Steering rack rebuild, seal and bearing numbers Options

[Olympic 914]

Thought I would install my Turbo tie rod ends and found that one of the rack end bushings had stuck to the rack and pushed it out. ( probably during storage )

I found a rack rebuild thread by Wes V

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=95747

But it seems his rack is different than mine. his is a 75 mine is a 73 . I didn't know they changed them.

So it looks like I will have to disassemble my rack and clean up / polish the rack rod.

problem is I can't seem to find a number for the seal. Part #10 in diagram



Also the 911 rack ( and later 914 rack ? ) has a needle bearing at the top whereas, it looks like the 73 rack has caged ball bearings top and bottom.

My rack part number is 914.347.014.00

I haven't disassembled mine yet.

Does anyone have part numbers for the bearings and the seal? are the caged rollers the same number as in the 911 rack? # 6202. and if I can't find the seal could I just go with a sealed 6202 bearing (if available) on the top and skip the #10 seal?

I put PB blaster on the stuck end bushing last night and will work on it later today.

[bbrock]

I just did this last weekend. That bushing is the oil seal and will need to be replaced regardless of how badly you tear it up. Post #18 in this thread has the size for at least one of the three versions of rack that were used. Mine was a PITA to install because the original seal had an exposed metal outer race that was seized. I used plenty of penetrating oil and some heat before it came loose. Below is the page from the factory manual with the removal procedure. In theory following that procedure should lift the pinyon along with the upper bearing and seal/bushing out of the bore. It didn't go smoothly for me but it at least popped the seal loose enough that I was able to push the pinyon back down (with some difficulty) and finally pry the seal out.