Boy from Oz Posted September 12, 2010 Share Posted September 12, 2010 (edited) I'm just trying to refit the steering rack ('72, 240Z RHD) with rubbers I recently purchased. When I removed the rack I noticed the rubber (red) on the larger mount was not making a complete circle around rack. I now find that the new rubber (black) is even smaller. I appreciate that it will spread somewhat when I actually clamp it but it will still be some way short of completely encircling the rack. What's the go here? Were there different racks for 240s & 260s? Edited September 12, 2010 by Boy from Oz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19762802+2 Posted September 12, 2010 Share Posted September 12, 2010 I'm guessing that the rack you have is not from a 240z or was swapped at some time. I would take some measurements and then find someone else with a 260 or 280 steering rack and see if the measurements match up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Posted September 12, 2010 Share Posted September 12, 2010 If there's a press fit seal for the pinion shaft where it sticks out of the rack, then it's a 240Z rack. If there's a plate with two retaining bolts holding a bearing in, then it's a 280. The pictures don't give a very clear shot, but it looks to me like a 240 rack. 280 racks use wider bushings. Nigel '73 240ZT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boy from Oz Posted September 12, 2010 Author Share Posted September 12, 2010 If there's a press fit seal for the pinion shaft where it sticks out of the rack, then it's a 240Z rack. If there's a plate with two retaining bolts holding a bearing in, then it's a 280. ... Nigel - From what you state it looks like a 240Z rack and further, the likelihood of a 280Z rack is remote as no 280Zs were sold in this country. The two dimensions on the mount are approx 43mm and 56mm, if anyone can confirm this with a rack they have off the car then it will suggest the new rubbers are duds as were the one fitted when I got the car 5 years ago - very strange! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MONGO510 Posted September 13, 2010 Share Posted September 13, 2010 I believe the 280 rack was made of iron. You have a 240 rack. Mongo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misterZ Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 I believe the 280 rack was made of iron. You have a 240 rack. Mongo Correct; just did this swap this past weekend. The 240Z rack bushings are tight and will have a considerable 'gap' before you cinch everything down and they get squeezed closed. I also took the 'muffler clamp' stop thingy off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strotter Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 This is a real problem, and not a new one. There have been a number of threads about it, one of them here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hybrid240z Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 (edited) From what I have seen, it seems that alot of aftermarket part companies skimp on R&D and end up manufacturing parts that don't fit correctly. My fix for the MSA urethane steering rack bushings was to carefully remove some of the material until they dropped in correctly. The picture below is a representation of a cross-sectional view of a steering rack bushing. I removed material around the bushing with a razor blade until the bushing dropped in correctly. The black arrows show where the material was removed. It worked out very well for me. You don't need to remove much, so you can remove a little at a time until it barely fits correctly. Let me know if there are any questions. Edited October 15, 2010 by Hybrid240z Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boy from Oz Posted October 16, 2010 Author Share Posted October 16, 2010 (edited) It appears I can't buy one to fit so this technique look like a good solution - thanks. Edited October 16, 2010 by Boy from Oz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hybrid240z Posted October 16, 2010 Share Posted October 16, 2010 When I did this about a month ago, I was able to easily seat the bushings before installing the rack with the brackets. Maybe you can post a few pictures showing what it looks like after performing this mod and your impressions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boy from Oz Posted October 16, 2010 Author Share Posted October 16, 2010 ...Maybe you can post a few pictures showing what it looks like after performing this mod and your impressions. I do not have access to the car for a few weeks but I will take some photos and post them well I can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hybrid240z Posted October 16, 2010 Share Posted October 16, 2010 Sounds good. Let me know how this works out for you. Maybe this thread can be made into a sticky once you show that it worked for you so others will have a fix for this problem. Keep in mind that I did not have to remove a lot of material, just enough for it to fit. The problem is that the corners of the bushing are square and the contour of the steering rack piece are more round. That is why it doesn't seat properly. Removing the corners fixes that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madkaw Posted October 16, 2010 Share Posted October 16, 2010 Are the new ones rubber or urethane? If they are urethane then drop them in some boiling water for a couple minutes before installing and they should form into place easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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