If it is the inner end of the tie rod that's shot, fine, that's a
replaceable part.
What I've found though, on one vanagon of mine, is that the outer end of the
steering rack was shot. 
There 'might' be a bushing there.......but inboard of where the tie rod is,
.....the actual linear gear of the rack is supported at both outer
ends......and I think it's a bushing there, can't imagine it would ride in
bare aluminum.  

The guy just wrote that his tie rod is fine. Sounds like a typical case of
someone jumping to a conclusion about a part.

If his problem is inboard of the inner end of the tie rod like it seems he
is explaining, I have not heard of any rebuilt kit for the aluminum housing
of the rack, though there could be one or parts for it in the parts system.

Perhaps a member handy with the ETKA can look and see if the rack body has
replaceable bushings at the end.

 As far as I know the repair is a good used steering rack, which isn't that
big a deal.  
This van I have, that a big heavy person ruined by *jerking*  the steering
during a year and half period - when I get my van back, I notice two solid
inches of play at the steering wheel rim, and vanagons seldom do that. I
figured it would be the U-joint under there or rubber drive disc that was
shot - nope, it was the outer ends of the rack, as I've described above -
about almost a quarter inch vertical play there, and most definitely nothing
to do with the tie rods in any way.
Scott
turbovans

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Ken Wilford
Sent: Friday, April 04, 2008 5:29 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Rebuilding manual steering rack?

It sounds like the tie rod itself is actually the part that is shot.
The end that is on the rack side is a ball and socket joint that can
wear out.  Buying a new tie rod and installing it should fix the
problem.  We sell these for $65 and they are German and include a tie
rod end as well.  I would also replace the boot at the same time.  We
have them for $8.  The part number for the tie rod assembly is
251419803.  Let me know if I can help you further,
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com

jbclem1 wrote:
> I have a 1983 Westphalia with a manual (not power) steering rack.  There's
a lot of play on the passenger side, and the
> play is coming from a point just inside the rack itself, where the
passenger side tie rod goes into the steering rack
> body.   I can grab the tie rod and move it up and down right at the point
where it disappears into the steering rack
> body.  The tie rod end itself is fine, no play, and easy to replace if it
does go bad.
>
> It doesn't look like it woud be hard to rebuilt if I could find the
part(s).  And some instructions also.  Has anyone
> tried this, could someone direct me to instructions?  I know it's not that
hard to find information and parts for the
> power steering racks, but the manual ones seem to be in a different
category.
>
> John
>
>

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