Steering rack without power steering Ford transit DIY repair
In detail: a steering rack without a power steering ford transit do-it-yourself repair from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.
1. All advice, before buying something - be sure to remove, disassemble, consider your spare part - applies to everything. And then GOU with old spare parts to the market in search of repair kits.
2. I didn't know what kind of rail I had, so I took it off the car - first I unscrewed it from the beam, from the steering column, from the wheels - but it didn't work out that way. Then I had to remove the boot from the right end of the rail and unscrew the rod. As a result, the rail came out.
3. Remove the second boot and unscrew the second lever - the left one.
ATTENTION. When removing the anthers, it is better not to break the plastic clips from the narrow end of the boot, but to remove it as carefully as possible.
4. Next. We unscrew the crosspiece from the side of the steering column, remove the protective plastic boot - it is from two rings, then we take out the retaining ring and washer. It seems that everything is on this side, but I could have forgotten something - a month has passed after all.
5. Then the ARCHIACUATIVE procedure - unscrew the aluminum nut-cover on the rail - it presses the worm shaft with a spring to the rail itself through a special gadget of the piston type. This lid is slightly tucked like a core from the edge closer to the body - so that it does not self-unscrew, therefore it is very difficult to spin, and knocking down the edges is like two fingers. ... It is unrealistic to find it on the market - only together with the rail. When I knocked down the edges a little, then I turned on my brain and specially cut the head to 17 (this is the key), so that it pressed more tightly against the edges of the lid. He unscrewed it and took out a spring and a piston type.
6. Now we got to the bottom side of the shaft - there is a stopper - a cover - a nut - a washer. Then we knock the worm shaft up - tobish towards the steering rack. The shaft was knocked out along with the middle bearing and the oil seal - I was lucky. I easily knocked out the lower bearing from the rack using an extension.
Video (click to play).
I list from left to right. Nut, washer, lower bearing, the worm itself, then the lower shaft seal (black), the middle bearing. Further, the valve holes, between which there are 4 fluoroplastic rings (white), the last one is the upper roller bearing together with a built-in oil seal. All this is covered from above with a washer, a stopper, a plastic boot, and, finally, to the teeth - the crosspiece of the column.
7. We take out the rack shaft itself from the body (let it be a rake). To do this, we take out the retaining ring on the right side of the rail body and begin to pick, scratch everything inside - it's a joke. We just put the rail in a vertical position on a plane with a hole (I had a hefty vice) and begin to knock slightly on the opposite end of the shaft, but without fanaticism. There is a piston in the middle of the shaft on the shaft - it will knock out this incomplete type of cylinder.
8. The hemorrhoid itself is to knock out, pick out, blow out, suck out, or simply remove the internal oil seal of the rail, without scratching the mirror of the case inside. A long beard with a splashed end helped me. By the way - he is not alone there - there is also a fluoroplastic ring and a fluoroplastic seal, which in every possible way prevent the oil seal from being removed, they can be safely knocked out together with the oil seal.
9. That's all. All that remains is the body and tubes. The photo shows the location of the internal oil seal
10. Now we take all the insides without rhea and GOU to the market. That's where I found out that my rake was ZX - (or ZP) - to hell.
11. There were 2 types of repair kits. The first one cost $ 10-20 at different points. There was only one transparent bag, which contained almost all rubber products and PTFE separately. The piston that presses the spring against the yoke is plastic, and in my yard it is aluminum (pictured in the upper right corner).The quality of all details is gauno. The second cost $ 55-70? DP-grup is called. There are three bags in the box - black, you can't see anything. I persuaded one seller to unpack everything. In the first package there was a roller bearing assembly with an oil seal (CM photo), in the second - a type of a cylinder assembled with an oil seal, a PTFE ring and a PTFE bushing (CM photo). In the third - everything else - I signed something on the photo. Piston type - aluminum. That's it - I take this kit, at the same time I checked everything to match the old one. Teflon rings were also with burrs, but better than in the first set.
2. We take a yard and begin to consider how to replace a fluoroplastic ring on the piston of the yard. I say right away - it is NOT NECESSARY to change it. Firstly, it is not so slightly in width, and secondly, the old one after being removed from the groove will be deformed, so it will not work for the secondary installation. Thirdly, the new ring, after installation on the yoke, will stretch slightly, and your horseradish yarn will fit into the case. As a result, I counted the ring with fine sandpaper for 2 hours until it fit. Although the old was normal.
3. We put it - we put the yarn into the body, on the back side we put a ready-made type cylinder directly from the kit - quickly and beautifully. You will notice that the yard on this side is slightly rusty - so we polish it on the machine to a shine with a felt wheel and goy paste. All the rust has not disappeared, but everything is buzzing in the working area. Then we fix everything with a retaining ring. In the photo there is a ray without a case, so it's clearer.
5. On top of the shaft I put a washer and a stopper, then a boot. 6. It comes to lubrication with graphite, or grease, or other crap of the place of contact between the shaft worm and the teeth of the yard. There is never a lot of lubrication. Access, in principle, is normal - we smear and twist. 7. We put an aluminum type piston, then a spring, then we wrap a miracle nut-cover. After running in, the cover must be tightened, or vice versa, loosened if the steering wheel is tight. 8. Fasten the left lever, put the boot. But here is an ambush. The plastic clamp from the repair kit is very fragile and bang - it breaks, we put an old or iron clamp under a screwdriver - it's better to buy it right away. Then we push the system into the car, screw on the right lever, put on the boot, screw on all the pipes, fill in the liquid, pump the steering wheel. 9. And now we pray that everything works and nothing flows.
I tried to describe it in as much detail as possible, if it is not clear to anyone, then excuse me.
Ford Transit owners, as a rule, do not complain about problems with the operation of their vehicle, which is characterized by increased reliability.
However, the steering rack often becomes a vulnerable node, due to increased loads during intensive use.
In order to use the working resource of this unit as efficiently as possible (about 200 thousand kilometers of run), timely preventive diagnostics and maintenance are required - at least twice a year. Neglecting these deadlines will significantly shorten the life of the Reiki.
It is worth noting that the Ford Transit steering rack has a number of design features that make it virtually impossible to repair it yourself, and also make it difficult to find spare parts when using cheaper analogues. There are two main points:
In most rails, the shaft is hollow and has the function of an air duct, connecting the two anthers of the steering rods. In Ford Transit, this shaft is not hollow, but a special plastic tube is provided as an air duct. In the places of its connection with the anthers, the loss of tightness most often occurs. As a result, condensation appears inside and the corrosion process accelerates.
Naturally, this mechanism rarely breaks down suddenly. Most often, a long-term ignorance of the primary signs of a problem by the car owner leads to a major breakdown. It is worth paying attention to:
Knock on the front axle. Initially, it is only heard when driving through holes and other irregularities. Then the intensity increases and the sound begins to give to the steering wheel in the form of a beat.If the breakdown has reached this stage, urgently contact a car service, as the Transit steering rack can very soon fail completely.
The steering angle is different from the steering wheel angle - a sure sign that the vehicle will not steer well at speed. Do not delay repairs in this case, since driving with a steering gear in this state is extremely dangerous.
The presence of a power steering fluid leak or simply a drop in its level in the tank. Do not wait until all the liquid has flowed out - the repair must be carried out promptly, since the complete absence of liquid in the system leads to serious damage.
The steering wheel spontaneously turns during movement or play is felt.
The steering wheel has difficulty returning to its original position when turning.
It is impossible to perform correct diagnostics of this unit on our own - this requires modern diagnostic equipment. Without it, there is a great risk of error, and improper repair will quickly lead to repeated failure of this element.
Diagnostics is usually carried out in several stages:
Dismantle the rail. This is a time-consuming operation, since many other elements must be removed for easy access.
The node is evaluated using computer stands. These diagnostic devices are able to reliably reproduce the operating modes of the car, which allows you to accurately establish the causes of the breakdown.
Disassembly of the rail and its cleaning. For Ford Transit, due to the design features of the rail, which were mentioned above, this stage is of particular importance, since the unit is subject to corrosion much more often than its counterparts in other models.
Troubleshooting of each of the elements and a general conclusion on the maintainability of the rail, as well as the parts to be replaced.
The decision on whether the steering rack can be restored must be made after a comprehensive analysis of its condition. Both elements with a too large percentage of damaged parts and a heavily deformed Ford Transit steering rack cannot be restored; in this case, buying a new rail is more profitable than repairing an old one.
If a so-called preventive repair is performed, then often it is limited to thorough cleaning of the system from corrosion and flushing it. Naturally, after that it is necessary to replace the power steering fluid outside the plan (a planned replacement should be carried out every three years or every 100 thousand kilometers). Timely carrying out of such operations will avoid more complex and expensive manipulations.
However, the most common option is to repair with the replacement of the so-called repair kit, which includes the most wearing parts (oil seals, gaskets, etc.). These parts, during the operation of the rail, experience the most severe load, and are also a frequent cause of loss of tightness of the system and the appearance of corrosion, therefore, the choice of spare parts should be taken with special attention. The task is complicated by the above design features of the rail on the Transit - because of them, it will be very problematic to choose analogues of another brand.
An obligatory element of any rail repair is repeated bench diagnostics of its condition at the end of work. After installation, running tests of the unit are also carried out.
When operating the unit, you should be careful - do not drive over obstacles at maximum speed, since at this moment a very serious load falls on the rail.
Also, do not twist the steering wheel to extreme positions unnecessarily, making the most smooth maneuvers as possible.
If it is necessary to do this by unscrewing the steering wheel, release it briefly so that the pressure in the power steering system drops slightly, and only then return it to its original position.
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The main function of the steering rack (reducer) in the car device is to organize the rotation of the car. The steering rack is present in cars with power steering, as well as in those cars in which there is no power steering. It connects the steering wheel to the wheels, and therefore its role is very important for safe movement in the car. The diagnosis of this mechanism must be approached with the utmost responsibility, as well as repairs.
All cars are subject to rapid wear of steering parts, regardless of price and status, because it is these parts that take a hit at any turn, hitting an obstacle, hitting the wheels on bumps on the road.
To determine if your vehicle's steering needs repairs, look for the following signs of a malfunctioning mechanism:
there is clearly a knock on the steering rack, which is felt through the steering wheel of a car;
increased effort required to rotate the steering wheel;
there were extraneous sounds and noise in the power steering pump;
there was a backlash in the steering rack, which is felt when the steering wheel rotates;
power steering oil began to leak from the steering rack.
If any of these signs appear, do not delay repairing the steering rack. Untimely repair of steering parts can lead to loss of maintainability of the mechanism.
So, you have a steering rack leaking. What to do, how to make repairs and adjust the steering performance? First of all, it is worth noting that it is actually very difficult to repair this unit, and it is worth starting the procedure only if you have all the necessary equipment at hand, as well as experience and knowledge in the field of car construction.
The steering rack mechanism consists of the following parts:
toothed shaft;
steering rack support sleeve;
spool mechanism.
Repairing a steering rack usually consists of several stages:
Dismantling, disassembling the steering rack and cleaning the accumulation of all its parts.
Replacement of damaged parts of the mechanism with new parts.
Diagnostics of the toothed shaft of the steering rack.
Before starting repair work, you should get a special repair kit, which includes new parts for the steering rack (oil seals, steering rack bushing, ring seals, and others). How to remove the steering rack.
Drive the car into a hole or raise it with jacks.
Remove the engine protection (if you have one).
Remove the steering rack heat insulation plate.
Unscrew the fasteners on the steering rack.
Remove the rail from the mountings and pull it out of the interior of the car.
It is worth noting that it will be better for you to remove the steering rack along with the steering rods, because the new anthers will be much more convenient to pull on the special protrusions on the steering rods. This will help you to fit perfectly sealed anthers.
Unscrew the rack from the steering rods using a special flat-head screwdriver.
Unscrew the bottom plastic gear shaft plug.
Unscrew the lock nut.
Remove the retaining ring and gently knock the shaft out of its place.
Pull out the lower oil seal.
Tap out the locking pin that is blocking the upper oil seal.
Unscrew the retaining plug and pull the retaining ring out of the wire that will show up as you turn it.
Pull the steering rack out through the right side and remove the oil seal and plastic bushing from the rack.
Remove the oil seal and plug, pull out the spring and pressure mechanism.
Next, wash all parts from oil and dirt deposits and carefully inspect all parts for mechanical damage due to wear. All damaged parts must be replaced without fail. If the surface of the steering rack and the gears of the toothed shaft have significant damage, then most likely it will be necessary to replace the entire mechanism as a whole (how to replace the steering rack with a VAZ 2109, read in our material).
Carefully install the inner oil seal in its place, having previously lubricated it with special grease (you need to put it through the right side with the spring down).
Place the rail into the enclosure.
Slide the plastic sleeve over the right gland, lubricate all parts with grease, and push the gland back into place by pushing something.
Install the plug and secure it with the retaining wire.
Slide the lower oil seal onto the toothed shaft.
Place the steering rack in the middle position.
Insert the toothed shaft into the seat after lubricating the seals with grease.
Gently push the upper oil seal into place, using a hammer to push it into place. Install the retaining ring.
Install the bottom lock nut, bearing, plug.
Install the hold-down mechanism, spring and plug. Tighten tight.
Then install the rail on the car in reverse order. Be sure to do “camber-convergence” after the procedure for repairing or replacing parts. Do-it-yourself steering rack repair without and with power steering has a lot in common, the differences are minor: different bushings and the composition of the lubricant.
If any of these signs appear, do not delay repairing the steering rack. Untimely repair of steering parts can lead to loss of maintainability of the mechanism.
Cars change, friends and the forum remain. [my.housecope.com/wp-content/uploads/ext/1209]
Where the rail was repaired for me, the conditions are also almost home. It’s not a matter of conditions, but experience. I believe that from 9500r. which I paid for the repair of the rail 500r. this is a payment for work, about 3000r. these are spare parts, and the rest is for the fact that a person has no small experience and after he repaired the rail, I have already traveled 28500 km. without any nuances there, like it leaks somewhere on the left, but you can ride. It's like in an old tale about a Ford foreman who came to the AMO plant to repair a conveyor belt. He struck once with a sledgehammer and rolled out an account for $ 1001, which included $ 1 for hitting with a sledgehammer, $ 1000 for knowing where to hit. So, first of all, hands and high-quality spare parts, and the conditions are already a matter of second.
Ford Transit Tie Rod End Replacement
There is no need to remove the steering rack mechanism from the Ford Transit to replace the tie rod end.
Raise the front of the car and remove the corresponding front wheel.
Loosen the tie rod end lock nut a quarter turn. If you do not plan to replace the tip, mark the relative position of the tip and the tie rod.
Pull out the cotter pin and unscrew the Ford Transit tie rod end ball pin castle nut. Separate the steering link from the steering knuckle arm with a puller.
Unscrew the tie rod end, counting the number of revolutions required to remove the tie rod end. Record the number of revolutions.
Screw the new tip onto the Ford Transit tie rod, making the same number of revolutions as when removing the old tip. Tighten the lock nut to the correct torque.
Insert the ball pin of the tip into the hole in the knuckle arm and secure it with the castellated nut. Secure the nut with a new cotter pin.
Place the wheel and lower the vehicle to the ground. Check and, if necessary, adjust the front toe-in.
Replacing the steering rack cover Ford Transit
Remove the tip from the tie rod. Also remove the tip locknut from the tie rod, having previously marked its position.
Remove the cover clips and pull the cover off the Ford Transit steering rack and tie rod.
Put on a new cover on the rod and steering rack mechanism of Ford Transit, after having slightly lubricated the steering rod.
Make sure the boot fits into the grooves on the steering box and on the link (one side only).
Secure the cover with new clamps without tightening at this stage. Screw the lock nut onto the steering rod and install the tip.
Check and, if necessary, adjust the toe-in of the front wheels, then finally tighten the clamps of the Ford Transit steering rack cover, making sure that the cover is not twisted.
Removal and installation of the steering rack mechanism Ford Transit
Set the front wheels to center position and lock the steering column shaft by removing the ignition key.
In the engine compartment, unscrew the Ford Transit steering column gimbal clamping plate bolt and move the plate to the side.
Disconnect the steering column universal joint from the intermediate steering shaft.
Loosen the front wheel nuts, lift and place the front of the vehicle on stands, and remove the front wheels.
Remove the cotter pins, unscrew the tie rod end ball pin castle nuts and separate the Ford Transit tie rods from the steering knuckle arms with a puller.
Unscrew the two bolts of the Ford Transit steering rack mechanism from the underside of the front suspension beam and pull the mechanism down together with the steering rods and the intermediate steering shaft.
Remove the lower steering shaft propeller joint pinch bolt and remove the intermediate steering shaft from the steering pinion shaft.
Press out or knock out rubber bushings with a suitable tubular mandrel from the mounting holes of the Ford Transit steering rack mechanism.
Install in reverse order.
Please note the following:
- Before installing new rubber grommets, lubricate them with soapy water.
- When installing the cardan joint of the intermediate shaft on the steering shaft of the Ford Transit, it is necessary to align the cutouts for the pinch bolt on the hinge fork and on the shaft end.
- Before tightening the steering column pivot clamping plate bolt, make sure the front wheels and the steering wheel are in a straight ahead position.
To determine the average position of the Ford Transit steering gear, count the exact number of revolutions of the drive shaft from one extreme position of the steering rack to the other, divide by two and count the number of revolutions obtained from the extreme position
Repair of the steering rack mechanism Ford Transit
Fig. 181. Steering rack details Ford Transit
Disassembly of the rack and pinion mechanism of the steering rack is necessary to replace the complete steering rods, as well as to repair the mechanism with general wear of its parts. Details of the rack and pinion steering gear are shown in Fig. 181.
Dismantling the steering rack Ford Transit
While gripping the Ford Transit steering gear in a vise, remove the tie rod ends and remove the end locknuts (while doing this, count and record the number of revolutions each end turned by when removing).
Remove (cut) the clamps and remove the Ford Transit steering rack covers.
Pull out the pinion rack completely from the pinion side and grip the rack in a soft-jaw vise.
Unscrew the left steering rod inner joint. The hinge fitted at the factory has a round body and can only be unscrewed with a gas (pipe) wrench.
The steering rod joints, produced as spare parts, have flats on the body for a regular open-end wrench.
Unscrew the right steering link joint in the same way. Use a hex wrench to unscrew the steering rack stopper. Remove plug, spring and rack stop.
Use the same tool (or hex wrench) to unscrew the drive pinion lower bearing cap.
Sliding the Ford Transit steering rack all the way to the side (so that the toothed part is completely out), remove the drive gear along with the lower bearing. Note the position of the wide spline on the pinion shaft end before removing.
The drive gear is supplied as spare parts with the lower bearing already installed, so it does not make sense to remove the bearing from the gear shaft - if the gear or bearing is worn, replace the gear assembly.
Pull out the Ford Transit steering rack and carefully remove the rack bushing from the steering gear housing.
Knock out or press out from the housing the upper bearing of the pinion gear with an oil seal and a boot.
Inspect the steering gear parts and replace if necessary.
Assembling the steering rack Ford Transit
Insert the rail bushing into the housing. Make sure the tabs on the bushing fit into the grooves in the body.
Press in the top pinion bearing and oil seal.
Lubricate the bearings, steering rack bushing and oil seal with special grease. Insert the Ford Transit steering rack into the housing with the toothed section out.
Insert the drive gear with the lower bearing into the housing, at the same time engaging it with the Ford Transit steering rack.
The gear must be installed so that the wide spline on the shank of the gear shaft is in the same position as before the gear was removed.
Fill the steering box with special grease. Screw in the pinion gear lower bearing cap and tighten to the correct torque.
Fix the cover by riveting its edge into the body with a chisel or center punch in three equally spaced places.
Install the Ford Transit steering rack in the middle position and remove excess grease from the threads of the housing and the rack stop plug.
Insert the rail stop and the spring, seal the thread of the plug with sealant and screw in the plug.
Tighten the rack stop plug to the set torque, then make five full strokes with the rack in both directions and loosen the plug by turning it 30 °.
Measure the torque required to turn the pinion shaft with the Ford Transit rack in the middle.
To measure the moment, you can use a special meter, a sensitive torque wrench or a spring balance with a rope.
The torque required to turn the shaft must be between 0.9 - 1.8 Nm.
If necessary, adjust the steering rack stop by turning the plug 5 degrees to one side or the other. Since the Ford Transit rail is spring-loaded, there should be no rail play.
Fix the plug by riveting its edge into the body with a chisel or center punch in three equally spaced places.
Pull the rack out completely from the pinion side and grip the rack in a vise.
Screw the inner joints of the steering rods onto the Ford Transit steering rack and tighten them, observing the required torque. Secure the hinge bodies by riveting their edges into the grooves on the rail.
If the hinges have been tightened with a gas wrench, use a file to remove any burrs that may have remained on the hinge housings.
Put on the steering rack covers and fasten them to the housing with clamps.
Place the boot on the drive gear shaft, after filling it with grease. Install the boot on the body close to the gland.
Test the steering by making several full strokes with the rack in both directions. Set the Ford Transit steering rack to the middle position. Install the steering gear to the vehicle.
Ford Transit is a world-renowned hard worker. The history of this model goes back more than half a century, and many people, when they say "van", often mean this particular model. Probably the most popular van in the world, widely used in all professional fields. Due to its "working" purpose, this van can often be seen in various workshops. Consider repairing a Ford Transit power steering.
Complete diagnostics of power steering after removal and disassembly.
If we make repairs, then this is included in the cost of work.
Complete diagnostics of the STEERING RACK.
If we make repairs, then this is included in the cost of work.
It is impossible to describe all the possible breakdowns of the power steering, but here is a small list of the most common breakdowns faced by the drivers of these vans.
Deteriorated oil seals. Dirt, dust, water, various chemical solutions used to treat roads, and the like - all this has an extremely negative effect on the power steering oil seals, and in especially advanced cases can lead to expensive repairs to the Ford Transit power steering.
Damaged hoses. When replacing oil seals, you should also inspect all hoses for damage, since the reason may lie in them. It is better not to repair damaged hoses, but to replace them immediately.
Extraneous noise when turning the steering wheel. One of the reasons for this defect may be an insufficient oil level in the reservoir. If you have not changed the oil for several years, it will be better not to top up with a new one, but to carry out a complete fluid change. Worn bearings can be another source of noise. In this case, only the replacement of the part is possible.
No matter how trite it may sound, the main cause of breakdowns is the rather large age of most cars. Some copies are more than a dozen years old, in addition, many drivers want to save money by supplying non-original spare parts, which also does not add life to the nodes.
The cars that run on our roads require special care. Among the nodes that suffer from poor coverage is the steering rack.
Dismantling the Ford steering rack is a rather complicated operation, and for its implementation it is important to know the structure of the unit itself.
This system includes:
steering shaft;
rack housing;
sealant;
adjustment nut;
power steering tubes;
covers (they are also cuffs) with clamps;
tie rod with tip and lock nut.
The rack is attached to the front axle cross member. The connection with the steering is provided by the teeth on the rack, which mesh with the steering shaft gear. Working fluid (most often ATF) is supplied to the tubes from the power steering expansion tank, which is sprayed through a spool.
Most often, the rake reminds of itself with a knock.There are other signs by which you can identify faults in the steering rack on Ford vehicles. These "signals" appear on the move, and the driver will notice them immediately:
A distinct knock on the steering wheel when driving straight sections on a bad road. If you turn the steering wheel all the way, the sound disappears or becomes much quieter;
Wheels react poorly to trajectory changes;
When exiting a turn, the wheel does not immediately return to the desired position;
The steering wheel becomes "heavy", you have to put in more effort. Another (more rare) situation is the spontaneous turning of the steering wheel on the move.
Backlash appeared;
The drop in the level of the liquid in the amplifier, its outflow.
If the knock of the steering rack in the case of a Ford is not bugged, and it has become more difficult to drive the car, pay attention to the power steering. Its breakdown is visible even at idle (in this mode, the steering wheel barely turns), while at speed everything can be fine. In addition to noise, fluid interruptions can occur - often it foams right in the system, which should not be.
As we can see, all these symptoms not only create discomfort, but can also threaten safety.
When they appear, look under the car - a leak in the Ford steering rack means one thing: the repair is overdue.
Reason number one is well known to everyone. These are the roads that hit the chassis and steering assemblies. Dust, abrasives, dirt damage the covers, rubbing the rubber over time, and this brings the repair closer.
Typical rack problems are:
wear of "sliders" and stem;
loose connection of rods and ends;
worn out seals. The steering rack oil seal on different Ford models "walks" for a long time with a neat driving style, which cannot be said about an aggressive manner of movement. The same applies to the covers (anthers).
because of the same torn covers, the rings on the input shaft and piston are damaged.
Debris trapped in the liquid accelerates the wear of the "worm".
The conditions of car maintenance also play a role. In the cold season, some drivers leave the car for a long time in the cold with the wheel turned out, thereby opening the way for precipitation and dirt to the joints. In well-heated garages, the knots can "rot" - not having time to get off, moisture simply destroys the threads.
An experienced driver takes such moments into account and periodically tightens the locknuts. True, such a measure does not always save, and one cannot do without a bulkhead.
This requires some skills, it is better to consult a specialist. Repair of a Ford steering rack in St. Petersburg is done by real specialists.
After finding out the reason and making sure of the need for repairs, we proceed to diagnostics.
It can be conventionally divided into three stages.
Even a beginner can handle the first one - this is an inspection of the power steering system (is there any damage to the tubes, what is the level and color of the liquid itself in the expansion tank). All pairs and joints are checked for backlash, especially the "worm" at the junction of the gear with the rack. Ford steering rack tightening can make the task easier if the rods and tips are slightly loose. Before doing this, take a look at the condition of the thread.
The second stage involves checking the rail that has already been removed. It is clamped in a vice, after which it is inspected for rust, teeth and backlash in the support sleeve.
The third stage is troubleshooting when the unit is completely disassembled. At this point, it is determined what to do next - buy a steering rack repair kit for Ford or start a complete replacement.
Working with such a safety-critical assembly requires not only experience, but also a large number of tools. Not everyone has pullers, let alone a lathe. We will put our trust in professionals who specialize in such operations and boast impressive experience. We will consider repairing the steering rack using the example of a Ford fusion.
Stage 1: dismantling
The car is put on the "handbrake". The wheels are set straight, the steering wheel is fixed so that it does not turn;
While the machine is on the ground, loosen the wheel nuts;
Raising the front end with a jack, do not forget about additional stops;
Remove the wheels;
Removing the lock nut knocks out the steering tip finger;
Using a wrench and a hexagon, disconnect the stabilizer post from the cross member;
The ball joint is removed so that it does not interfere with the removal of the cross member;
The cardan is removed from the power steering slide valve. Before removing the steering rack on some Ford models, marks are applied to it, although on the Fusion it is fixed in only one position;
The rubber "cushion" placed under the exhaust system is neatly removed;
The bolt holding the lower transmission support is unscrewed. The manual prescribes to support her body with a jack, while some do without it;
Disconnect the tubes from the pump to the rail and put a plug;
Now the cross member. Jacks are placed in front of the suspension arms so that they do not break anything when the suspension is lowered. Remove the bolts holding the cross member itself (you need keys for 13, 15 and 19);
Remove the rail from the cross member by unscrewing the bolts with the key "13" /
Stage 2: disassembly
The rail is removed, we look further. At the service, the replacement of the Ford steering rack oil seals is most often done.
Remove the anthers of the steering rods;
The accumulated liquid is drained, it will already be darkened;
The steering rods are unscrewed with a key, and the rods themselves are unscrewed;
The distributor is put at risk so that during assembly it falls into place;
Unscrew the adjusting nut holding the stem with the cap head;
Remove the spring and its clamp;
A ring-shaped stopper is removed from the distributor. Inspecting the hull nearby - replacing Ford steering racks requires attention;
Then the spool nut is removed;
The distributor is pulled out of the housing. Its oil seal and bearing are also retracted;
The stock is removed next. The left oil seal is removed with a puller.
Then all removed parts are cleaned of streaks, dirt and wear products. The bushing and the oil seal are removed from the inner support. The surface of the stem is ground on a lathe. The same is done with the distributor neck. The old centering sleeve is not suitable - a new part is machined to fit.
If it was only the oil seals, it remains only to put everything in place and tighten the Ford steering rack. The final chord is checking the camber and toe angles. But there is still assembly to be done.
Stage 3: assembly
Before installing the rod, lubricate its comb;
The bearings on the steering gear are lubricated with a special compound and placed in the distributor;
The upper bearing is put in place by punching the spacer with a hammer;
The stuffing box is also upset, avoiding skewing;
When the stopper is fixed, tighten the spool nut;
A new portion of the lubricant is put into the weed and the rod clamp is placed;
A spring is also installed there and pressed with an adjusting nut;
The junction of the rod with the inner support is lubricated, and the support itself is screwed in and fixed;
On the assembled rail, rods and new covers are placed, which are fastened with clamps;
Before final installation, the assembly is checked at the stand for leakage.
Experienced drivers willingly share their observations. In terms of steering, they usually advise:
drive carefully, without "pawing" the steering wheel all the way;
periodically check the camber and toe angles;
inspect the fluid in the reservoir. If it has darkened, the oil seals or covers are already at their limit. ATP silvery indicates a "tired" pump;
in winter, warm up the fluid by turning the steering wheel to the sides several times while the car is idling.
For specific Ford models, the dismantling and replacement process will be similar. But there are also some peculiarities. For example, the repair of a Ford Mondeo steering rack will differ from model year to year. Now (since 2014) cars of the fifth generation are being produced, and parts from cars of earlier generations will not work. Before buying, look through the catalogs with the numbers of "consumables", or rather consult with the mechanics.
The popular Transit is used as a distribution vehicle, and these vans have a lot of mileage. If we take into account the condition of our roads, then preventive inspections are mandatory for them, and repairing the steering rack for a Ford transit service is a laborious and rather difficult task.
There are still a lot of Escort hatchbacks on the roads, and the most "fresh" of them is more than 15 years old. A lot of spare parts are offered, although it is sometimes difficult to choose something worthwhile - after all, "used". There are no hydraulic boosters on older versions, which makes maintenance somewhat easier, but such machines also require special maintenance.
Their owners know that the steering rack for a Ford escort in a "zero" state is a rarity, which is why they try not to speed up the repair with a dashing ride.
Did you know?Henry Ford is called the "father of unification." Before the launch of the conveyor at his plant, American cars of the same model could differ in their parameters - the difference in tolerances and adjustments was then commonplace.
Video (click to play).
We made sure that this unit requires regular maintenance, and saw what a rail repair is.