X7 steering rack damage prevention

[Bandit12]

that makes sense Bobins, didnt get much in the way of bills and paperwork when I bought the car in january but it stands to reason it may have already been done. I'll pop the covers off the footwell and have a look in the week.
Bandit

[EDC5]

Yes, you need to undo the shaft, but it's only the 10mm(?) pinch bolt, slip off the catch, and the shaft should slide upwards. Don't turn the shaft unnecessarily so that you 'unwind' the steering wheel and its internal wiring.

Ok, I'll attempt it some day soon when there isn't a blizzard blowing.

It's worth bearing in mind that as so many racks have failed, it's quite possible that 'early' cars have already already had them replaced and the buyer of a second hand C5 X7 is unaware they've got a newer rack fitted - possibly one of the newer modified ones.

I'm hoping this is the case. Mine C5 was made Oct 2008 so it would have been in the first or second tranches of X7's. Hopefully it's already failed and been fixed..... although that doesn't mean that it's any less likely to fail again considering the fix appears to be a bit of green plastic.....

[xantia_v6]

I still think that someone should try a repair using a speedi-sleeve (or redi-sleeve). They would seem to be ideal for this purpose, and repair should be possible without removing the rack, although it would be helpful if someone with a removed rack could accurately measure the shaft diameter and depth to aid part selection.

[bobins]

I do have a spare rack..... but it's cold and dark out there at the moment so I'm not going out with my vernier calipers
Measuring the diameter shouldn't be a problem, but getting the shaft out might prove a little more time consuming - and I'm a bit short of time for the next week or so

Bear in mind though that this is what the shaft looks like.... so finding a sound bit of metal to measure off might prove a little tricky

Rusty shaft - own work

[myglaren]

I still think that someone should try a repair using a speedi-sleeve (or redi-sleeve). They would seem to be ideal for this purpose, and repair should be possible without removing the rack, although it would be helpful if someone with a removed rack could accurately measure the shaft diameter and depth to aid part selection.

Speedi-Sleeve was previously unknown to me so looked it up.

Here it is for anyone else who may be interested.

[bobins]

One problem to overcome in using the Speedi-Sleeve method would be - how to prevent the shaft rusting inside the Speedi-Sleeve. The shaft appears to made out of recycled Lancias, so rusts at a frightening rate, and putting a sleeve over it won't necessarily stop it rusting and rupturing the sleeve. Ideally, the solution would involve a Speedi-Sleeve and something else to halt any further corrosion. I don't know what that 'something else' would be... but it must be out there somewhere !

[Stickyfinger]

heat and wax, you only need to exclude oxygen (in any form) to prevent it rusting.

[Sloppysod]

Hi, This is my prevention mod, I plan on inspecting it sometime later this year to see if it has actually kept the shaft clean and dry. I can not see why it should not have unless it has split.
[quote=Sloppysod post_id=550057 time=1505500807 user_id=21847]
[/quote

viewtopic.php?p=550057#p550057

[GiveMeABreak]

This is really interesting chaps - I also never heard of speedi-sleeve - but looks to be better than the green plastic Blue Peter job.

[EDC5]

Right then, so today I decided to investigate the steering fully. I detached the steering linkage properly and was greeted with this:



I was very relieved as I was fearing the worst

The rubber bung also came wihth a bright green washer that was mentioned earlier:





As Marc pointed out to me the steering rack shaft has a black sleeve on it that starts about an inch before the actual rack. I suspect this rack has already been replaced with the modified new PSA part. In addition, the green washer has a seat in the rubber bung... so I'm not sure if the rubber bung was updated too to allow the green washer to sit in it.

Even though everything looked good I greased everything up liberally and put it all back:



So, I can sleep well tonight

[GiveMeABreak]

Yes, definitely looks different to Bobin's rack from the other thread Elis - the one he shows doesn't seem to have that additional grey collar that I can see on your one.

That's one less thing to think about anyway!

[bobins]

Looking at Elis' first picture - is that something bonded onto the shaft between the grey rubber ring and the small hole drilled in about 2" down from the top of the shaft ? It looks like it could be some sort of fibre reinforced protection bonded on.... or it's just a trick of the camera

[EDC5]

Looking at Elis' first picture - is that something bonded onto the shaft between the grey rubber ring and the small hole drilled in about 2" down from the top of the shaft ? It looks like it could be some sort of fibre reinforced protection bonded on.... or it's just a trick of the camera

I know what you mean, it lookes almost like chipguard texture. Here's another pic with different lighting that might help:

[xantia_v6]

Is that a recon rack with a pitted rusty shaft that has been sleeved where the seal rubs?

[EDC5]

Is that a recon rack with a pitted rusty shaft that has been sleeved where the seal rubs?

Potentially, however it was fitted with a green seal / washer that I assume only comes with new PSA parts? I'm not sure though.