Originally my car had the original 3.5 turn steering rack - very smooth, but took a lot of winding. I replaced it last year with a RalDes 2.4 turn quick rack - nice and quick, but it doesn't feel good: a bit of free motion, and not at all smooth. I put the old rack back on this afternoon, and went out for a quick drive - I missed the quick action, but the steering is SO much nicer. I know the gearing makes a lot of difference, but the action was much smoother.

The free motion is due to a very slightly undersized splined shaft - it's only fixed when I tighten the bolt more than I'm comfortable with, and it loosens with time. This problem is probably fixable with a longer bolt and a nut.

The smoothness is a different issue - the original rack was lubricated with oil, but the RalDes one is greased. Strange as it may seem, it feels like a greased system, rather than oiled! Has anyone tried stripping and cleaning their RalDes rack, and putting in oil? Any reason why I shouldn't do it?

cheers,
David

Hi it sound like you have one of thier older type ones wich can be taken apart but to be honest i think you have one of the ones from a bad batch of machined rack bars.

If it is the new current supply from them i think ( but havent tried ) you cant take them apart as they look like a one way fittment on the arms from what i remember as they were refered to as desposable.

Give them a ring and see what they say about it being notchy and stiff as i said there was a bad batch from thier supplier of the older type ones.

cheers matt

That's a problem in itself. I doubt if you could feel the difference between a greased or oiled rack in everyday use it could be a problem with the rack itself, pinion preload can cause excess movement and lumpy feel.

Well, I rang Rally Design yesterday, and the conversation went like this:

Me: "I'm having trouble with my steering rack..."
Bloke 1: "Hang on, I'll get the steering rack man"
<short pause>
Bloke 2: "What's the problem?"
Me: <brief explanation of problems>
Bloke 2: "Got to ask - has it been in an accident?"
Me: "Nope"
Bloke 2: "OK - can you get it out of the car?"
Me: "Already out"
Bloke 2: "OK - Wrap it up, I'll send a new one, and the courier will take the old one away"

...and today, I got my replacement rack!

You really can't argue with service like that.

(Oh - and the replacement does feel nicer, even before I put it in the car)

David

Hi well you just cant argue with that can you.

cheers matt

Great service.

Sound advice from Matt too!