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Showing results for tags 'rack and pinion'.
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*admins, please put this where you think it goes. this was the best section I found for it.... Hi guys. So. last year, I changed my front suspension. and as I foolishly turned the wheel hub by hand (with a lot of strenght to overcome resistance), making the rack and pinion move as I did that and and one of the rack and pinion seals blew. Fast forward to this year (cause I'm lazy and didn't do it during the winter), I took the rack out and am rebuilding it. As I did that, I realized my passenger side rack bushing, which has been copiously bathed in engine oil for years, was shot. All mushy and broken. And just my luck, they don't really sell them anywhere, or if they do they charge an arm and a leg for it. or it's just the driver side. or... whatever. So I made one! Here is the crummy one next to the brand new one. I used the measurements from the rack, the old bushing and the bracket that holds the rack in place to 3d design mold, 3d printed it, greased it up with petroleum jelly, and some (not all tha tmuch, actually) 3M windshield urethane (high viscosity, which cures a little harder)... Here are some more shots of it, including fitted on the rack, and with the bracket that holds the rack on.. I'd say the hardness is right on par with the other side's bushing which is old but still looks healthy. Yes the surface finish is a little rough, but it's sound.. I'm happy with it. I'll be putting it back on the car as soon as I motivate my sorry ass to put the rack and pinion back together (btw, used a 55 CAD$ kit, that came with almost all the seals (all the important ones, really), and that worked really well. it's not hard at all following the FSM manual). I'll make certain to wrap it really well in some plastic or another to try to keep the oil off of it (yeah I know I should fix the leak). If I'd have to do it again, I'd try the lower viscosity urethane as this one was a b*tch to get out the tube... if I'd live in the states, I'd buy some pourable 2-part urethane and simply pour it in, but there is none around me, at least not in reasonable quantities at a reasonable price. THAT would be a dream to use... This technique can be done for the other side as well, or any other similar bushing. if anyone is interested I can post pictures of my mold (4 parts), and even share the 3d files. Keep in mind that this bushing is bigger than the driver side (I have the files for 3d printing the other one too) and won't fit older models. Making a new model for a mold for any sort of similar part is a pretty quick affair and printing one in this size was about 6$s worth of plastic. I can also make and sell some, if anyone is in need of one. Questions welcomed. have a good night! s.
