Re: [DML] Replacing Delorean Steering Rack

[Chris Murley <qumefox@xxxxxxxxx>]

mike p wrote:

>Hi All,
>  Can anyone please tell me the steps involved in replacing the STEERING  RACK on a Delorean?  Mine is shot, even thought the person who  sold me the car said it only had 40K miles on it!  
>  
>  How difficult a job is a steering rack replacement, easy, medium  difficulty, very difficult?  Can it be done standing the car on  ramps?, on jacks?   Can it be replaced discretely without  having to replace anything else?  Will the front end need  alignment afterwards.  
>  
>  Thank you for any advice!
>  
>  Sincerely,
>  Mike
>  #5781
>  
>  
>
Your car might only have 40k miles on it, but you have to remember it's 
25 years old too. that can take more of a toll on seals than miles 
sometimes.  My guess is your problem is the seals on the rack leaked and 
the rack got used with no oil in it and eventually wore out. That or the 
boots tore or cracked and it got debris in it to the same end.

Removing it isn't really a big issue. There are just four bolts actually 
attaching it to the frame. Then you have the tierod ends to remove, and 
also the coupling to the steering shaft.  As far as needing an alignment 
afterwards.. I would say it would be in your best interests. When you 
remove the tierod ends, you can count the threads it takes to unscrew 
them, and make sure you reattach them to the new rack with the same 
number of turns and you should be close to where you were originally 
with the tow in. But if it was me i'd have it checked professionally 
just to make sure you didn't mess up.

As far as getting the rack out.. Well. That might me more of a 
challange. I removed mine from the frame after I had the rest of the 
front suspension removed so it was pretty easy for me. I don't know 
about with everything still intact though. I'm sure one of the vendors 
or other DMLers can chime in with this info.

I also now have a question for the vendors out there. Do any of you 
offer seal kits for the steering rack so we can rebuild them ourselves 
if we want to? I know they're rebuildable or people wanting them for 
cores would be pointless.  I know the rack on my car is good, so I don't 
see the point of shelling out $300 for another one. If none of the 
vendors offer anything i'll just have to hunt around locally to find 
something.  It's just a rack afterall, not exactly odd technology.. and 
my dad swears the whole front suspension and rack looks just like that  
used on mustang II's, and thererfor has been used on many a street rod, 
and as much as I hate to admit it, after looking through alot of his 
hotrod and street rod magizines, I agree with him. The front suspension 
setup on the D is very similar.

-- 

Chris
VIN# 03209
http://badger.brazi.net/index.pl/delorean





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