Steering: Power: Steering rack

[Jungle_Jim]

Hi all

Just failed the MOT - no popping corks on champagne bottles yet - inner ball joints of the steering rack are worn. The mechanic said I needed to replace the steering rack - is that correct?

And if so - what are my options? Am I imagining things or did I once see that you could get a reconditioned/exchange pas steering rack? I don't really want to have a 2nd hand one fitted with limited mileage left on it, if it means doing it all over again in a couple of years.

Thanks again,
John

'92 K 240SE B200F 5sp-man estate.

[classicswede]

You can just replace the tie rods but the seals in pass racks tend to leak with age so best to have a full recon.

I might have the right version in stock but will need to look

[hennabm]

Hi Jungle Jim

Just curious here, but what did the tester fail it under?

TIA

[Jungle_Jim]

Originally Posted by hennabm

Hi Jungle Jim

Just curious here, but what did the tester fail it under?

TIA

Hi Hennabm

The refusal slip says 'excessive play' on both inner Ball Joints. I asked him to clarify this and he said it was the ball joints in the steering rack - and that the rack therefore needs replacing. It's also failed on one of the lower suspension ball joints.

Thanks
John

[hennabm]

There is not a fail for this in the MOT manual. The only way they can fail it for the inner rack joints is if there is excessive free play at the steering wheel. For the 240 it will have to be in excess of 13mm measured at the rim.

I'm not saying that they may not need doing but the tester has used the wrong criteria and it may not even be a justifiable failure.

[Jungle_Jim]

Originally Posted by hennabm

There is not a fail for this in the MOT manual. The only way they can fail it for the inner rack joints is if there is excessive free play at the steering wheel. For the 240 it will have to be in excess of 13mm measured at the rim.

I'm not saying that they may not need doing but the tester has used the wrong criteria and it may not even be a justifiable failure.

Thanks a lot for that hennabm,
I'll show it to another mechanic this week. There is some play in the steering wheel - I'll measure that shortly - but a big part of that may be the play in the steering column bearings, which have always had play in this car since I've had it. There is a bit of light knocking, grumbling and play in the front suspension - it does need looking at.

John

[migrator]

"I'll show it to another mechanic this week."

Take it to a VOSA centre if there is one near you. Explain to them your concerns about the failure reason and ask them to have a look. I believe that their check will be free but don't quote me on that.

[Jungle_Jim]

Originally Posted by hennabm

For the 240 it will have to be in excess of 13mm measured at the rim.

Hi Hennabm
I just measured the play on the steering wheel while stationary - it's around 15mm to be honest. It's greater than 13mm.

The bottom suspension ball joints need replacing - MOT fail. I don't know if replacing both of those and maybe the track rod ends would take the play down to 13mm.

I'll see this mechanic tomorrow - and find out about steering racks and labour costs.

And if anyone's got tips about reconditioned steering racks, that'd be appreciated.

Thanks again
John

[hennabm]

Originally Posted by migrator

"I'll show it to another mechanic this week."

Take it to a VOSA centre if there is one near you. Explain to them your concerns about the failure reason and ask them to have a look. I believe that their check will be free but don't quote me on that.

The VOSA are now the DVSA and they may take a look but the official way is to put in an appeal. Every garage is able to print an appeal form.

This will cost the price of an MOT and the DVSA will reinspect the whole vehicle to see if all faults were justifiable or not. This is so long as no repairs have been made to the car since the original MOT.
If the DVSA agree with the customer fully then the money will be refunded. If not then you have had to pay another test fee.
If the DVSA find against the garage they will take some action against them, of some sort.

If the car had passed the test and the customer believed it should have failed then the DVSA will reinspect for free.

[Clifford Pope]

Suspension ball joint and inner rod end wear will both cause play at the steering wheel. There should be no play in either. They are cheap and easy to do, I'd just do them anyway rather than trying to contest the MOT verdict.

The inner rod ends unscrew from the ends of the rack. You need a big wrench like a stillson to grip it.
There are two kinds. I have a vague memory that the earlier kind are adjustable - you unscrew the knuckle and remove shims to reduce the play. But the later are not dismantleable - you just screw in a replacement rod with a new joint.