steering rack rep-lacement

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benthompson
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steering rack rep-lacement

Post by benthompson » 18 Nov 2011 01:30 am

hi im new to this forum and to volvos, bought myself a volvo 360 yesterday for a bit of fun this winter, checked it over today and theirs serious amounts of play in the steering rack so requires replacing. rang GSF today about a replacement and they said they list 2 types long t piece and short t piece but they had no way of me telling what one mine was or any mesurements to take. the question i have is how can i tell what rack i have? any help appriecated thanks

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L14MNP
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Re: steering rack rep-lacement

Post by L14MNP » 18 Nov 2011 01:36 am

Look for where the column UJ meets the rack. See how long the section is protruding from the rack. I think the longer type is around 4". AFAIK, only very early cars have the shorter type. Mine's an '84 and it runs the longer variant.

Have fun this winter! That's why I initially bought mine. :lol:
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pettaw
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Re: steering rack rep-lacement

Post by pettaw » 18 Nov 2011 05:33 am

Before you go to all that trouble, make sure that the rubber connector that connects the steering column to the rack is in good condition. The rubber rots and the metal rusts, and the result is very sloppy steering. They used to be available from Volvo, but of course are no longer, so dunno where you'd get one from, but that would be my guess rather than the whole rack.

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Chris_C
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Re: steering rack rep-lacement

Post by Chris_C » 18 Nov 2011 10:54 am

The other thing I have seen is the welds fatigue in the subframe so the rack isn't fixed properly causing play.
'89(G) 340 GLE B172k
'03 S60 D5 SE, '91 (J) MX5, 1954 Cyclemaster
Ex:
'89(F) 340 GL F7R (ex B172k) - Fake -> SBKV 300 Runner Up 08, 12; '91(H) 340 GL B14.4E - Kar; '88(F) 360 GLT B200E - Jet -> BKV 300 Runner Up 09; '89(G) 360 GLT B200E - Beast

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Hell Driver
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Re: steering rack rep-lacement

Post by Hell Driver » 18 Nov 2011 04:04 pm

L14MNP wrote:Look for where the column UJ meets the rack. See how long the section is protruding from the rack. I think the longer type is around 4". AFAIK, only very early cars have the shorter type. Mine's an '84 and it runs the longer variant.:lol:
Bugger, just noticed that the NOS rack I've just got my hands on is the shorter type (correct of the Mk1) but probably no good for the B230 engine I intend using. I'm assuming that the change was to allow the B19 & B200 exhaust down pipe change? Any idea if the shaft can be swapped over as I have the old longer version from the spares car but was wanting to put in the NOS one? Or will the short one fit with the B230 (looks like no clearance though and there's a heat guard in the way).
360 GLE Saloon (D 86)
360 GLS (A 84)
343 DL (W 80) :-)
340 GL 1.7 (G 89)
360 GLS (Y 83)
440 Turbo (J 92)
Transit Tipper 125 T350 (02)Alive Again!
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Mitsubishi Colt 1.1 (54)
R.I.P. 77 343 DL vario :-(

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Chris_C
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Re: steering rack rep-lacement

Post by Chris_C » 18 Nov 2011 05:36 pm

I have a mk1 rack in my '89 with no issues... I thought the only difference was PAS column vs non PAS column?
'89(G) 340 GLE B172k
'03 S60 D5 SE, '91 (J) MX5, 1954 Cyclemaster
Ex:
'89(F) 340 GL F7R (ex B172k) - Fake -> SBKV 300 Runner Up 08, 12; '91(H) 340 GL B14.4E - Kar; '88(F) 360 GLT B200E - Jet -> BKV 300 Runner Up 09; '89(G) 360 GLT B200E - Beast

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Hell Driver
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Re: steering rack rep-lacement

Post by Hell Driver » 18 Nov 2011 06:18 pm

'89 360? Yes there's two steering column section lengths for sure, I've just compared them.

Just out of interest (not that I'd want to do it) has anyone ever done away with the steering vibration damper? I'd imagine it's a vibration white finger ride without it but there might be even more feedback through the steering :lol:
360 GLE Saloon (D 86)
360 GLS (A 84)
343 DL (W 80) :-)
340 GL 1.7 (G 89)
360 GLS (Y 83)
440 Turbo (J 92)
Transit Tipper 125 T350 (02)Alive Again!
Transit Tipper Smiley face Q reg
Mitsubishi Colt 1.1 (54)
R.I.P. 77 343 DL vario :-(

benthompson
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Joined: 18 Nov 2011 01:25 am

Re: steering rack rep-lacement

Post by benthompson » 18 Nov 2011 09:13 pm

GSF could only get the shorter type so i ordered it and took my rack off today to compare. found the rack is completely different it had a splined shaft on the rack and the colom UJ slides over this and has a pinch bolt through it!! completely different. also noticed for some reason its a power steering rack fitted to a non power steering car as theirs no pump (think someone fitted this for less turns lock to lock) so im assumbing this is the power steering colum fitted and i would have to change this aswell if i wanted to put it back to a proper manual rack which i do as its stupidly hard to turn (alot worse than normal manual steering cars) anybody know if i can get round this somehow or will i have to change the colum too? cheers

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Chris_C
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Re: steering rack rep-lacement

Post by Chris_C » 19 Nov 2011 06:22 am

You need the lower part of the column indeed, the PAS setup has a completely different end as you have found. All can be got to from engine bay side of the car.
'89(G) 340 GLE B172k
'03 S60 D5 SE, '91 (J) MX5, 1954 Cyclemaster
Ex:
'89(F) 340 GL F7R (ex B172k) - Fake -> SBKV 300 Runner Up 08, 12; '91(H) 340 GL B14.4E - Kar; '88(F) 360 GLT B200E - Jet -> BKV 300 Runner Up 09; '89(G) 360 GLT B200E - Beast

benthompson
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Joined: 18 Nov 2011 01:25 am

Re: steering rack rep-lacement

Post by benthompson » 19 Nov 2011 04:20 pm

ah cheers for that thats not too bad then i thought i would be havin to take dashboard out to change the whole colum!so it can all be done from underneath.. just need to find one now lol. cheers

Ride_on
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Re: steering rack rep-lacement

Post by Ride_on » 24 Nov 2011 06:39 pm

Hell Driver wrote:'89 360? Yes there's two steering column section lengths for sure, I've just compared them.

Just out of interest (not that I'd want to do it) has anyone ever done away with the steering vibration damper? I'd imagine it's a vibration white finger ride without it but there might be even more feedback through the steering :lol:
No need to do away with it, GSF do replacements, should be fine with a good one unless the rack is really shitty.

Normally the rack goes clunky with the weight on the wheels (not jacked up) as it wears in the middle and you can't adjust the preload properly anymore. Also could be bushes, bottom ball joints, top bush/ bearing spring mount etc. The 360 front suspensions gets a hard time, needs maintenance.
1980 345 DL_______1987 360 GLE (project car restored to GLT spec and B230FT'd)
1984 360 GLT______1987 360 GLT
1983 360 GLS______1989 360 GLE
1985 340 GL_______1986 340 1.4
1985 360 GLS______1995 940 SE 2.3 Turbo Estate (daily)
1987 340 GL 1.7

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L14MNP
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Re: steering rack rep-lacement

Post by L14MNP » 25 Nov 2011 01:40 am

If you loop the pipes or fit a breather to one end and add a little PAs fluid then they can be (in other cars, unsure on 300's) lighter to steer than with PAS, but obviously avoiding all of the pump/belt/resevoir malarky.
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