How difficult is replacing steering rack for DIYer?

[anewman]

Just wondering if a home DIYer with little more than ramps, axle stands, socket set, torque wrench etc would be able to replace the steering rack on a 94 Favorit without any serious obstacles. Haynes rates the job as a 3 star. I have managed replacing rear wheel bearings and removing rear suspension struts to replace spring cups, both Haynes 3 star jobs.

I am intending to do the track rod ends anyway as they need doing, so thought as I also had an advisory, "rack worn at offside", mayaswell consider replacing that and doing the job and getting tracking adjusted for both things all in one.

I presume a new or recon steering rack would come pre-greased?

Based on Haynes description it seems relatively easy, but my main concerns are accessibility, snapping nuts/bolts, and putting it back together again. Oh and having the steering break afterwards and causing an accident

Just wondering if anyone has any experience of this job.

Thanks in advance.

[poorly_felicia]

im not sure on the favourit, but the rack calmp bolts on my felly have proven "EXTREMELY" diffucily to undo as they are a combination of funny obscured angle and excessive threadlock.

i managed to loosen one but really could not be botherd with the rest. just did it up again

[rigsby]

Come over and have a practice on the scrapper in my yard if you like Alan. will be a bit easier here as no engine in though

[anewman]

Originally Posted by rigsby

Come over and have a practice on the scrapper in my yard if you like Alan. will be a bit easier here as no engine in though

Thanks for the offer have sent PM.

[anewman]

Having now done all but bolting up the track rod ends, here's an update for anyone who may think of doing the same job and wanting to know...

Steering rack was £160 at dealers or £100 from Jorily Skoda, so went with Jorily Skoda (although only had limited stock at the time). Apparently you may be able to get an exchange reconditioned rack slightly cheaper.

I found all the steering rack/gear mounting bolts are best undone from the passenger side with the ratchet handle facing you. Unscrewing the speedo drive cable and putting it out of the way helps. Haynes suggests removing the air cleaner to improve access, but I managed without doing so.

Extracting the split pins from track rod ends was particularly difficult and resorted to using a blow torch and ragging the nuts off with the split pins in. Apparently nylocs are MOT legal so going to use those to do them up.

Getting the steering column back on the rack took quite a lot of time going back and forth from engine bay to inside car, but would probably be much easier with a helper. Although I did turn the rack to centre, and did my best to get the steering wheel dead on straight when the column went back on, with all the time spent trying to get the column back on the rack I imagine I have knocked it out and the steering wheel will not be perfectly centred - but I assume the steering wheel can be removed, rotated slightly, and put back on if need be.

A Felicia 1.3 without power steering would probably be just as easy to do - but I have no idea about power steering or the 1.6 or 1.9d.

Hopefully this will be helpful to someone.

[KenONeill]

You're spot on about the possibility of re-aligning the steering wheel, but leave it until the tracking has been done, and say you're going to re-centre the wheel once the tracking's sorted to the place that are doing it.

[silvafelicia]

I wonder if using an 1/2 offset knuckle socket when trying to undo bolts would be possible?, is there enough room ? anybody had a go ?.

Gerry.

[anewman]

I managed with a 10" long 1/2" ratchet handle. It is possible that there is less space in the Felicia than the Favorit. I found it best to stand at passenger side and have the handle facing you and to unscrew the speedo drive cable and put that out of the way. The bolts need a 13mm socket. Best just to check you can get to them all and undo them and then going onto the ball joints at each end and undoing the pinch bolt inside the car.

[silvafelicia]

Thanks for the advice, purchased a rack off ebay (re-manufactured) for £4 plus postage!!!! talk about cheap motoring......hope to fit it soon.

[anewman]

Originally Posted by silvafelicia

Thanks for the advice, purchased a rack off ebay (re-manufactured) for £4 plus postage!!!! talk about cheap motoring......hope to fit it soon.

I saw that on ebay, was gutted I spent £100 on a new one after I saw that Looks like it didn't come with track rod ends, but they're less than a tenner a side so worth replacing anyway.

[raedalbandak]

Hi all, i have a felly and i did this job two days ago, here are the steps i followed:

1-Removed the track rod ends pins and bolts.
2-Loosened the four bolts holding the steering unit inside the engine bay using a ratchet handle, a long ratchet, an offset knuckle socket, and 13mm socket.
3-Removed the lower pinch bolt from inside the car.
4-Removed the whole steering unit out.

After rennovating and changing the worn parts, i regreased the whole thing with special grease and did the above steps in a reverse order then checked the tracking and sorted it, then i removed the steering wheel to re-aligne it and put it back.

Job not easy but with the right tools is worth a try.

Best luck to all.

[silvafelicia]

Hi there,
Big question is !!!!, what is the difference in steering like ? is it noticebly improved ? nice to see your instructions will give rack change a go soon.

[anewman]

When I'd just changed it it was a little stiff and self-centring was poor, but it does seem to have loosened up a bit. The steering wheel seems to move less easily left to right when stationery and slight movement seems to go directly to the wheels. I only changed it on basis of MOT advisory notice though, and would never have known there were any issues with it otherwise.