I put the rack back in the Bugeye, lined everything up, and I still have a
stiff steering problem. It still won't return to neutral when making a
turn. I pulled the pinion out of the rack and see no substantial wear on
the rack or the gear. The pinion end float is a tight fit but seems not to
bind. The spring loaded copper plungers that hold the rack against the
pinion were worn but not too bad. I filed off the groove and polished it
up. The manual says that I should *just* be able to pull the rack back and
forth while on the bench. Well what is "just"? I can move it from one end
to the other but it requires a fair amount of muscle. What the heck does
"just" mean? Was the writer a wimp or built like Charles Atlas?
The felt bushings in the steering column are solid. I cleaned some rust off
the steering shaft and oiled the felts. Not sure it should be done but the
shaft turns with minimal drag inside the column.
I checked the end play in the king pins, new tie rod ends, wheels move easy
on the bushings.
I have played with the toe in and have set it - 1/4. -1/8. 0. +1/8, +1/4
inch with no change. I would have thought a little toe out would have made
it feel loose.
Tire pressure is at 30 lbs. Can tires make a car do this?
I have run out of ideas!
Mark
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