Steering rack

[Dimski]

Morning!

I've got a nasty vibration, together with knocking noise (audible) coming through the steering column, from O/S front wheel.

I had assumed a shot bush somewhere, but 2 garages failed to find it. A good local repair center, with all the laser geo gubbins had it up on there ramps, checked the car over, had 3 mechanics under it looking, (wheel bearings, bushs etc) and concluded that there was a clunk, together with a movement of the wheel coming from the steering rack.

Are the PAS steering racks the same for the 1.6 and 1.8 mk1? I nearly cried when I saw the price online for a new one. Looking to find a second hand one and I'd like to know if either will suffice. Or do I need to ensure it's a 1.8 version?

Cheers in advance.

[snotrag]

Track rod end?

Steering wheel screwed on tight enough?

[BliarOut]

Kiley Clinton in Birmingham do a superb refurb service. They did my Griff one after three other rebuilds elsewhere failed.

[Dimski]

snotrag said:

Track rod end?

Steering wheel screwed on tight enough?

It doesn't feel like a track rod end, there's no play... it feels like it's coming through the column, and is particularly noticeable over a bumps. Especially when turning slightly right, and the RH front wheel is slightly unweighted.

The garage who suggested the steering rack will have checked the trackrod end. Although I'd better ask and make sure.

[NeoVR]

Autolink do second hand ones for under hundred quid... they seem to think the PAS is same on all the mk1's

http://www.autolinkmx5.com/steering-parts-186-c.as...

[MX-5 Lazza]

Irishfinn on PlanetMX5 is stripping a scrapped Mk1 at the moment. I know it still has it's power steering rack. It would be nice & cheap but you'd have to remove it yourself and it's in Aylesbury...

[Dimski]

MX-5 Lazza said:

Irishfinn on PlanetMX5 is stripping a scrapped Mk1 at the moment. I know it still has it's power steering rack. It would be nice & cheap but you'd have to remove it yourself and it's in Aylesbury...

And I'm in Pembrokeshire. I think I'll have to rule that one out.

I think I'll go for one from Autolink. My only concern is if this doesn't fix the problem.

[snotrag]

Have you checked the mounting bushes/brackets?

They are just some U/C shaped brackets over the rack - if these were knacked it could be wobbling a bit.

[franv8]

Jack it up, lift the front wheels off the ground and see if you can feel anything, may be best served (whilst it is on axle stnads NOT just a hydraulic jack) to put the key in the ignition to disengage the steering lock and then go to one of the wheels and move it from lok to lock from there, that might give you some idea. Next idea would be to disconnect the track rod ends, and then just try moving the steering lock to lock, or have a friend do it while to see if there is still a clunk or otehrwise?

How about the UJ in the column, it may also/instead have one of the rubber disk things, these can fall apart/come loose.