Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

Just took my project 944 in for its MOT and it failed on too much play in the steering rack caused by a dead inner ball joint so I'm going to have to replace the tie rod on that side.

Anybody know how to go about doing this? I'm not having much luck finding the info online and as usual the Haynes manual for the 944 makes absolutely no mention of it. I really want to get this thing on the road now.

In simple terms strip gaiter off rack, inside you'll find a ball joint held in with a big hex. Undo the hex (may have a lock tab) & the joint will pull apart.Clean the grease & gunge out & inspect the ball & socket for damage. If there is damage on the ball you need a new tierod. If there is damage on the socket, go find another rack.
If your lucky then there may be a handful of shims there. remove the thinest shim & reassembly & see if the play has disappeared.
Continue playing with shims until there is minimal play, if you get here, then regrease, knock the tabs back to the hex & reassemble gaiter.

If you can't get the play out without it locking up then you could either find another rack or alternatively buy another tierod & see if that fixes it. You'll need to break the steering arm, track rod end connection to swap the tierod.

Either way get the tracking checked afterwards.

This might help.

As might some of this. http://p-car.com/diy/steering/

Thanks for that. I checked the manual on http://www.cannell.co.uk/Manuals.htm and it's a similar process for the 944 but the problem I'm having is getting hold of a tie rod at the moment. Going to look at getting a second hand rack from a car being broken I think.

ECP or GSF will have them for sure.
Alasdair

I've currently got Bert from Berlyn Services trying to track me one down. I did check the ECP website and nothing on there listed for the 944. Failing that It's been suggested that JMG might have something.

Try Promax, recently become my go to people

Can vouch for promax being very helpful and knowing what they are doing.

http://www.design911.com/Porsche/944-19 ... track+rod/

Third one down-£40......

Didn't try Promax as I found an entire steering rack on ebay which I bought.

Thanks for the design911 link but that's for a power steering car, something I don't have.

Then it's the second one down at £75.....