[no subject]

[george caprita <dobedoc2000@xxxx> Subject:RACK UPDATE]

Group: There seems to be a lot of confusion about my rack post. Not enough detail, will try to clear it up. On 7/17/03, I ordered a rebuilt rack from
DMC Humble, Texas. Before installing, I moved it lock to lock. It was hard to
move, noisey, and "sticky" in some places. I called DMC and talked to the
rebuilder; he said it was normal, to install it, connect tie rods and try it
then. I did,aligned wheels and drove it. It steered worse than my old one.
Hard to steer with excessive play at center. Now my friend, Gary, gets
involved. He said we should have it taken apart--we did. It was a mess
(details in letter to DMC following this). Gary then called DMC and talked
to the same man I did, asking him what they did to rebuild a rack. After he
finished, Gary told him we had a problem with one we got from him and had it
taken apart. He said, "Oh no, you shouldn't have done that!". He said to
reassemble it and send it back.
In the meantime, I found a used one that Josh Haldeman had for sale in
Cincinnati. We went to get it and took the DMC rack (not assembled yet) to
show it to him. He agreed -- not acceptable! He said we should take his
apart, make sure it is OK, if not, bring it back. Got back, built crate,
assembled rack, sent to DMC. A week later checked used rack, big
difference. Plenty of oil, nothing showed wear; gears shiny, tube clean,
inner and outer tie rods, tension disc, seal all good- except pinion
bearings had rust on them from condensation(?) Could have cleaned them up,
but Gary said replace them. He called P.J. Grady and was told they normally
don't sell rack parts, but would send them. Then Gary said it's all apart,
let's replace all the parts. So I called Grady, told him about the DMC rack;
he asked why I didn't get it from him? I said because it was $45.00
cheaper. I assumed he got his from them and resold them. I got an
education for that remark!!! Got parts, put in rack, installed on car;
drove car two times, put in storage. This spring get car out, take rack off,
send to Grady to get it done right. Will never try this again!! Sorry,
Josh, Gary screwed up your perfectly good rack!! (I'm not taking all the
heat for this one!) The day I shipped rack, got notice the core was
credited to my card. As of this date, have not received explanation or
refund from DMC. Copy of the letter to DMC follows:

> October 22, 2003
>
> DeLorean Motor Company
> 15023 Eddie Drive
> Humble, Texas 77396 USA
>
> RE: Invoice #81663 Invoice Date: 07-17-03
>
> Dear DMC:
> I called your company and talked to the rebuilder about noise and
stiffness,
> tie rod ends were not the same--one had wire ties on boot. He said to
leave
> it on and mount wheels and turn rack wtih them on; said noise and
stiffness
> were normal. I did this but it was not much better. I connected steering
> wheel, moved rack through full range wheels off ground, not very
reassuring.
> Aligned wheels, drove car. Steering was worse than old rack, hard to turn
> left to right on sharp turning, excessive play at center. Effort to move
> left or right from center.
> Removed rack, took it to friend who is a parts manager for
Ford/Honda/Subaru
> and asked if they could disassemble it to determine if it had a problem.
I
> was called to come in and see what was found. The gear rack, two or three
> teeth showed some wear but was deemed serviceable. The bearings each had
> one dark, slightly pitted undersize ball-.003. The cups showed wear on
the
> radius-borderline serviceable. The pinion is heavily pitted, lower
bearing
> shaft surface of pinion is.020-undersize and worn on a taper! Not
> serviceable. Inside of gear rack tube is dirty, rusted, and no oil in it.
> Removed one inner tie rod (on driver side), it had oil in it with some
spots
> of rust. Disc had wear on one side, oil hole was plugged solid. Retaining
> nuts had no pin installed. Right side not removed but oil hole was also
> plugged and no pin. Hole in tube for pre-load bushing is so corroded it
> cannot move freely. Only new parts found: mismatched tie rod ends -
> pre-load bushing- boots.
> With your company's integrity and reputation for excellence, I am certain
> that this rack, in this condition, left your shop by mistake. I have been
> on the "list"
> for about six months and have yet to read a negative comment about your
> porducts. I have since acquired a used rack in good condition and
> Honda/Subaru is rebuilding it for me.
> I request you return my old rack (it can't be as bad as this one, with
only
> 30K miles on it) along with a full refund, please.
> Sincerely,
> George Caprita
>
>
>
>
>



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