Is it possible to lubricate a steering rack?

[Freez74]

Without disassembling it or removing from the car?  Hoping there might be a way to put a little oil or grease in there.  My car sat for many years without being driven, and the lubricant may be a bit dried up.

Thanks

[jfa.series1]

The rack orignally came with  a small plastic grease reservoir on the top right side between the mounting bushing and the tie rod covering. Most have broken off by now leaving the neck of the reservoir stuck in the rack tube. Extract the plastic remnant and install a Zerk fitting to grease the rack.

[siteunseen]

Here's my plastic plug before the zerk fitting

If you could take the fitting off the end of the hose on a grease gun and get it under the accordion sleeves and pump it while working the wheel back and forth you would get some on the teeth of the rack I think.

 

 

[Freez74]

Thanks guys, the location of the plastic plug is exactly the kind of info I'm looking for.  I could not see any external access to the rack without going through the boots.  I'll see if I can locate the plug today and put some oil or grease in there.

[Freez74]

I took a look at my rack and there does not appear to be any plug or place for a grease fitting.  Must be a 260Z difference.  Not sure if I want to try to take the boots off, but that looks like the only way in.

[Zed Head]

The parts site shows no change of location over the years.  Part 25, I think.

https://www.carpartsmanual.com/datsun/Z-1969-1978/steering/steering-gear/25

[siteunseen]

2 hours ago, Freez74 said:

I took a look at my rack and there does not appear to be any plug or place for a grease fitting.  Must be a 260Z difference.  Not sure if I want to try to take the boots off, but that looks like the only way in.

Isn't this pic on the passenger's side? Looks like the alternator I'm seeing. Look on the other side where the steering rod connects. Maybe you'll find it. Good luck!

[Yarb]

Looking on the wrong side IMO. See the splines for the steering shaft? 

[Freez74]

The picture JFA posted is on the passenger's side.

[Yarb]

Was looking at the pic @siteunseen posted

[Freez74]

27 minutes ago, Yarb said:

Was looking at the pic @siteunseen posted

Right, it does seem there is something there, but I was unable to get a picture of that side.  But my passenger side is definitely different from JFA's.

[jfa.series1]

Not to argue with my good friend Cliff @siteunseen but it seems unlikely that Nissan would have installed a 3/4" high plastic grease reservoir in the same location as the rubber bushing mount. If so, there would have been an existing hole for the threaded throat of the fitting. The carparts manual diagram referenced by @Zed Head shows it to be on the passenger side for all models of S30. Note on my pic there is actually a reinforcing plate on the tube to provide enough metal for threads. I've no theory or explanation as to why our OP has no provision for the part other than some possibility that the rack might not be original to the car.