Really loose rack and pinion steering

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Sun Jun 10, 2012 10:42 am

Hi guys,
When I first got my Honda Coupe years ago, the steering was in great condition with almost no play in it what so ever.
Things have changed.
There is now a lot of play in the steering wheel. I traced it to the rack and pinion assembly and have now removed the whole thing.
It seems as though the pinion is REALLY loose inside the rack. I tried adjusting the two different adjustment things one the side, but that had no effect at all.
I also can't get the pinion to come out.
It sort of looks like it has a really loose worn out bushing around the pinion gear maybe....
Anyway, I'm not really sure what to do next. Has anyone else ever had this happen to their stearing assembly?
Is there a place I can take it to have it rebuilt?
It still works, it's just getting REALLY loose, and I'm worried I might totally loose steering while going down the road.
Here are some photobucket pictures:
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j228/ ... C00568.jpg
In this one, my finger is pointing to the really loos part:
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j228/ ... C00569.jpg
Please let me know if you have any ideas/recommendations.
thanks,
Mike.

brad fenn · Post by **brad fenn** » Sun Jun 10, 2012 11:00 am

Mike, that happens all the time. The bushings in the rack have rubber insulators on them that disintegrate after 30 or 40 years, the rack can be rebuilt. I usually rebuild them and sleeve them with poly urethane sleeves. There are others out there that do them to. But if you want, contact me back direct,and I can give you a price on that etc.. I am in Dallas Tx. Brad (Classic Auto Service Dallas) From:
Mike To:
anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com Sent:
Sun, June 10, 2012 12:42:08 PM Subject:
[anzhonda600owners] Really loose rack and pinion steering
Hi guys,
When I first got my Honda Coupe years ago, the steering was in great condition with almost no play in it what so ever.
Things have changed.
There is now a lot of play in the steering wheel. I traced it to the rack and pinion assembly and have now removed the whole thing.
It seems as though the pinion is REALLY loose inside the rack. I tried adjusting the two different adjustment things one the side, but that had no effect at all.
I also can't get the pinion to come out.
It sort of looks like it has a really loose worn out bushing around the pinion gear maybe....
Anyway, I'm not really sure what to do next. Has anyone else ever had this happen to their stearing assembly?
Is there a place I can take it to have it rebuilt?
It still works, it's just getting REALLY loose, and I'm worried I might totally loose steering while going down the road.
Here are some photobucket pictures:
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j228/ ... C00568.jpg
In this one, my finger is pointing to the really loos part:
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j228/ ... C00569.jpg
Please let me know if you have any ideas/recommendations.
thanks,
Mike.

Love · Post by **Love** » Sun Jun 10, 2012 1:45 pm

Mike,
For my car, I've updated the rack with bushings made by Miles C. In the group archives are instructions on how to DIY (from Bill C.). To take it out involves some violence in getting the retaining washer tabs flat, so use caution.
You won't totally lose steering, it just feels sloppy.
Trivia time, did you see the Thunderbird?
Bruce D.
Santa Clara, CA
From:
Mike To:
anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com Sent:
Sun, June 10, 2012 10:42:13 AM Subject:
[anzhonda600owners] Really loose rack and pinion steering
Hi guys, When I first got my Honda Coupe years ago, the steering was in great condition with almost no play in it what so ever.
Things have changed.
There is now a lot of play in the steering wheel. I traced it to the rack and pinion assembly and have now removed the whole thing.
It seems as though the pinion is REALLY loose inside the rack. I tried adjusting the two different adjustment things one the side, but that had no effect at all.
I also can't get the pinion to come out.
It sort of looks like it has a really loose worn out bushing around the pinion gear maybe....
Anyway, I'm not really sure what to do next. Has anyone else ever had this happen to their stearing assembly?
Is there a place I can take it to have it rebuilt?
It still works, it's just getting REALLY loose, and I'm worried I might totally loose steering while going down the road.
Here are some photobucket pictures:
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j228/ ... C00568.jpg In this one, my finger is pointing to the really loos part:
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j228/ ... C00569.jpg Please let me know if you have any ideas/recommendations.
thanks, Mike.

Lyle · Post by **Lyle** » Sun Jun 10, 2012 3:30 pm

Hi Mike, like Brad and Miles said the rubber falls apart from the grease. I made sleeves like Brad and it is working great. This is a nice write up by Bill Colford.
http://www.honda600coupe.com/tech_pages/index.html
From Steve's 71 Honda site.
Lyle

--- In
anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
, brad fenn wrote:
> Mike, that happens all the time. The bushings in the rack have rubber insulators
> on them that disintegrate after 30 or 40 years, the rack can be rebuilt. I
> usually rebuild them and sleeve them with poly urethane sleeves. There are
> others out there that do them to. But if you want, contact me back direct,and I
> can give you a price on that etc.. I am in Dallas Tx. Brad (Classic Auto
> Service Dallas)
> From: Mike
> To:
anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Sun, June 10, 2012 12:42:08 PM
> Subject: [anzhonda600owners] Really loose rack and pinion steering
> Hi guys,
> When I first got my Honda Coupe years ago, the steering was in great condition
> with almost no play in it what so ever.
> Things have changed.
> There is now a lot of play in the steering wheel. I traced it to the rack and
> pinion assembly and have now removed the whole thing.
> It seems as though the pinion is REALLY loose inside the rack. I tried
> adjusting the two different adjustment things one the side, but that had no
> effect at all.
> I also can't get the pinion to come out.
> It sort of looks like it has a really loose worn out bushing around the pinion
> gear maybe....
> Anyway, I'm not really sure what to do next. Has anyone else ever had this
> happen to their stearing assembly?
> Is there a place I can take it to have it rebuilt?
> It still works, it's just getting REALLY loose, and I'm worried I might totally
> loose steering while going down the road.
> Here are some photobucket pictures:
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j228/ ... C00568.jpg
> In this one, my finger is pointing to the really loos part:
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j228/ ... C00569.jpg
> Please let me know if you have any ideas/recommendations.
> thanks,
> Mike.

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Tue Jun 12, 2012 12:07 am

Thanks, but the link to Bill Colford's write up keeps taking me some where odd. Even if I go to Steve's Honda Site and click on the "technical Info Link", I end up looking at pictures of scary fish.

--- In
anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
, "Lyle" wrote:
> Hi Mike, like Brad and Miles said the rubber falls apart from the grease. I made sleeves like Brad and it is working great. This is a nice write up by Bill Colford.
http://www.honda600coupe.com/tech_pages/index.html
> From Steve's 71 Honda site.
> Lyle
> --- In
anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
, brad fenn wrote:
> > Mike, that happens all the time. The bushings in the rack have rubber insulators
> > on them that disintegrate after 30 or 40 years, the rack can be rebuilt. I
> > usually rebuild them and sleeve them with poly urethane sleeves. There are
> > others out there that do them to. But if you want, contact me back direct,and I
> > can give you a price on that etc.. I am in Dallas Tx. Brad (Classic Auto
> > Service Dallas)
> > From: Mike
> > To:
anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> > Sent: Sun, June 10, 2012 12:42:08 PM
> > Subject: [anzhonda600owners] Really loose rack and pinion steering
> > Hi guys,
> > When I first got my Honda Coupe years ago, the steering was in great condition
> > with almost no play in it what so ever.
> > Things have changed.
> > There is now a lot of play in the steering wheel. I traced it to the rack and
> > pinion assembly and have now removed the whole thing.
> > It seems as though the pinion is REALLY loose inside the rack. I tried
> > adjusting the two different adjustment things one the side, but that had no
> > effect at all.
> > I also can't get the pinion to come out.
> > It sort of looks like it has a really loose worn out bushing around the pinion
> > gear maybe....
> > Anyway, I'm not really sure what to do next. Has anyone else ever had this
> > happen to their stearing assembly?
> > Is there a place I can take it to have it rebuilt?
> > It still works, it's just getting REALLY loose, and I'm worried I might totally
> > loose steering while going down the road.
> > Here are some photobucket pictures:
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j228/ ... C00568.jpg
> > In this one, my finger is pointing to the really loos part:
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j228/ ... C00569.jpg
> > Please let me know if you have any ideas/recommendations.
> > thanks,
> > Mike.

friend · Post by **friend** » Tue Jun 12, 2012 12:31 am

Hi Mike;
I just went to both and it is a PDF file and worked well. You may have to look at your settings. I will send it to you if you like.
Bill

> -----Original Message-----
> From:
> anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com]
> On Behalf Of
> Mike
> Sent:
> Tuesday, June 12, 2012 12:07 AM
> To:
> anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> Subject:
> [anzhonda600owners] Re:
> Really loose rack and pinion steering
> Thanks, but the link to Bill Colford's write up keeps taking me some where > odd. Even if I go to Steve's Honda Site and click on the "technical Info > Link", I end up looking at pictures of scary fish.
> --- In
> anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> ,
> "Lyle" wrote:
> > Hi Mike, like Brad and
> Miles said the rubber falls apart from the grease. I made sleeves like Brad > and it is working great. This is a nice write up by Bill Colford.
> http://www.honda600coupe.com/tech_pages/index.html
> From Steve's 71 Honda site.
> > Lyle
> > --- In
> anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> ,
> brad fenn wrote:
> > > Mike, that
> happens all the time. The bushings in the rack have rubber insulators
> > on them that disintegrate after 30 or 40 years, the rack can be rebuilt.
> I
> > > usually rebuild them and sleeve them with poly urethane > sleeves. There are > > > others out there that do them to. But if you > want, contact me back direct,and I > > > can give you a price on that > etc.. I am in Dallas Tx. Brad (Classic Auto > > > Service Dallas)
> > > From: Mike
>
> > > To:
> anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> > Sent: Sun, June 10, 2012 12:42:08 PM
> > > Subject:
> [anzhonda600owners] Really loose rack and pinion steering
> > > Hi guys,
> > > When I first
> got my Honda Coupe years ago, the steering was in great condition
> > with almost no play in it what so ever.
> > > Things
> have changed.
> > > There is now a lot of play in the
> steering wheel. I traced it to the rack and
> > > pinion assembly and
> have now removed the whole thing.
> > > It seems as
> though the pinion is REALLY loose inside the rack. I tried
> adjusting the two different adjustment things one the side, but that had no
> > > effect at all.
> > > I also can't get the pinion to come
> out.
> > > It sort of looks like it has a really loose
> worn out bushing around the pinion
> > > gear maybe....
> > > Anyway, I'm not really sure what to do next. Has anyone else > ever had this > > > happen to their stearing assembly?
> > > Is there a place I can take it to have it rebuilt?
> > > It still works, it's just getting REALLY loose, and I'm worried > I might totally > > > loose steering while going down the > road.
> > > Here are some photobucket pictures:
> http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j228/ ... C00568.jpg
> > > In this one, my finger is pointing to the really loos
> part:
> http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j228/ ... C00569.jpg
> > > Please let me know if you have any
> ideas/recommendations.
> > > thanks,
> Mike.

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Tue Jun 12, 2012 2:27 pm

Hi Bill,
If you wouldn't mind sending me the pdf, that would be great. I'm trying to access that link with the computers at the library and I'm still just getting pictures of big scary fish.....?
I've read that it's not easy to dissassemble, but I'd like to see some instructions to detirmine if it is something I can do myself or if I need to hire some one to do it. I live in an apartment, so I don't exactly have a big machine shop or even a garage for that matter, unfortunately.
thanks,
Mike.

--- In
anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
, wrote:
> Hi Mike;
> I just went to both and it is a PDF file and worked well. You may have
> to look at your settings. I will send it to you if you like.
> Bill
> -----Original Message-----
> From:
anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:
anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
]On Behalf Of Mike
> Sent: Tuesday, June 12, 2012 12:07 AM
> To:
anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [anzhonda600owners] Re: Really loose rack and pinion steering
> Thanks, but the link to Bill Colford's write up keeps taking me some where
> odd. Even if I go to Steve's Honda Site and click on the "technical Info
> Link", I end up looking at pictures of scary fish.
> --- In
anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
, "Lyle" wrote:
> > Hi Mike, like Brad and Miles said the rubber falls apart from the
> grease. I made sleeves like Brad and it is working great. This is a nice
> write up by Bill Colford.
http://www.honda600coupe.com/tech_pages/index.html
> > From Steve's 71 Honda site.
> > Lyle
> > --- In
anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
, brad fenn
> wrote:
> > > Mike, that happens all the time. The bushings in the rack have rubber
> insulators
> > > on them that disintegrate after 30 or 40 years, the rack can be
> rebuilt. I
> > > usually rebuild them and sleeve them with poly urethane sleeves. There
> are
> > > others out there that do them to. But if you want, contact me back
> direct,and I
> > > can give you a price on that etc.. I am in Dallas Tx. Brad (Classic
> Auto
> > > Service Dallas)
> > > From: Mike
> > > To:
anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> > > Sent: Sun, June 10, 2012 12:42:08 PM
> > > Subject: [anzhonda600owners] Really loose rack and pinion steering
> > > Hi guys,
> > > When I first got my Honda Coupe years ago, the steering was in great
> condition
> > > with almost no play in it what so ever.
> > > Things have changed.
> > > There is now a lot of play in the steering wheel. I traced it to the
> rack and
> > > pinion assembly and have now removed the whole thing.
> > > It seems as though the pinion is REALLY loose inside the rack. I tried
> > > adjusting the two different adjustment things one the side, but that
> had no
> > > effect at all.
> > > I also can't get the pinion to come out.
> > > It sort of looks like it has a really loose worn out bushing around
> the pinion
> > > gear maybe....
> > > Anyway, I'm not really sure what to do next. Has anyone else ever had
> this
> > > happen to their stearing assembly?
> > > Is there a place I can take it to have it rebuilt?
> > > It still works, it's just getting REALLY loose, and I'm worried I
> might totally
> > > loose steering while going down the road.
> > > Here are some photobucket pictures:
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j228/ ... s/DSC00568.
> jpg
> > > In this one, my finger is pointing to the really loos part:
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j228/ ... s/DSC00569.
> jpg
> > > Please let me know if you have any ideas/recommendations.
> > > thanks,
> > > Mike.