Hi John ( jbclem1 wrote:  ),
If finding the manual parts is becoming this hard,
Would not converting to power steering be a good,
( or maybe the best ) ( and cheapest ) way to go?
btw, John, I have everything removed from an 87.
Pump to tie rod ends. P-mail if interesed.
JC...

-------------- Original message --------------
From: Kenneth Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>

> I've never heard of this problem although anything is possible as these
> vans age. There are no rebuild parts available or listed in the ETKA
> for the manual rack. Not sure if a new manual rack is available from
> the dealer but my aftermarket sources are totally dry. So I guess it is
> used rack or nothing.
>
> Ken Wilford
> John 3:16
> www.vanagain.com
>
> Scott Daniel - Shazam wrote:
> > 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
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >