wanted..manual steering rack for 1975 131

[skumandeth]

Well as always start a new project and I start finding why I got a good "deal". Anyways what started out as just an inner tie rod turned into no the tie rod at all but the end bushing of the rack completely gone.  So.... I'm looking for a good used rack or if anyone knows of a place to source end bushings/seals to fix the one I have I would appreciate it.  Also, I need an ashtray/bracket for the dash if anyone has a decent one.  Thanks for your time. 

[131rally]

Your looking foor RHD steering?

[Yagmur]

I have all...

[Tayto.king]

They can be rebuilt by a local Steering Specialist,manual racks are normally a lot cheaper to re-con that powered items . I would check the whole rack out for wear, if it's gone in one place it'll have gone in others too .
Be worth checking for play in the pinion bearing too as they're normally worn & will collapse if not replaced. Also check for side play in the slider as they are mainly made of plastic & if your end bush is gone will have moved the shaft/slider more than normal. It'll  have worn the very edge of the shaft its self where it meets the pinion can cause a rough/notchy feel when in use . Once you fit the new end bush your going to need to adjust the slider for side play & steering feel as you don't want the rack too tight or too loose. Most of the older tie rods are adjustable by shimming but remember to remove any rust from the socket or it'll destroy the internal lining and play will return.
I'd stick two new gaitors on there to be on the safe side.I always grease the rack shaft & add a small ammount of engine oil as this can help to bed parts in.
You can take a lot of play out of the end bush if it's made of softer plastic but i wouldn't try that if you haven't done it before as it's easy to over do it & hard to reverse safely..
I'd use a good quality thread lock on the tie rods when securing them to the main shaft & pin punch the locking slots. This has to be done on a bench/vice to be done 100% or you'll likely damage the rack.   

   

[skumandeth]

Thanks for your guys quick reply.  I was able to find the bushing through C. Orbert.  They have one heck of a part selection.  The only question I have remaining, or two actually is do you have to completely disassemble the rack to get this bushing in (it's the plastic one on the long side).  Also, what oil do they recommend to refill these racks.  My manual doesn't say.

[Tayto.king]

As far as i can remember you have to strip it down to locate the bush properly in the body of the rack & once the shaft if pushed back through it helps to keep the bush in place.
 I'd use a general car grease to lubricate the shaft & pinion when rebuilding aswell. Then fit your new gaitor on the new bush end of the rack and turn the pinion end upwards in a vice if you have one & then just add 5 squirts of 10/40 oil from a can in to it & fit the pinion end gaitor.
I'd do a test run before fitting the rack to the car & fit a small vice grips to the pinion shaft so you go from lock to lock. It's better to find any problems when it's off the car & you'll probably need to release air through one of the gaitors anyway.
The hardest part will be setting the rack up & adjusting the play out of it when you've rebuilt it, just before adding the grease,gaitors & oil.
Make sure that you put everything back on the exact way it came off as it can be seriously dangerous if you get it wrong.