It sounds like maybe your tie rod is worn out where it pivots at the
rack.  This can easily be replaced.  I have new tie rods with new ends
on them for $65 (251419803) and then I would get a new rack boot which
is another $8 (251419831A) and that should get rid of the play.  I have
seen this many times on other Vans.

Hope this helps,
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com

jbclem1 wrote:

>On my 1983 Westphalia there is a lot of play on the passenger side of the manual steering rack.  I
>can move the arm sideways (not in and out) about 1/2 inch.  No such play on the drivers side.  There
>must be a bushing that is worn out on that side and I'd like to try to replace it...bushings are
>usually cheap, so's my labor-and a rebuilt steering rack is expensive.
>
>Has anyone succeeded in doing this?  I've done some research on steering rack rebuilding in general,
>and there are a lot of special tools sold for this process.  It looks like a big deal, but when you
>think about it there's only so much in there, at least with the manual steering rack.  And I've
>found that you can buy a rack rebuilding kit for 280Z cars for about $60, which consists of these
>parts:
>
> Rack end bushings
>Pinion adjustment bushing
>Input shaft bearing
>Grease seal
>
>The end bushings have to be honed to fit right, and you use a bearing/gear puller to extract the
>bushings.
>
>I know this isn't for a Vanagon, but it gives me the idea that at least with one type of car it's
>not that hard to do.  I just want to replace the right side end bushing (if there is such a thing in
>the Vanagon version), although if I could take the entire rack apart and could find all the parts I
>would probably replace all of them.
>
>Is this a Vanagon pipe dream or has anyone tried to do this?  Any ideas out there...
>
>John
>
>
>