Racknpinions sought...

[campbell]

I've got a new noise.

It's been a while since one of these came along.

It goes a little something like this...

Once car is nicely warmed, at standstill or low speeds, an eighth or quarter turn of the steering wheel either direction from dead ahead, produces a light squeaking/creaking sound from somewhere down the steering column. Very akin to the creak you get off S1 door hinges that are in need of a bit of graphite lube.

I'm thinking something at the steering rack (accessible...not...) - best case is needing some grease, worst case is worn and needing refurb/replacement.

Discuss?

thanks!

Campbell

[robin]

I would guess anti roll bar bushes.

Can be lubricated or replaced - on a car of this vintage, I might be inclined to replace - EP sell these in a number of variations - but you should buy the OE ones for your use - either from EP or Lotus, whichever is cheaper.

Cheers,
Robin

[campbell]

Thanks Robin.

That was a job I was going to tackle last summer, had lined up Fergus' rivnut gun thingy for fixing the inevitably minced undertray fixings, then never got round to it

[BiggestNizzy]

DOing this now it's a pig

[campbell]

My understanding is that the nasty bit is the animalising-out of original fixings for front undertray, and the re-fitting of fresh rivnuts afterwards.

I believe there is a neat tool can do the replacement of the fixings, but can't profess to be experienced or qualified in its use!

I think I will have to entrust this one to a professional.


Campbell

[BiggestNizzy]

The rivnuts where already mangled in mine so that wasn't a problem, although I will have to source a rivnut tool and some rivnuts.

Access is the big problem getting in to loosen the screws was a pain. the antiroll bar had swelled with rust around where the old rubber bushes where so I had to buff that away to get the nylatron ones to fit. but the single biggest pain is fitting it back on I just cannot get one of the bolts in I was at it to 11:30 last night and when I finish work in 10 mins i am off to take another crack at it.

[campbell]

Should I be buying a fresh ARB as well then?

[BiggestNizzy]

No, you can polish it up to remove any blistering rush a roll of emery cloth a file and a vice to hold it in should do

[campbell]

ta

[BiggestNizzy]

job done.

[campbell]

bravo!

[BiggestNizzy]

It hasn't stopped the noise I was hoping it would so the bottom A arm is coming off to check evrything is ok.

put the top screws in first only 2 or 3 threads then the bottoms in 2 or 3 threads and work your way round a few threadsa t a time.

is going to be a pain if you have std wishbone bushes as access is a pita.

[campbell]

what year is your car?

[BiggestNizzy]

1997

[campbell]

I might have read somewhere that changing the ARB mounts on pre-99 cars is different / trickier than 99 onwards. But then again I could be mistaken!

Well done for completing the job all the same. Good luck with the rattle-trapping. I know the feeling...

Campbell