[DeTomaso] Steering rack bushing and oil

[MikeLDrew at aol.com]

In a message dated 6/2/08 20 15 23, asajay at asajay.com writes:


> What about that set screw you put in?  Good question, it was nice and
> tight, in fact, after removal, the bushing had a definite mark from the
> set screw.  Well, maybe it wasn't tight enough, or maybe the bushing
> wore just a little, but the fact was, it was slopping around in the bore.
> 

Good on ya for discovering the problem.   When you insert the bushing in 
place of the old one (as opposed to augmenting it), once it's firmly in place, it 
will be *very* difficult to remove.   That said, it still needs to be secured 
by the factory set screw.

Use a punch and carefully dimple the bushing through the threaded hole in the 
rack housing, being careful not to mangle the threads.   Then use a small 
drill bit and drill all the way through the bushing; once this pilot hole is 
drilled, drill another, larger hole, again being careful not to damage the threads 
that you're reaching through on the way to the bushing.

The purpose of drilling all the way through the bushing is to ensure that the 
point of the set screw is centered in the hole, without actually pressing on 
the outside of the bushing.   If you only make a dimple instead of a complete 
hole, overtightening the set screw will actually deform the bushing, making it 
oval, which in turn makes it 'grab' the steering rack itself, interfering 
with smooth operation.   Drilling all the way through the wall of the bushing 
lets the point of the screw find its own way.   The material in the bushing is 
soft enough that the threads in the screw will thread into the sides of the hole 
you drilled, further locking everything together, without distorting the 
bushing.

Don't forget to leave your second set screw in position, just to block off 
the hole, even though it will no longer be acting on anything inside.   Secure 
both of them with blue Lok-tite.

Mike


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