Steering Question

Hi Everyone,

I hope I get this right. Is there an easy way to tighten up the two u-bolt clamps/rubber bushings that secure the steering rack? I'm talking about a TR4. They have those plates on the bottom with the slotted bolt holes. I think they are supposed to tightened equally. I have seen a picture of a special tool that presses them apart from the center of the steering rack.

I hope what I said makes sense. Any thoughts?

............Cheers, Alex

There is no easy way to do anything on these cars. The second time around though is sometimes easier.

I've used clamps / vice grips to help get the bushings compressed to something close to what the manual says. Still a pain though.

Randy

It's not easy, and even if you find the right "expansion" tool, I don't think it makes much difference. The more important part of it all is to have the clamps snug to each end, properly fitted, and to use good new nyloc nuts and to clean those threaded prongs on the clamps so that the nuts go one without stripping anything.

To rig an expansion tool, I spent a good day using a "turnbuckle" apparatus from Ace Hardware, fitting it with two pieces of angle iron I cut and then bolted onto each end of the turnbuckle. The upper part of the "L" from each piece of angle iron presses against the clamp housings as I turn the turnbuckle. I think it really worked quite LOUSILY!!

But it sure made me feel good knowing I tried. As I recall, I had the pleasure of removing the fan so I could work this crazy process.

When I was done, a local mechanic said he'd never bothered doing anything other than sliding the clamps to the side.