[Alfisto Steve]

You mentioned earlier about rack moving in its rubber mounts if that is true your inner tie rods may not be the issue.

You need to verify where the movement is in your rack set up and if in fact it is inner tie rod ends then you can try to remove them with brute force with rack still in car.

Also you would need to have new ones on hand to replace.

If your rack is moving in rubber mounts the passenger side one is not designed to be replaced and there isn't any part number for the part so you pretty much have to make a mount out of something like a thin radiator hose or thin rubber mat for that sde.

Other side has a part number and may still be orderable.

In a pictures in above link I show drilling out both staked area from inner tie rod end and drilling out passenger side mount.

 

[IRONBLOCK]

steering rack exploded view

THANKS AGAIN STEVE! and ChazzyD,

Now it all makes perfect sense to drill out the "staked" part...I thought perhaps something was 'stacked' inside the inner tie rod end or something. Please pardon my density; perhaps a subconscious resistance to crawing under the car to work on the steering rack in a sub freezing garage.

I am certain that either a) the inner tie rod end is loose and will not require a drill (just a wrench), or b) the inner tie rod end is worn out (~5,000 miles since rack was rebuilt). There is ~10mm of 'play' at the inner end of the tie rod where the rod goes into the rubber bellows. I'll have to remove the rubber boot to determine if the end has unscrewed or worn out (hopefully not!). I am having trouble seeing how the rod could move in and out if the threads on the ball joint were just loose.

I found a tie rod end on ebay (UK) that has flats on it for a wrench but I am double checking to make sure that the machined face (with the bolt) does not have a shoulder; requiring a spacer like Steve described. Is there a local
source for this part?

When the rack was rebuilt, I had Auto Delta reinstall the 35,000 mile stock springs, since the IAP performance springs were harsh and very low, allowing the tires to rub on the inner fender linings but **** it looked snakey! The car has always been a little rough on inner edge tire wear but I don't believe the camber is really adjustable and the stock springs only seem to make the wear worse (especially with a worn out tie rod end).

Blessings,
Mark

 

[Alfisto Steve]

I don't work in a freezing garage very well either so that is why I have both a propane and kerosene heater. I preheat garage before I go to work.

As far as inner tie rod ends IAP and difatta bros should have them but they all seem to only carry "L/H one" 9945565 that are designed for both sides on racks without oval boot on passenger side.

See two types of inner TRE's here: http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/433677-post30.html

9945565 inner TIE ROD driver's side on damper style rack and both sides on non-damper rack Note: usable on oval boot side with a spacer.
9945566 inner TIE ROD END Passenger side oval boot side

The 9945565 fits non-damper racks on both sides and can work on passenger side of oval booted racks with a spacer (washer). I showed both types in my Rosso rack project.

 

[Tamariini]

This is really old topic but i'm reconditioning steering rack of my 164 Q4 and i am having really hard time replacing that piston ring which i surrounded by red red colour on the pic.

Any ideas how it should be replaced? I'm all out of ideas now...

thanks.

 

[pinino]

Is this an O-ring? (I've never been there so don't know). If it's an O-ring just slip it out of the groove with the help of a pick, then carefully measure it with a micrometer. Whether metric or inch, it's easy to find an online source.

 

[Alfisto Steve]

This is really old topic but i'm reconditioning steering rack of my 164 Q4 and i am having really hard time replacing that piston ring which i surrounded by red red colour on the pic.

Any ideas how it should be replaced? I'm all out of ideas now...

thanks.

The piston ring is a hard square cut telfon material and you have to leave it alone unless you have a new one from a repair kit.

It is hard to get off and hard to stretch new one into piston groove.

I got a 54559 kit from Jorgen.

 

[Alfisto Steve]

Some more info on 164 racks with dampered spring cartridge: http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/5117905-post315.html

 

[Del]

I know there is a spring in that 2nd tube, but is there a shock absorber style damper in there as well, or is it just the spring, ie, no motion damping?

 

[Alfisto Steve]

I know there is a spring in that 2nd tube, but is there a shock absorber style damper in there as well, or is it just the spring, ie, no motion damping?

As I said there is about 90 degrees of free play before either way you turn it from center before spring cartridge takes effect. The shop manual calls it a recovery spring to facilitate and optimize the steering wheel return (Hidro Racing System - HRS). There isn't any dampening strut like on later GTV6 and I suppose Milano Racks or Billy Bob's 4x4 pickem up truck.

 

[Del]

That means then that these racks are not damped in any way, just spring loaded toward center.

 

[StuInOz]

Does anyone know if the 24V 'Super' has a damper on the rack? My rack decided to drop PS fluid everywhere, looks like an end seal has gone on the passenger side (RHD car).

Looking to buy a seal kit and I notice there are a few types depending on if there is a damper fitted. Problem is the 'Super' isn't mentioned because I don't think they called it that in the USA (or am I wrong?).

Car isn't here so I can't go and look. I suspect it doesn't have the damper but would like some more expert advice if possible before I place the order!

 

[Alfisto Steve]

I suspect you need to go look but I would think it does have "dampered" rack as all later ones I have seen has it.

 

[StuInOz]

Thanks Steve, maybe I'll order both sets just to be safe.

 

[Alfisto Steve]

Dampered (spring) 164 racks

Thanks Steve, maybe I'll order both sets just to be safe.

According to ePer RHD super does have dampered rack and damper is referred to as a spring in parts breakdown. Note the RHD rack in first picture.

Sensor item 7 is for Q4 164.

RHD 164 Super Racks Note the +007 ones for A/T models

60594890 GD C1500 01
60614475 GD D1500 01
60594891 GD +007 C1500 01
60614476 GD +007 D1500 01
mod D1500 starting with chassis 6317430 is improved rack with follow up link to decrease noise whatever that means.

 

[Del]

A spring is not a damper, although dampers may have springs. I'm assuming that there is only a spring in that housing #4, not that it matters for anything.

 

[Alfisto Steve]

When is a damper not a damper

Thanks Steve, maybe I'll order both sets just to be safe.

A spring is not a damper, although dampers may have springs. I'm assuming that there is only a spring in that housing #4, not that it matters for anything.

Yes it is a double acting recovery spring cartridge which Alfa calls HRS (HidroRacingSystem) in shop manual.