STEERING RACKS

REN TIN TIN

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Does anyone know of a quick and easy way of aligning steering racks in R12/R15/R17's
:(
One that doesn't involve using all the miscellaneous ironmongery that Renault describe in their workshop manual.
Is this withing the realm of the home bush mechanic?
cheers!
 
Not sure what you are referring too, the rack height or just general wheel alignment?

If swapping racks marking where the current mounting points are and getting the new rack close is the suggested method of getting it close, but it would still be best to get it properly set by a front end specialist as it also affects the geometry of the front end. Not the easiest thing to do at home unless you are experienced with measuring heights, setting up strings etc.

Simon
 
Thanks for you comments Simon. I was referring to the rack height. I had to take the rack out to paint the engine bay (the bushes were knackered as well) and now the car isn't steering as well as it should and I'm pretty sure it's because the rack height is wrong.
As you're aware, the steering rack is on eccentric adjusters. To adjust the eccentrics to get the rack height correct, you're supposed to lock the steering, compress the suspension, and using special scaleboards and tools, adjust the rack so the pointer fall between a certain range.
There probably aren't any Renault dealers that have all the special tools any more, I don't think modern Renaults would have adjustable rack height.
cheers!
 
Hey there,

I struck the same thing with my r17. Took the rack out to recondition it, didn't mark where it was and when I put it back in it had lost most of it's ability to self centre!!

However, in my case because I have lowered the car none of the measurements that the haynes manual gave were any use- as it's all been altered...
These eccentric cam adjusters that alter the steering rack height are marked with small lines, all I did was alter them, (to the same markings) then reassemble. tighten everything and take it for a drive. It is now heaps better, but still not what I think it could be.

Any other suggestions would be welcome- but this way at least makes the car driveable/useable.
Hope this is of some help.

Cheers Ben
 
I had my R12 done my the local Renault mech. and it's perfect. I'd suggest you do persevere to find someone in the know to do it for you.

Cheers

Stu
 
:D
Thanks Guys,Yeah, should really get a Renault specialist to set it up properly. Apart from the problem of lousy handling, I've just put new typres on the thing and I don't want them to get knackered because the castor/camber is wrong.
Does anyone know of a good Renault mechanic in Brisbane on the southside. The only one I know of is French Car Care in East Brisbane. I hear they do a pretty good job but I work in Ipswich and it's pretty inconveniet getting the car to them.
There used to be a couple of backyarders operating in Brisbane (I actually lived next door to one in Coorparoo for a short time) but I've lost track of these.
A mobile mechanic that knows Reanults would be ideal if there is such a thing.
cheers!
 
On the wheel alignment side of things, I would suggest Accurate Suspension at Timms Ct Woodridge, as no backyarder is going to have good enough equipment to do the job well. Ken knows me well and has had no difficulty in sorting some of the rarer machinery in Brisbane. PH 3808 2878
Alan.
 
hey

Yep Ken at Accurate supension seems to know his stuff with Renaults. Proberley where I'll get the 17 stiffened up.

I dont feel to comfortable with Fulcrum and renos.
Well I'll see tomorrow.

Ash
 
Like you, I pulled the damn thing out of my '78 Virage without marking its setup position. When faced with re-installation, it struck me that the obvious starting point was to re-install the rack in the dead centre of the mounting slots and work through any steering issues from there.

And it seemed to work - the car steers fine and I've never had to shift it from from the central position!
 
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