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'81 242DL Steering Rack Adjustable?

johfraser

Member
Joined
Sep 25, 2008
Location
San Francisco
For years my '81 242DL has always required too much concentration to keep it centered in the lane at speed (highway, freeway). I've owned it since '86 and changed many parts like steering U-joints, rack end joints, inner and outer, ball joints, too many to remember. Looking at an rack parts diagram I wondered it the pinion gear had a taper so that adjusting its depth into the rack with shims would be possible?
 
There is a steering centering adjustment. You can check it out in the green books on OZVolvo.org.
Yes, I've downloaded every thing relevant and more just out of curiosity. When I first bought the car in '86 I went straight to the local Volvo dealer and ordered a full set of paper green manuals. Smartest thing I ever did car wise. Also searched online for every piece of Bosch literature I could find that described the various systems.

I have not looked a centering but the car goes straight when the steering wheel is straight, it just feels like the steering is flipping slightly from side to side. My rack is probably just worn out like everyone's. Seems worst on a flat freeway. Play between the rack and pinion gears just sounds right.
 
If you get a feeling of a wavering slightly when taking a steady turn. The rack is worn and a refurb or replacement is in the future. I use Moly Slip in the rack oil and change the oil every few years and it seems to help them last.
 
If you get a feeling of a wavering slightly when taking a steady turn. The rack is worn and a refurb or replacement is in the future. I use Moly Slip in the rack oil and change the oil every few years and it seems to help them last.
I had the bolt holes in the cross member where the control arm bolts go through egg out causing a pretty crazy tank slapper. I welded some extra thick washers on the outside of each side to fix it.
 
I'll check those holes. I don't sense any problem in turns. Its just at speed, around 60-70 mph in a straight line. I don't drive any faster. Other traffic on either side of me don't seem to notice it. It's just a gradual weaving maybe 12" to either side and requires constant attention. I would do a rebuild but I read here and Brickboard that parts or even completely rebuilt units are not available for these early ZF units.
 
I'll check those holes. I don't sense any problem in turns. Its just at speed, around 60-70 mph in a straight line. I don't drive any faster. Other traffic on either side of me don't seem to notice it. It's just a gradual weaving maybe 12" to either side and requires constant attention. I would do a rebuild but I read here and Brickboard that parts or even completely rebuilt units are not available for these early ZF units.
Complete new CAM units recently became available. You would have to swap the supporting hardware as well to convert from your ZF rack but reports of the quality have been good.

 
For years my '81 242DL has always required too much concentration to keep it centered in the lane at speed (highway, freeway). I've owned it since '86 and changed many parts like steering U-joints, rack end joints, inner and outer, ball joints, too many to remember. Looking at an rack parts diagram I wondered it the pinion gear had a taper so that adjusting its depth into the rack with shims would be possible? Other things to consider; what are your alignment values, tires (tread design/amount of tread left), can you feel any play in the suspension with front end on jack stands
Other things to consider: what are your alignment values, tires (amount of tread left/ tread design), can you feel any play in front suspension, with front end up on jack stands, and pulling both tires inwards from the bottom of the tire, and also from the front of the tire at the same time, then pushing both outwards from the bottom, and from the front, at the same time? (Checks wheel bearings, steering rod ends, steering rod knuckles, lower ball joints, steering rack shaft bushings, all at the same time, and you can see the play, if any)
 
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