Andrew Posted October 15, 2015 Report Share Posted October 15, 2015 Hello all you good people I have a question regards the steering on my herald. With the car on the ground I can move my steering wheel approx one inch before any movement at the wheels is this normal, will it fail the MOT and if so is an adjustment I can do or is it a new rack required. What is the best remedy. Regards Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted October 15, 2015 Report Share Posted October 15, 2015 Ideally grab an assistant to twiddle the wheel, and then you can have a look at the steering column in the engine bay. Does the column where it comes out the bulkhead move OK? Now look at the flexi coupling, between the shaft and the rack. Fiddly little thing, often a problem. Does teh movement go from the column to the rack OK? Does the rack move in the mounts? Report back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted October 16, 2015 Report Share Posted October 16, 2015 Yes, that amount of play will be an MoT fail. See: http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_220.htm Jack up the car's front and wiggle the road wheel side to side, while looking at the steering arms. Wear in the track road ends is the most likely place. Replacement is a straightforward DiY, if you follow the instructions. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted October 16, 2015 Report Share Posted October 16, 2015 if UJ is sound and there's input shaft rotation without rack movement (type of free free play) then its remove the big nut on the rack and remove a thin shim , refit and check Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted October 16, 2015 Report Share Posted October 16, 2015 That may not help, Pete - if the centre teeth on the rack are worn, then talking up the play there will make it very stiff at full lock, where the wear will be negligable. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted October 16, 2015 Report Share Posted October 16, 2015 We need to hear back about where the play is happening! My money is on the coupling. Never seen track rod ends worn enough to give an inch of play at the wheel! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted October 18, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2015 Hello guys I have done the required check with an assistant to move the wheel from side to side, I I can confirm the play is in the UJ between the column and the rack. The strange thing is it looks a shiny new unit, two questions 1) can I tighten the bolts that hold it together have you ever hear of them working loose and 2) is it an easy job to replace if so what is the best method in your opinion or is a rack out the car job Regards Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted October 18, 2015 Report Share Posted October 18, 2015 undo the telescopic clamp just below the column tube inside the car and you can pull the column upwards ( think thats right) read up the manual on retighetning this safety device , its simple but needs some thought , this allows collumn to collapse in shunts and allows height adjustments to raise the handwheel clear of the knee's. dont take the rack off, the all metal fiesta type uj are a big improvement you can rebush the old style , and if bolts are loose yes retighten them, some have locking wire used, and there must be a earth link across the two halves, not needed on the modern metal uj version. pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted October 18, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2015 Hello all This afternoon I have cured the problem. All four Bolts on the coupling between the steering shaft and the rack were loose, it was a fidley job as the bolts are Allen keys not bolt heads, what I do not understand is why all four bolts were loose I can understand one or even two but four, it makes me wonder if they were ever tightened when it was fitted. Thank you all for your guidence and pointing me in the right direction. No dought I will be asking for your help in the near future. But I love this forum for all the help and support Regards Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted October 18, 2015 Report Share Posted October 18, 2015 The reason is the rubber bushes in the uj have perished. They are known to heave a VERY short lifespan (the repro ones) and if you have made it solid that may cause an issue too, it needs to be flexible. The best alternative is to fit a solid UJ coupling, about £20 (group 4 escort UJ will do the trick, I have used them for years) or from one of the usual suppliers. Do not waste any money on a new standard part, it WILL fail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted October 18, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2015 Ok I will get one and fit thanks for the advice Regards Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody47uk Posted October 19, 2015 Report Share Posted October 19, 2015 The old rubbers in the steering uj can be replaced by poly ones. From Chic Doig, I believe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted October 19, 2015 Report Share Posted October 19, 2015 I did that on one car (my old vitesse) HOWEVER most of the couplings have the through bolts crimped so you need to be clever to get them out, or use a really old original coupling that is wired to stop the bolts undoing. You cannot just relace teh bolts, they are shouldered so goodness knows if you can get new ones. Also the cost of the poly bushes is about the same as a new solid UJ. Makes it a no brainer to me. I have run solid UJ's in all my cars since the vitesse On another note, I had heard somebody used small viton O rings to replace worn bushes in a coupling to good effect. And lasted well. Also pretty cheap...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted October 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2015 Hi all job done new solid UJ fitted all play gone yes it was a bit of a faf as trying to get a spanner on the clamp bolt was a three handed job Thanks for your guidance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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