[Ryan]

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?

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[gbarrier]

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.

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[flash]

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

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[Ryan]

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.

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[flash]

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?

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[Ryan]

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.

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[flash]

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

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[968Syncro]

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

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[RS Barn]

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)

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[Ryan]

So I only need one of the expensive little fellows......good to know. Thanks

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[RS Barn]

YEP. I have them in stock...

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