One thing leads to another... ;-)
Discussion
You know how it is: you prop the car up on a wonky pile of bricks to take a peek underneath, and before you know where you are, there you are: up to your armpits in mank and clag.
In my case it was really a continuation (or would that be 'continuance' or 'continuosity' if the Yanks had their way?
) of work I started last year whilst the engine was out. I pulled the gearbox and PAS out to sort out one or two problems, and cleaned up the rack then repainted it. I also painted the chassis, and hereby begins a cautionary tale. The rack is fixed using 4 large bolts with nyloc nuts. I duly applied suitable leverage when tightening them. However, over a period of time, I noticed a vagueness to the steering and occasional clonks from the front end, but couldn't seem to twig what was happening. A slight PAS fluid weep appeared. Things came to a head when I took Richard Aldous out for a spin last year: I was appalled at how badly the car semed to handle at speed (sorry Richard, didn't mention it at the time 
)
Anyway, I got underneath to investigate the fluid leak and realised the rack was loose on the chassis! I think what had happened is that the two liberal layers of black Smoothrite had compressed, allowing the rack to move around, hence the clonks and vagueness (it actually trashed both front tyres as well - bit of a bummer as they were expensive Yokohamas
).
Anyway, I tightened the rack, but the fluid weep persisted and of course that would be an MOT fail. So last week I pulled the rack out and stripped it; found some microscopic chips out of an O-ring that seals the rack tube into the pinion housing. Called Power Steering Services who quoted me £20 to make up a set of seals. Or, they would 'recon' the rack for £80. I thought that was a good deal until they pointed out that it was just 8 O-rings for £80, not a rebush as well (allegedly the bronze bushes that the rack slides in don't wear... hmmm. Tell that to my lathe).
So I figured I had little to lose by sourcing my own O-rings. Two quid later and the rack is back together and back in the car, no leaks so far... touching every available piece of wood (fine teak veneer on these B&W speakers of mine!).
Anyway, to get the rack out I had to pull the antiroll bar: I replaced the mounting bushes a while back, but the end bushes are in a parlous state. Turns out they are Superflex polyurethane items, however it didn't occur to whoever fitted them to clean up the rusty a/r bar first, so the rust has acted like a giant file and shredded the bushes.
Now, I acquired an air compressor from a mate last week, and my dad gave me his 25-year-old air drill, so I spent a happy half-hour with said drill and a 3M stripping disc, taking the a/r bar and drop links back to shiny steel. Then it was off to Halfords for more Smoothrite: I was going to paint the bits red (only colour I had in the cupboard!) but I thought that's a bit Maxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx for a Wedge, so I opted for satin black.
I called Superflex to get some new bushes but they're all on 3 weeks back order! At least the antiroll bar will have dried by then...
Whilst I was underneath, I rewired the starter to the battery with a new length of cable from Vehicle Wiring Products (is this starting to sound like one of those articles in Practical Classics where they name-drop all the companies who help them out? )... and on the agenda for replacement this week are some of the connectors in the headlamp pod recesses (also obtained from VWP!).
By gum, it's all go with a Wedge in the garage....
Ian
In my case it was really a continuation (or would that be 'continuance' or 'continuosity' if the Yanks had their way?
) of work I started last year whilst the engine was out. I pulled the gearbox and PAS out to sort out one or two problems, and cleaned up the rack then repainted it. I also painted the chassis, and hereby begins a cautionary tale. The rack is fixed using 4 large bolts with nyloc nuts. I duly applied suitable leverage when tightening them. However, over a period of time, I noticed a vagueness to the steering and occasional clonks from the front end, but couldn't seem to twig what was happening. A slight PAS fluid weep appeared. Things came to a head when I took Richard Aldous out for a spin last year: I was appalled at how badly the car semed to handle at speed (sorry Richard, didn't mention it at the time ) Anyway, I got underneath to investigate the fluid leak and realised the rack was loose on the chassis! I think what had happened is that the two liberal layers of black Smoothrite had compressed, allowing the rack to move around, hence the clonks and vagueness (it actually trashed both front tyres as well - bit of a bummer as they were expensive Yokohamas
). Anyway, I tightened the rack, but the fluid weep persisted and of course that would be an MOT fail. So last week I pulled the rack out and stripped it; found some microscopic chips out of an O-ring that seals the rack tube into the pinion housing. Called Power Steering Services who quoted me £20 to make up a set of seals. Or, they would 'recon' the rack for £80. I thought that was a good deal until they pointed out that it was just 8 O-rings for £80, not a rebush as well (allegedly the bronze bushes that the rack slides in don't wear... hmmm. Tell that to my lathe).
So I figured I had little to lose by sourcing my own O-rings. Two quid later and the rack is back together and back in the car, no leaks so far... touching every available piece of wood (fine teak veneer on these B&W speakers of mine!).
Anyway, to get the rack out I had to pull the antiroll bar: I replaced the mounting bushes a while back, but the end bushes are in a parlous state. Turns out they are Superflex polyurethane items, however it didn't occur to whoever fitted them to clean up the rusty a/r bar first, so the rust has acted like a giant file and shredded the bushes.
Now, I acquired an air compressor from a mate last week, and my dad gave me his 25-year-old air drill, so I spent a happy half-hour with said drill and a 3M stripping disc, taking the a/r bar and drop links back to shiny steel. Then it was off to Halfords for more Smoothrite: I was going to paint the bits red (only colour I had in the cupboard!) but I thought that's a bit Maxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx for a Wedge, so I opted for satin black.
I called Superflex to get some new bushes but they're all on 3 weeks back order! At least the antiroll bar will have dried by then...
Whilst I was underneath, I rewired the starter to the battery with a new length of cable from Vehicle Wiring Products (is this starting to sound like one of those articles in Practical Classics where they name-drop all the companies who help them out?
)... and on the agenda for replacement this week are some of the connectors in the headlamp pod recesses (also obtained from VWP!). By gum, it's all go with a Wedge in the garage....
Ian
Things came to a head when I took Richard Aldous out for a spin last year: I was appalled at how badly the car semed to handle at speed (sorry Richard, didn't mention it at the time
Ian
Tell you what was worse .... Richard Aldous took me out in his 390 Pre Chassis work being done .... That absolutly scared the crap out of me ..... when Richard had a go of my 400, he senced sonething was wrong...
Anyway, can you imagine his suprise when Richard Smith wouldnt let him drive his TVR home when it failed its MOT (Im going back a few years now) The rest is history
jvaughan said: Tell you what was worse .... Richard Aldous took me out in his 390 Pre Chassis work being done .... That absolutly scared the crap out of me ..... when Richard had a go of my 400, he senced sonething was wrong...
Anyway, can you imagine his suprise when Richard Smith wouldnt let him drive his TVR home when it failed its MOT (Im going back a few years now) The rest is history
No, I only sensed something was wrong when Mr Smith poked a screwdriver through the chassis
I laugh now (over two years later!), but I get the car back on Wednesday, and have got one f'ing mighty bill to pay
I didn't notice any problem with the steering on your car Ian, and you still managed to produce a couple of slides easily enough
. Probably means that my steering is shite as well!! Rich.
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