[Fot] Steering rack failure at Kcup

[Greg And Alison Blake]

This weekend at the Kastner Cup race at ECR Dad's steering rack let go right
after the left hand turn at the end of the back straight. Fortunately no one
was injured and the car was ok. Ed Barnard came to the rescue with a quick
drive to his shop for a OEM rack pulled off the shelf. Dad was ready for
racing come Sunday morning.

The failed rack was an aftermarket rack. We don't know the orgin of the rack
as it was in the car when he purchased it in 2009.

The rack tube pulled out of the pinion housing.  In looking at the rack tube,
this appears to be a poor design. The steel tube is simple pressed into the
aluminum pinion casting. There is no evidence of a positive means of securing
the rack tube to the casting.

Needless to say, I'll be sourcing a OEM rack to replace my quick rack before
the next race.

As has been stated before, if you are using a replacement rack, check it
carefully.

This could have been a very disastrous failure.

We have pictures if you want them.