240 steering rack centre position

jch · Jun 27, 2005

_____
Hello all,

Replaced failed ZF steering rack in 1981 245 with used ZF rack from 1986
model. Splined shafts at bottom universal guarantee same alignment
compared with failed unit. In straight-ahead position, judging from
front wheels, steering wheel is 90 degrees our of horizontal. Both
outboard steering ball joints were installed same number of turns onto
steering rack rods (10 to 11 turns each side).

Is there a "hydraulic" centre or neutral position on these ZF racks? If
yes, i will need to pull the steering wheel and reposition it. If not,
then the rack rods can be used to adjust the steering wheel to the
centre position. Which is the correct approach?

Regards / JCH

Mike F · Jun 28, 2005

jch said:
_____
Hello all,

Replaced failed ZF steering rack in 1981 245 with used ZF rack from 1986
model. Splined shafts at bottom universal guarantee same alignment
compared with failed unit. In straight-ahead position, judging from
front wheels, steering wheel is 90 degrees our of horizontal. Both
outboard steering ball joints were installed same number of turns onto
steering rack rods (10 to 11 turns each side).

Is there a "hydraulic" centre or neutral position on these ZF racks? If
yes, i will need to pull the steering wheel and reposition it. If not,
then the rack rods can be used to adjust the steering wheel to the
centre position. Which is the correct approach?

Regards / JCH

You can pretty much determine the rack's center position by counting
turns of the steering wheel. Then you should move the steering wheel to
reflect the rack's center, and only do the fine adjustment (less than
one spline on the steering wheel position) with the tie rods. Ideally
the tie rods should be exactly the same length.

--
Mike F.
Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
(But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)