Xantia Steering Rack

[c.morewood]

Here we go again.. I find myself in new territory and in need of some Xantia experience please.
I've just replaced brake pads, discs and cables along with wishbones, droplinks and top engine mounts.
After the mount rubbers were replaced, the gear selection problem went away, but was replaced by quite a large amount of vibration at tickover through the steering wheel... new mounts I was told.. more vibration than normal till they settle in.
Then I had a clunk when gong from one lock to another and on braking hard and accelerating again.
I know what that is... wishbone bolts not tight enough and allowing the wishbone to move slightly. I tightened them up and thought I'd solved it until parking the car on full lock another clunk.. so yesterday I went under the car to see if I had missed one wishbone bolt. Luckily there was someone else helping, and I got them to gently turn the steering wheel so I could inspect from the wheelarch.
I found quite a bit of movement in the steering rack.. another problem I'd had a few years back so I put the car up on blocks this morning to tighten the rack bolts.. but the bolts were tight.
I then got my daughter to move the steering slightly from side to side and noticed the there was about 1-2mm movement fore and aft between the two parts of the steering rack along with a knock at each turn of the steering wheel.. somethng is obviously loose, but I couldn't make out what.
With the MOT on Friday, I decided, as a temporary measure, I would cable tie the steering rack and ram together with several ties which reduced the movement and knock to virtually nothing and the vibration at tickover has gone.
I've tried to search for this on the forum but keep getting "ignored Xantia and Steering"
I'm wondering if anyone has come across this? What it is, loose bolt or something internal? Can it be fixed or is it a replacement in order?
Thanks in advance,
Chris

[GiveMeABreak]

CV Joint (s) Chris?
http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... php?t=8630

[RichardW]

I would imagine it's the bush in the outboard end of the ram where it is bolted on the rack. There is some precedence for it....

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... hp?t=47050
http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... hp?t=46863

[Deanxm]

Bush anybody? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PEUGEOT-405-6 ... Swx-9Wxfn6

D

[CitroJim]

I would imagine it's the bush in the outboard end of the ram where it is bolted on the rack. There is some precedence for it....

Seconded... Very similar to the Activa ram bush...


If you don't get the one in Dean's link then one can easily be turned up in the lathe using some Nylon66 in the same style as my substitute Activa ram bush...

I have an idea even the dimensions are the same but do check...

[spider]

I thought about a ram bush but was not sure (having not seen the setup on these) if it was in any way different. That certainly would give a bit of um 'slop' if it was worn to any degree.

[Deanxm]

I will measure the one on my spare ram later, if you get it and its no good i will buy it off you for stock if you like.

D

[spider]

THis may or may not help but the 405 has a bush here I think its still available (lists two) although the 406 does not as the rack design is different...

Just a thought it may be worth comparing the Xantia one to the 405 one ? I'm merely thinking if they are the same it may be easier to obtain instead of making one up...

[c.morewood]

Thanks guys, is the bush replaceable insitu or does the rack have to come out? I'm back in Shetland on the 7th. And will try to get the w reg hdi saloon to the front of the pile of cars in the quarry and remove a few bits including the steering rack..its only done 46k so should be reasonable, even if it has been sitting for a while. Hopefully it won't have been cubed!

[Deanxm]

just take the steering ram off, leave the rack where it is.

D