Rebuild a steering rack

Themaggots · Post by **Themaggots** » Sun Oct 02, 2011 9:35 pm

Has anyone done this to a Neon/SRT steering rack?

I got a SRT steering rack for cheap today and it has a leaking seal.

I found 3 part numbers on the net for seal kits.

Edelmann 8610 and Gates 351730, seems to be compatible with a most steering racks from Dodge, Chrysler and Plymouth up to 2003.

And Edelmann 8932 which seems to be compatible with 04\05 SRTs.

Edelmann's catalog list 8610 for a 2003 SRT and 8982 for 2004/2005 SRTs.
8982 seems non-existant when I search for it.

Gates list 351730 for a 2003, but nothing for 04 or 05.

I doubt they changed steering racks through the years so I suppose I'll go with the 8610.

Other than that, anyone have info, how tos or something on the rebuild procedure?

Post by **occasional demons** » Mon Oct 03, 2011 7:42 am

Well, I have not torn into the old one from my SE, but one thing to look at, is the rack at full travel either end. My orginal rack leaked, stop leak some how sealed it. Then after about 30,000 miles it developed a clunk, which I thought was the inner tie rod.

It is actually the rack rocking in the bore. Thus prolly why it was leaking past the seal. So I would recommend removing the tie rod boots, and tuning it lock to lock via the pinion shaft. Watch the rack at lock to see if it is being pushed by the pinion fore and aft. Mine moved about 1/4 inch back and forth (front to rear of the car) causing the clunk. To my knowledge no one sells a bushing, or w/e is there to hold it in place. Seals won't fix that.

If you get it apart, post some pics in my 14:1 thread to see how the SRT stops compare to the regular ones. viewtopic.php?t=58301

I plan on tearing the SE one apart and posting pics, just for shits and grins...

Themaggots · Post by **Themaggots** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 8:34 pm

I started tearing the thing apart.

I removed the inner tie rods. Couldn't measure them correctly since the tie rod ends are stuck. No more propane for the torch.

Tie rods removed, the shaft itself is about 23 3/4. More or less 1/8.
The body is about 19 1/8.

With everything removed, no stoppers or anything, I have 3.5 turns, max left to max right. The plastic stoppers are about 1/2 thick.

Looking at rebuild kits, I have no idea how or where all those seals go hahaha.

I'll be ordering the rebuild kit soon.

Post by **occasional demons** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 11:04 pm

That's what I suspected with the SRT rack. It is prolly the same as the R/T rack (18:1 ratio), but the stops are thicker to reduce the turning radius.

You could get some regular mtx stops, or cut those down if you have access to a lathe, but it would be tough to do without destroying them. It would negate the SRT turning radius issue. The 16:1 SE/SXT rack MTX is 3 turns with the MTX stops. The ATX is 2.75ish.

Of course if you are running bigger tires/wheels, you may want to keep the thicker stops, so the tires aren't hitting the inner fender/transaxle case. The sharper turning won't be of any use anyways.

Themaggots · Post by **Themaggots** » Mon Oct 17, 2011 7:35 pm

Dismantled the thing almost completely.

Found a how-to for a mitsibushi rack and based myself on it.

I removed small stuff here and there, the pinion and the shaft itself. There are seals that I'm totally unsure about the method I'll have to use to remove them but I'll look into further when I receive the rebuild kit.

Post by **occasional demons** » Mon Oct 17, 2011 9:58 pm

I've been to occupied lately, to even look at the one I have at my parent's house.