I have my car up on the rack looking for reasons for a shimmy I have been getting in the front end. It is pretty bad at first drive of the day and then seems to go away pretty much. I thought I was going to find worn tie-rods, but I found the rack actually moves from side to side about 1/8" each way when I move the wheel back and forth. The rubber bushings look OK, but I guess a new set is in order.
Anybody done these on their car? I wonder if the hoses have to come off the rack in order to pull it out far enough to put in new bushings?
First drive of the day sounds like square tires. That's not saying that you don't need bushing but tires will certainly accelerate the shake.
i have this problem in the denali - sometimes it wobbles like the balance is out for the first few minutes - can't find that one
on the 968 though, worn caster block bushings will absolutely do that
I thought about tires as well. That explains it going away after a while. The tires are new, but I guess that doesn't count them out.
Flash, I have new castor blocks and the control arm on one side was replaced as well. I checked both ball joints a short time back and they were fine.
bummer - obviously you can determine if it's tires, but otherwise, strut play?
certainly you want to make sure there is no play in the rack
something just occurred to me too - didn't you just change the upper strut bearings? if so, did you make the mistake of installing the ones without the weights?
I rebuilt the struts with new Koni Sport inserts a short time ago. I reused my upper strut bearings and they had the weights on them, however one of the weights snapped off as it was just glued on. I have seen some with rivets holding them on, but not mine.
I don't see how those weights could have any effect on the shimmy though.
I just looked up the rack bushings and there are Delrin units available for $79 each. WOW! OE rubber units are only $8.95 each.
i know it seems odd, but that is exactly why the weights were put there - it seems that a bit of mass up there calms down the shimmy - seems like a bandaid fix to me, but that's what it is - i'd have the weight tack welded back on
the rack attack bushing does hold the rack in place, but it is a ROYAL pain in the butt to install, unless you are willing to drop the rack entirely, not that the rubber one would be much easier
I had a bad steering rack about 1.5 years ago. It was so bad that I could turn the steering wheel 90-180 degrees and the car still went straight. Scary? Not so bad at 5-10 mph -- hey we are car guys right? One of the rack mount bolts broke. The movement also tore the high pressure fluid hose. Replaced the whole mess.
Roland
The Delrin bushing for driver side is all that is needed to eliminate side movement in the Steering rack. It has a shoulder to lock rack in position. This also improves steering response.
You can replace passenger side bushing with rubber (until it melts again)
So I only need one of the expensive little fellows......good to know. Thanks
YEP. I have them in stock...