<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv=Content-Type>
<META name=GENERATOR content="MSHTML 8.00.6001.23588">
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY dir=ltr bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT size=2>The oiling nipple was only on early racks. Some remove
the pinion cover and damper piston and pour it in there. Personally I've
removed the tie or clamp from the large end of one of the gaiters, gripped that
from underneath between thumb and forefinger to stop oil leaking out the bottom,
then injected oil in the top between gaiter and housing. However it then
dripped for several weeks from the pinion seal, so I probably needn't have
bothered. On a gaiter change on both cars the innards have been wet with
oil, so plenty of lubrication I suspect. Modern replacements tend to be
grease-filled these days.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>If someone has tried to compensate for a worn rack by
adjusting the shims, it's possible to exchange sloppiness in the straight-ahead
position for stiffness at the extremities. If you slacken the pinion cover
bolts slightly and the rack gets looser at the extremities then that's
probably what has happened.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>You can always disconnect the drivers-side
gaiter from the rack housing and inspect the rack and pinion at each
lock fairly well.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>PaulH.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">
<DIV>While doing pre-season routine maintenance on my ‘71 B/GT recently, my
mechanic & I decided it would be wise to make sure the steering rack had
plenty of oil. The factory service manual has instructions and a diagram
for filling via a nipple on the housing – but we can’t find any such fitting
(or even a plug), after cleaning off years of dirt. No oil is presently
leaking out of the boots, but it’s possible that it all leaked out many years
ago, before we bought the car. (The steering is a bit sticky when
returning from full lock.)</DIV></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>