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Steering Rack Binding Up?

SS8_Gohan
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SS8_Gohan Grand Master

SS8_Gohan

Posted
Posted

hi all

did an advanced driving course the other day, and one of the exercises was a mini motorkhana. Now, i've noticed the same issue when i did a skid-pan day and this time luckily i had a pro there to diagnose the problem for me. Basically, when i start getting into the real twisty stuff (tight slalom) it feels like the steering wheel is getting "stuck" and it's not smooth at all to turn from side-to-side.

Just for shits and giggles, i threw the keys to the the instructor for the motorkhana section, just to see what he could do in my car and when he returned he had experienced the same thing. He said he was fighting the steering through the tight bits and just said it was "the steering rack binding up under the heat"?? i have no idea what he was talking about, but the dude has won a few motorkhana's so i wasn't one to argue. He said it was normal for a road car...

i'm thinking it's not really that normal and there must be something i can do about it, especially with so many skylines doing motorkhana's, etc. I've never heard of an after-market steering rack :ermm: but i'm thinking maybe some top-notch power steering fluid might help??? I don't know if it's ever been changed, and i don't know how often to change it really...

so yeah, glad in a way that it's not something major (well at least i don't think it is), but my goodness is it a horribly feeling and if i'm doing more track days or DECA's etc... i can't have the problem continuing. So if anyone knows about this 'rack binding' issue, any tips to how to prevent it would be awesome!!

cheers,

daniel

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1400r Veteran

1400r

Posted
Posted

fitting a bigger power steering cooler core (or one at all ) is meant to help with binding

however the binding Ive heard about and experienced in s13's is at fulllock with steering rack spacers fitted

maybe get your rack checked out to make sure its not just stuffed

MrStabby Grand Master

MrStabby

Posted
Posted
but i'm thinking maybe some top-notch power steering fluid might help??? I don't know if it's ever been changed, and i don't know how often to change it really...

Changing the fluid sounds like a good plan, especially since it might be quite old. Synthetic ATF will perform much better at higher temps so try that. It is exxy, but you'll probably never need to change it again. I'm using Castrol Transmax Z. Next step after that would be a cooler i guess.

Duncan Grand Master

Duncan

Posted
Posted

changing psf is easy. open one of the hoses down low (engine off) and it pisses all over the floor. replace hose, refil resoviour . start the car and turn the rack from side to side a couple of times. done :(

Not sure about the binding though

dead32 Mentor

dead32

Posted
Posted

i experienced binding issue's when i changed my cefiro from hicas to non hicas + fitted s13 steering rack, solution was fitting a powersteer/trans cooler, got rid of the binding and also made the steering lighter due to the oil not boiling. as part of the hicas remooval i blocked off the rear high presure line at the pump so it raised the p/s tempreture's substancialy..... also just a thought make sure none of your metal lines are kinked, could cause excesive heat and or binding...

p.s got pwr cooler from repco,think bout $80 trade...

DaGr81 Mentor

DaGr81

Posted
Posted

maybe i got some power steering problems too, just recently it started to whine on start up and then whine when turning left or right (loud whining) unbearable so im not driving her until someone figures out what it is....

SS8_Gohan Grand Master

SS8_Gohan

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  • Author
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ah $100, that sounds good. Any recommended brands/models??

I was thinking of replacing fluid to something like a Redline ATF.... is there anything you specifically use on your/customer cars Trent?

  • 1 month later...
SS8_Gohan Grand Master

SS8_Gohan

Posted
  • Author
Posted

flushed and filled power steering fluid with Transmax Z, seemed to fix my binding issues on a 30+ degree track day at Sandown. Fluid was black as anything when drained, looked horrible

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