Steering Rack Damper Pad Adjustment

hancym · Apr 2nd, 2011, 18:25

Would someone please be able to post a photo of the steering rack damper pad adjustment screw? And... if possible the exact proceedure for taking up the play and not over tightening? Is there a lock nut or a recommended torque?

Also could anyone please comment on any successful adjustment’s that have been carried out to cure a clunk or knock in the steering? I've been told I need and new rack but I'm not entirely convinced and the problem is not that bad...yet.

Is this an mot failure?

Clan · Apr 2nd, 2011, 18:59

imagine the car raised in the air , stand under the drivers seat and look at the rack , on the right side facing you but pointing down about 45 degrees is an alluminium round boss with a 17 mm AF hexagonal nut in the centre , there are calibration marks all around the edge .
It might be difficult to get to and you may have to bend a 17 mm combination spanner to fit .. The T6 is the easiest to do funnily enough!
Mark the nut in relation to a calibration mark so you know where you started from ,Move the nut 2 calibration marks clockwise at first then try the car .. adjust one more if not enough . but dont go more than 4 or the steering may be stiff... If you cant find the point which just gets rid of play yet doesnt make the steering stiff you will need a new rack ...

The adjusting nut is a stiff thread so just turn it , it has no lock nut .

shouldnt be a MOT Failure unless there is measurable play at the steering wheel or in the rack .

hancym · Apr 4th, 2011, 01:59

Thanks Clan!

I don't suppose by any chance you have a few photos of the underside of the rack show this? I was under the car at the garage I use on Saturday when they replaced the bevel gear drive shaft seal but can't for the life of me remember seeing the pad nut. Is this somehting I can get at with the car on the ground or will I need to have it on a ramp? It's such a big lump I find it very difficult to do stuff at home.

Clan · Apr 4th, 2011, 18:11

No photo i am afraid , but you do need the car raised on a lift , its not easily to get at the adjuster nut but you can see it up through the subframe ..

kdst5 · Apr 5th, 2011, 13:26

Out of interest is the steering rack damper pad adjustment screw also on the V70s?

hancym · Apr 9th, 2011, 06:11

Can anyone please tell me is the subframe has to be dropped to replace the steering rack on a 2004 XC90 T6 or is there enough room to slide it out to one side?

Clan · Apr 9th, 2011, 07:45

Yes you have to lower the rear end of the subrame , dont forget to use new bolts for the subrame and nuts for the steering rack ..

cobra34 · Apr 12th, 2011, 21:16

All steering racks have this adjustment but sometimes you will also find that you have excessive play in the tie rod arms this is common in the XC90`s and V70`s and the new S80 I have seen quite a few of these but an easy fix. My company has been rebuilding these for years plus the pumps as well. hope this helps.

hancym · May 28th, 2011, 19:31

Thanks for all your help today Clan. From what you described and my observations this morning I’ve come up with the bespoke spanner in the pictures. I won’t be able to test it out until I scrounge the use of a lift again so what do you think? Will it do? Have I got the "angle of the dangle" correct on the shaft of the spanner? I’ve tried to give it enough depth so it will sit nicely on the nut yet slim enough to clear all the hardware around the rack.

Clan · May 28th, 2011, 19:52

It certainly looks possible you might have to fine tune the shape , but good luck

Apr 2nd, 2011, 18:25	#1
hancym Master Member Last Online: Feb 25th, 2024 15:40 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Norwich	Steering Rack Damper Pad Adjustment Would someone please be able to post a photo of the steering rack damper pad adjustment screw? And... if possible the exact proceedure for taking up the play and not over tightening? Is there a lock nut or a recommended torque? Also could anyone please comment on any successful adjustment’s that have been carried out to cure a clunk or knock in the steering? I've been told I need and new rack but I'm not entirely convinced and the problem is not that bad...yet. Is this an mot failure? Last edited by hancym; Apr 2nd, 2011 at 18:28.

Apr 2nd, 2011, 18:59	#2
Clan Experienced Member Last Online: Today 11:14 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: L/H side	imagine the car raised in the air , stand under the drivers seat and look at the rack , on the right side facing you but pointing down about 45 degrees is an alluminium round boss with a 17 mm AF hexagonal nut in the centre , there are calibration marks all around the edge . It might be difficult to get to and you may have to bend a 17 mm combination spanner to fit .. The T6 is the easiest to do funnily enough! Mark the nut in relation to a calibration mark so you know where you started from ,Move the nut 2 calibration marks clockwise at first then try the car .. adjust one more if not enough . but dont go more than 4 or the steering may be stiff... If you cant find the point which just gets rid of play yet doesnt make the steering stiff you will need a new rack ... The adjusting nut is a stiff thread so just turn it , it has no lock nut . shouldnt be a MOT Failure unless there is measurable play at the steering wheel or in the rack . __________________ My comments are only based on my opinions and vast experience .

Apr 4th, 2011, 18:11	#4
Clan Experienced Member Last Online: Today 11:14 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: L/H side	No photo i am afraid , but you do need the car raised on a lift , its not easily to get at the adjuster nut but you can see it up through the subframe .. __________________ My comments are only based on my opinions and vast experience .

Apr 9th, 2011, 07:45	#7
Clan Experienced Member Last Online: Today 11:14 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: L/H side	Yes you have to lower the rear end of the subrame , dont forget to use new bolts for the subrame and nuts for the steering rack .. __________________ My comments are only based on my opinions and vast experience .

May 28th, 2011, 19:52	#10
Clan Experienced Member Last Online: Today 11:14 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: L/H side	It certainly looks possible you might have to fine tune the shape , but good luck __________________ My comments are only based on my opinions and vast experience .

Apr 4th, 2011, 01:59	#3
hancym Master Member Last Online: Feb 25th, 2024 15:40 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Norwich	Thanks Clan! I don't suppose by any chance you have a few photos of the underside of the rack show this? I was under the car at the garage I use on Saturday when they replaced the bevel gear drive shaft seal but can't for the life of me remember seeing the pad nut. Is this somehting I can get at with the car on the ground or will I need to have it on a ramp? It's such a big lump I find it very difficult to do stuff at home.

Apr 5th, 2011, 13:26	#5
kdst5 Senior Member Last Online: Today 12:55 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Horsham	Out of interest is the steering rack damper pad adjustment screw also on the V70s?

Apr 9th, 2011, 06:11	#6
hancym Master Member Last Online: Feb 25th, 2024 15:40 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Norwich	Can anyone please tell me is the subframe has to be dropped to replace the steering rack on a 2004 XC90 T6 or is there enough room to slide it out to one side?

Apr 12th, 2011, 21:16	#8
cobra34 New Member Last Online: Sep 19th, 2019 18:18 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: heckmondwike	All steering racks have this adjustment but sometimes you will also find that you have excessive play in the tie rod arms this is common in the XC90`s and V70`s and the new S80 I have seen quite a few of these but an easy fix. My company has been rebuilding these for years plus the pumps as well. hope this helps.

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