Taking my '69 zf rack, have questions

[SIMI BOB]

Gentlemen, after I pulled the pinion out of the ZF steering gearbox, the rack got very hard to move, where before it would slide from side to side easily. Just afraid to pull it out all the way and hear something snap and not be able to put it back in. What is keeping it from sliding out easily?

Also in the Pic is my Porsche tool P282. Put a long nut half way on the pinion then jammed the allen bolt in from the other side. Then put the wood blocks on either side and tightened the other bolt and out she came. Pretty easy.

[SIMI BOB]

OK, so I cleaned up both ends of the rack and tried to pull it out one end, and when the end of the rack gets about 1/4 inch into the housing, it comes to a dead stop. Doesnt matter which end I pull on, dead stop both ways. Any help?
Bob B

[1969911T]

I rebuilt my 69 rack recently and had the same issue. I really have forgotten what exactly caused it. Have you taken out the seal-which will need to be replaced? Then you can see in there. I think the bottom bearing has to be pushed down so the rack will not hit the bearing when you slide the rack over. Once you figure it out, you will be upset that it was so simple!

[SIMI BOB]

Well, I found the problem, but it was after I had assembled the Rack. Found this picture in the Factory Workshop Manual, unfortunately it was in the "Assembly" section, and not the "Disassembly" part. This whole aluminum carrier comes out of the bottom of the housing, allowing the rack to be removed. See pic below.

[1969911T]

Now that I see that, I remembered that was how I got mine apart!

[SIMI BOB]

So I was carefully trying to clean this small circular nylon part and it broke (Damn). Anyone know if it is available. Anyone with a 3D printer care to make me a new one? 20 MM inside diameter, 26 MM outside diameter and 3 MM high.
Thanks, Bob B

[Scott72]

Some threads on here and the bird when we did our 69 Rack a few years ago. All of them talk about the "puck". The last one is a SWB rack but still has good pics/info.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsc...rack-play.html

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsc...lrin-caps.html

https://www.early911sregistry.org/fo...ight=rack+seal

[SIMI BOB]

Scott, thanks for the reply, very helpful. I have sent a PM to Chris_Seven in England, waiting for reply. Also PM to RichardM912 to see if he had any parts left, although his post was 10 years old.
Called Stoddard and their part is for '68 and earlier, although it is very close. I may buy one ($9) just to see if I can modify it to fit. Also called the parts guy at Sierra Madre, and he called me back an hour later to tell me that part is not available anywhere in the world!
Bob B

[1969911T]

The part from Sierra Madre that was not supposed to work for a 69, did work on my 69

[Chris Pomares]

It looks like something JimmyT could make. I wonder if brass would work?