Reliant Kitten Estate, Workshop Manual

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Page 25
3. Remove the nuts securing the track rod ends to the steering
arms.
4. Using a suitable tool, free the tapers on the track rod ends.
5. From beneath the vehicle, remove the bolts and lock
washers securing the rack clamps and insulating rubbers to the frame.
6. Feed the rack out from one side of the vehicle, after
disengaging the splines on the lower steering column.
Operation 8 Steering rack damper adjustment
To adjust
( Figure 3 )
1. Remove the steering rack as shown in operation 7.
2. Carefully mount the assembly in a vice (with protected
jaws) so that the pinion is horizontal and the rack (preload) cover is
uppermost.
3.
Remove the two bolts securing the rack preload cover plate
to the casing.
4. Lift off the cover plate, shim pack and gasket. Withdraw the
spring, anti-knock pad and damper.
5. Assemble the damper to the rack and fit the anti-knock pad.
Do Not fit the spring or shim pack. Fit the cover plate and tighten the
bolts evenly until the anti-knock pad is just "nipped".
6. Using feeler gauges, measure the gap between the cover
plate and steering gear casing. Note this dimension (to confirm that
the cover plate has been pulled down evenly by the retaining bolts,
take feeler gauge measurements adjacent to each bolt).
7. Assemble a shim pack (including a gasket which must be
next to the cover plate when assembled) which is 0.02 to 0.07 mm
(0.001 to 0.003 in) larger than the gap measured with the feeler
gauges. There must be 0.02 to 0.07 mm (0.001 to 0.003 in) clearance
between the anti-knock pad and the cover when assembled.
8. Remove the cover plate and fit the spring. Position the shim
pack and refit the cover plate.
9. Assemble the securing bolts to the cover plate using sealer
on the threads. Tighten the bolts to a torque of 0.85 to 1.1 kg/m (6 to
8 lb/ft).