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 Post subject: Steering rack leak
PostPosted: Fri Mar 03, 2006 6:49 pm 
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1098cc
1098cc
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Joined: Sun May 30, 2004 7:12 pm
Posts: 1458
Location: Adelaide
Who can explain to me what is going on here?
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There is a small leak on the ground that looks like oil. What fluid is this? How serious is it? Can I just replace the boot or is it a rack out job?

Any advice appreciated
Dat


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 Post subject: Wally
PostPosted: Fri Mar 03, 2006 8:09 pm 
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1360cc
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Joined: Sun Apr 11, 2004 11:32 am
Posts: 12390
Location: Sthrn HiLoLands, NSW, Australia
Yep...wally gaiter is cactus....you need to search on steering racks and work out what to do....some use oil...the Doc packs em with grease.

Buy a new gaiter or two and maybe some tie rods ends if they need doing....undo the tie rod and slip the old gaiter/boot off...helps to have that side jacked high :idea: ...drain old/save as much as you can and top up/refill whatever with lubricant....and either tie wire, use the original clamps or zip tie the gaiter/boot back on.....re-install the Tie Rod (AFTER, FIRST) taking a measurement of where it was at/counting the turns (I do both for safety ) :D

Oh...much more driving is not recommended until fixed....you risk crap ruining the nice clean interior of your rack or worse running dry and stuffing the rack.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Mar 03, 2006 9:45 pm 
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Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 6:19 pm
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Location: near Baulkham Hills, NSW
Mini places like Karcraft sell new rack boots as a pair, they are pretty cheap.
Undo the tie rod end, and the boot clips. remove boot, fit new one and tighten only the big clip.
Then stick a pump action oilcan nozzle inside boot next to the tierod, and pump some oilz in there.
I use 90/140EP or whatever heavy gear oil I can get.
Move rack from lock to lock, if you have put too much oil in it will squirt the excess out. Then refit the small clamp.
I have done this on my 1970 original rack a few times over the years, it has now done ~140,000 miles and is still not loose. 8)

Modern rack grease can be used in Mini racks, but best to do that on assembly. If it's an old oil filled rack I'd just top up with oil.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Mar 03, 2006 10:09 pm 
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1098cc
1098cc
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Joined: Sun May 30, 2004 7:12 pm
Posts: 1458
Location: Adelaide
Thanks guys - it sounds like this one is not too bad then.

After being off the road for 3 months with a blown engine this is the last thing I needed. I was dreading having to pull the rack out.

But just replace the rubber boots and fill up with some oil sounds do-able.


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Mar 03, 2006 11:57 pm 
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Joined: Wed Jun 09, 2004 3:35 pm
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then get a wheel alignment.. :)


or remember howmany turns you needed to undo the nut.. :idea:

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