are not making them as a one of with high set up costs involved - merely picking a couple from the parts bin

Just a case of popping a couple of parts in a jiffy bag and posting which many other companies manage to do at a sensible cost and with a smile on their face too.

Service is key to return business and having had the pulling teeth conversation with Titan I would never buy any of their products again as the after sales is shocking.

 

[Golf Juliet Tango]

"commercial madness"

Really Alan?

The labour involved in disassembly and inspection of individual parts, means it is more expensive to refurbish than replace (that excudes a separate workshop space too).

For you, with your skills, it makes great sense to refurbish assemblies. For a company making them, I can see that, at best, the option is marginal and effort in reducing the need for maintenance is a better use of labour.

How many steering racks are replaced for wear or refurbished each year?

[Golf Juliet Tango]

Alan, this news may help.

In a continued effort to reduce European’s carbon footprint and make energy bills cheaper for consumers, the European Union has just passed groundbreaking new “right to repair” legislation for products such as refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, and televisions.

Maybe steering racks too?

[Tazio]

Stephen, I paid something like £140 to have a narrow track rack refurbed this inc Vat, the Company who did it made a profit...but due to the closed cartel between CC and Titan, they not only lost the opportunity to make a profit out of me, but pissed me off too, so much so that if I can source the correct parts for my 7s elsewhere then I will, always.

[Golf Juliet Tango]

Fair enough.

[RogNeedham]

Hi Tazio,

which company did you use please?

cheers, Rog

[ECR]

I don't know who Alan used but these people are good .....Google them

Kiley Clinton Engineering

52 - 53 Birchall Street

Birmingham

Birmingham B12 0RP

 

[Tazio]

Rog, as per my mail I used www.ics-steeringspecialist.co.uk, but agree with Roger, Kiley Clinton is a good shout too.