[DeTomaso] Steering rack follies (and a warning...)

[MikeLDrew at aol.com]

In a message dated 5/12/15 22 33 50, sjcarguy60 at yahoo.com writes:


> Thanks for sharing this information.  The '74 I just bought came with a 
> stack of receipts from "Panteras by Wilkinson" in Southern California. One 
> of the receipts from 2005 lists a rebuilt steering rack.  The receipt does 
> not show the mileage but based on other receipts around the same time I 
> estimate the mileage at about 15,000 at the time. 
> 
>>>That seems absurdly low to rebuild the steering rack?   They don't 
normally start showing wear until 30K or more.   I suppose there is no harm in 
performing a lifetime fix before it *needs* to be fixed though.

> > The car now has about 24,000 miles.  When I was under the car I did 
> notice the boots still look clean and new with no sign of leaking.
> 
>>>Which either means they are working as designed (they often do), or all 
the oil has leaked out already, or the rack has been rebuilt using grease 
instead of oil.   
> 
> >The car tracks straight without any wondering and I haven't noticed any 
> noise. Is there any way to tell if it was properly done aside from waiting 
> to see if it fails? 
> 
>>>Short of taking it apart, no, not really?   I've never heard of a rack 
failure from Wilkinson so I would sleep pretty soundly if I were you.

> > I take it that the boots should be packed with grease rather than oil?
> 
> >>>It's not the boots, but rather the inner workings of the rack itself 
that need to be lubricated.   Whether one uses oil or lightweight moly grease 
is a matter for debate; what's positive is that if oil is used and the oil 
has leaked out, that's a bad thing. :<(

> >I'm sorry to miss out on the Fun Rally this year. I'll try to plan for 
> next year!
> 
>>>You'll love it!

Mike
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   In a message dated 5/12/15 22 33 50, sjcarguy60 at yahoo.com writes:

     Thanks for sharing this information.  The '74 I just bought came
     with a stack of receipts from "Panteras by Wilkinson" in Southern
     California. One of the receipts from 2005 lists a rebuilt steering
     rack.  The receipt does not show the mileage but based on other
     receipts around the same time I estimate the mileage at about 15,000
     at the time.

   >>>That seems absurdly low to rebuild the steering rack?  They don't
   normally start showing wear until 30K or more.  I suppose there is no
   harm in performing a lifetime fix before it *needs* to be fixed though.

     > The car now has about 24,000 miles.  When I was under the car I
     did notice the boots still look clean and new with no sign of
     leaking.

   >>>Which either means they are working as designed (they often do), or
   all the oil has leaked out already, or the rack has been rebuilt using
   grease instead of oil.

     >The car tracks straight without any wondering and I haven't noticed
     any noise. Is there any way to tell if it was properly done aside
     from waiting to see if it fails?

   >>>Short of taking it apart, no, not really?  I've never heard of a
   rack failure from Wilkinson so I would sleep pretty soundly if I were
   you.

     > I take it that the boots should be packed with grease rather than
     oil?

   >>>It's not the boots, but rather the inner workings of the rack itself
   that need to be lubricated.  Whether one uses oil or lightweight moly
   grease is a matter for debate; what's positive is that if oil is used
   and the oil has leaked out, that's a bad thing. :<(

     >I'm sorry to miss out on the Fun Rally this year. I'll try to plan
     for next year!

   >>>You'll love it!
   Mike