steering rack

[grannyknot]

I'm just about to remove the steering rack for restoration and noticed this plastic/rubber bulb on the passenger side of the rack. It appears to be a lubrication reservior and looks stock except I can't find it mentioned anywhere. It's cracked and only hanging on by a bit of material at the back.

So before I break it off, is there any chance I'm going to find a new one? Is it even needed? Should I just seal it up and then re-lubricate through that hole every year?

Thanks,

Chris

I can't get the file upload manager to cooperate, Ill try and add the pic later

[esmit208]

GRANNY

I have my rack out of the car and have restored it and I have a grease valve where I believe you are referring to. Maybe cars that came to Canada had some other type of cover over the fitting. Grease valves come in a few different sizes but not very many. If you remove the plastic/rubber material and the openning is machined then it can be replaced with a grease valve that will allow grease to be injected. Good Luck.

[jfa.series1]

A 9mm straight zerk fitting is the pefect replacement for the NLA nylon reservoir. Clean out any residual material from the old part and install the new fitting directly on the rack - no drilling or thread tapping required.

[grannyknot]

Thanks guys, I measured it today and the thread is a 10 x 1.0mm in a 5/8" sq patch welded onto the steering rack pipe.

I thought I would drill a 10x1.0mm bolt for a small grease zerk but maybe a 9mm will do the job with some JB Weld.

So what do later steering racks do for lubrication on the passenger side?

I'm thinking that maybe warm weather allowed grease from the drivers side to migrate to the P side without the need for separate lubrication or at least I've found that to be true of the rack & pinion steering rack on a Triumph TR6.

Chris

[Casey_z]

There should be a bolt you can remove after which you can install a grease fitting.

Casey

[EuroDat]

I'm just about to remove the steering rack for restoration and noticed this plastic/rubber bulb on the passenger side of the rack.

I can't get the file upload manager to cooperate, Ill try and add the pic later

Chris, can you upload a photo? I have never seen one. My 280z doesnt have one and just wondering what it looks like.

[grannyknot]

Here it is