steering rack knock

[timb2117]

Hi - after my last track day (awesome day out!) I noted slight knock in steering when on hard right lock at manoeuvering speeds.

Non dismantling inspection revels that the left front steering arm has a knock/ slight play in it, when grasped firmly and wiggled with car on ground.

It does not seem to be coming from the knuckle joint at wheel end, more from where the arm goes into the gaiter on the end of steering rack. The right arm has no play.

How hard is the rack to work on and any guesses as to the culprit part? As a sad PS should i can the next day out until attended to?

[john milner]

I can't answer the question but filling the rack via the adjuster with a mix of grease and EP gear oil might mask the problem to postpone replacement.

[rj]

Usually the bushings at the ends of the rack that have worn out.

[timb2117]

Thanks RJ is there anywhere i can get just the bushings? And yup john I will precede that with your suggestion.

[rj]

Unfortunately Caterham don't sell them and have exclusive rights, but Titan do a repair kit for the Elise rack that might fit.

They are just ordinary Igus bushings, so you could source them "anywhere" was I told.

I ended up making bronze bushings for mine when I refurbished it.

 

[timb2117]

Ahh gotcha I have got a lathe so bronze may be the way to go, I'll fish out the old ones for sizing.

thanks again Tim

[rj]

https://www.lotus7.club/forum/techtalk/steering-rack-refurb-0

[Mechanical Moz]

Looks like Elise Parts sell a phosphor bronze cup upgrade (assuming they fit the Caterham rack - I don't personally know).  Do they look like the cups in the Caterham rack?

https://www.eliseparts.com/shop/steering-br-suspension-1/steering-ancillaries/2-x-steering-rack-phosphor-bronze-cups/

 

[timb2117]

Many thanks for your time, in essence if its worth doing its worth doing well, so I will follow those directions in the link.