I suppose it depends how badly it is bent and where it is bent. It has been about 18 years, but as I recall on my girlfriends car, right turns were fine. (She hit the LF wheel on a curb) But on left turns it would tighten up when the bent section reached the rack housing. We could turn it a bit more if we forced the wheel, but it wouldn't return at all. She quit driving it immediately until we replaced it with a junkyard rack. Problem solved.
Judging from the pictures, the inner boots are not compressing equally left to right. Assuming symmetry under the boots, that doesn't leave much else. I still vote on a bent rack. Luis -----Original Message----- From: bill zimmerman [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, January 18, 2011 2:35 PM To: 'Luis'; 'Miatapower Miata Power' Subject: RE: Problems removing the steering column from the rack When the rack is bent you will feel it when you turn the steering wheel, he only complained of turning ability not being equal r to l. doubt it is the rack, other components may be damaged but prolly not the rack. BZ -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Luis Sent: Tuesday, January 18, 2011 2:21 PM To: 'Miatapower Miata Power' Subject: RE: Problems removing the steering column from the rack Based on the differences in the picture, my vote is that the rack is bent. The previous owner slid into a curb and bent the rack. BTDT on a girlfriends VW Scirocco. The solution is to replace the rack. Luis -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Bill Cardell Sent: Tuesday, January 18, 2011 1:05 PM To: derf; Robert McElwee Cc: Miatapower Miata Power Subject: RE: Problems removing the steering column from the rack I don't see how the rack itself could change length (at least and still turn). Back to the beginning of this whole thing, what is the total number of turns from stop to stop? Bill Cardell TurboDog's Dad Flyin' Miata HELP FLYIN' MIATA GO TO TARGA NEWFOUNDLAND! Targa Miata Facebook page FMWestfield Sales 1-800-359-6957 Tech 970-464-5600 Before you call, check out http://www.flyinmiata.com/FAQ/ -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of derf Sent: Tuesday, January 18, 2011 10:33 AM To: Robert McElwee Cc: Miatapower Miata Power Subject: Re: Problems removing the steering column from the rack Are the tie rods the same length on both sides? Should they be? Maybe someone installed an incorrect part from another similar vehicle. Maybe something goofy is going on inside the boots or inside the rack itself. I would probably just get another rack, maybe a manual one, and tear into that one afterward so that I could know why. _______________________________________________ Miatapower mailing list [email protected] http://list.miatapower.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/miatapower _______________________________________________ Miatapower mailing list [email protected] http://list.miatapower.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/miatapower _______________________________________________ Miatapower mailing list [email protected] http://list.miatapower.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/miatapower _______________________________________________ Miatapower mailing list [email protected] http://list.miatapower.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/miatapower
