Date:         Sat, 14 Jul 2007 21:46:39 -0700
Reply-To:     Nathan Mc Blain <nmcblain@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Nathan Mc Blain <nmcblain@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Update to power steering rack replacement- Surfacing shaft
              suggestions
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

List,
  I wanted to thank everyone for all the help!!  Sorry to get back so slow, I just started my new job :) in county vector control.

  Sounds like the consensus is very fine sand paper 1500grit will smooth the main shaft out.  Where could I find that fine a sand paper locally?

  I have the rack all apart but really screwed up!!  I couldn't get the pinion shaft apart, looked like the main bearing is pressed in tight.  I thought the back side was some sort of metal plug, like a freeze plug, but for access, and drilled a small hole in it and pulled it.  Turns out that is a close sided needle bearing I just ruined :(   Wrote ZF an e-mail to see if I can get another needle bearing from them.  On their site they have a parts request form, hopefully I'll hear from them Monday.  Does anyone have another source for this bearing?  I should of asked the list how to get the pinion shaft out before...stupid me...hine sight really is always 20/20!
  Thanks again for all the help!

  Nate
  1990 Flash Silver non GL
Orange County, CA

----
  When I rebuilt mine years ago,  I used 1000 or 1200 wet and dry paper and made the surface near polished. When I pulled it apart I mapped it out on my steel bench with a Sharpie to insure that it all went together properly..       There is a lot to it and getting it apart is half the battle. I could find no breakdown of the unit ,so I was shooting in the dark. It didn't leak when I was done so I must have done something right.

                                                                                   God luck

                                                                                           Stacy


  ----
  Date:    Tue, 10 Jul 2007 08:41:25 -0800
From:    Randy Bergum <organslave@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject: Re: Update to power steering rack replacement- Surfacing shaft
         suggestions

For polishing seal surfaces on metal - use kerosene and 1500 grit
wet/dry paper sparingly.  If there are any boogers or whiskers of
metal, they go away nicely and the new seals are happy to seat.

Steel wool can leave behind filaments that will rust - bad news.

Randy Bergum
1990 Carat

  ----
  I'm certainly not ax expert, but I would guess that 000 steel wool will
take out the light rust.
You could use a polisher/buffer to restore a smooth finish to the
shaft.

I would guess that the critical issue would be consistent shape,
diameter, and finish where the seals are.

Todd
'88 Westy


  ----
  i'm not an expert, but i used to operate and maintain a fairly
large-ish backhoe when i worked for the water works, years ago.

and one thing we found out really quickly was that once there was a
scratch or ANY damage to the shiney chrome parts of the cylinders, it
was replacement time. you simply cannot repair them. :( any damage ...
and any repairs ... will create rough spots and those rough spots tear
the seals as the arm moves back and forth through the seal, and with
those kinds of pressures, it WILL leak and only get worse. :(

and those big cylinders cost lots of money on tractors. :( so we had
to be very very careful about not getting the cylinders close to
anything that could hurt them.

my point is, i don't think you'll be able to do any sort of repairs,
especially on rusted spots, that will hold for any length of time.
:( all you can do is keep replacing the seals, and every new seal will
start leaking not long after you've replaced it. sorry. :(

good luck!
joel
p.s. we never had any luck with rebuilts, either. had to buy the new



  -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Nathan Mc Blain <nmcblain@YAHOO.COM>
> List,
>   From my last posts I talked first about rebuilding my old rack.
  Then I
> decided to just buy a rebuild one from the local Kragen.  I've since
installed
> this steering rack and immediately it started leaking!!!  It's
leaking not out
> of the main seals but where the cross tube and U shaped tube is
bolted to the
> rack.  Guess that is equalizing bars?  All parts are tight and it
leaks!!
>
>   For the archives: It is rebuilt by Cardone and the C in Cardone
stands for
> Crap!!!  On there site
> http://www.cardone.com/English/Club/Products/Steering/default.asp
they claim to
> pressure and test the racks to ensure quality...BS!!!  If these
comments look
> like trashing ...they are, and well deserved.  It doesn't' help that
it comes
> with a lifetime warranty because of the work to remove and install
it!!!
>
>   O BTW the one quoted from Pepboys I thought was a Maval is a
Mevotech FYI.
>
>   Thankfully I haven't deposited my core and so decided to go ahead
and rebuild
> it.  I have most all disassembled, just doing a little each day in
the evening
> and driving with the leaking Cardone.
>
>   Is anyone familiar with hydraulics systems?  The shaft is lightly
scored and
> has a few small rusted spots.  Otherwise it is in great shape and
actually looks
> better than the rebuilt unit.  What would be the best way to surface
it to it's
> original finish?  Fine wet sandpaper, rubbing compound or something
else.
>
>   TIA!!
>
>
>
>
>     Nate
>   1990 Flash Silver non GL
>   Orange County, CA
---------------


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