Hi,

2012 S-max with EU control (europe MOT!) advisory on steering rack play. I do need to pop off the rack gators to confirm, but I don't think it is the inner tie rod joints. Seems like it is actually the rack and pinion with excessive backlash. I get about 1 cm movement at the steering wheel rim with a crisp click either side of the play with nothing (i'm pretty sure) moving rack side. I did check the column and that is all tight and good, hence I think rack-pinion clearance.

I assume this is adjustable in the rack - have done so on other older cars. Anyone with any experience doing this? Would I find anything in the online Ford workshop manual if I can remember where that is?

Thanks! 🙂

I don’t know the answer.  I too have adjusted the rack on old cars eg 1970s.   But I did find sometimes that adjusting it with steering straight ahead to remove play meant the rack was tight /stiff nearer full lock as the rack was more worn in the straight ahead position. So it’s not always the ultimate solution. 

Looking at pictures of the rack on eBay it looks like it is probably adjustable but hard to tell for sure. But I’ve no idea if you can get to that nut whilst the rack is in position on the car

Thanks!

Yes in the past I have found to avoid the rack being excessively stiff at the ends of lock you have to accept some play at the centre, and that's the best you can do. It's a temporary fix at best so i can postpone the job of a rack replacement - I had a brief look into that and see the front subframe having to come off - ughhh!!

Think I'm just gonna have to get under there and have a look.

Definitely strange to experience a worn rack on a modern car with only 100,000 miles though!

1 hour ago, LiamPope said:

Definitely strange to experience a worn rack on a modern car with only 100,000 miles though!

Yes only 100,000 miles on twisty turning tiny roads I'm shocked that it could wear so soon.

Lol! Hmmm I guess a car over here probably does get a bit more steering - fair point!

Still, all I've ever experienced in cars from 2000-something, even high milers, are hydraulic leaks and worn tie rod joints. Never a significantly worn rack/pinion. In my book a steering rack is usually a life-of-car item (or at least 100,000 miles!) with possibly a seal rebuild. Still consider it unusual to have this on my S-Max.

But looks like I'll have to dive in and blaze a trail. Nothing in the Ford workshop manual - they would just replace it.

5 hours ago, LiamPope said:

Definitely strange to experience a worn rack on a modern car with only 100,000 miles though!

Don't have the answer on the S-Max rack unfortunately, but the question of rack life aroused my curiosity, having had in the past a couple of cars from new which exceeded the 100k mark with no issues.

Searching around the web though, the most common answers to the question of "how long does a  steering rack last" seem to be:

- the life of the vehicle (which is not much help), and

- 100,00 miles

So maybe 100k give or take is about right these days. I guess modern wide, low profile tyres may put more strain on things than back in my high mileage days when 195/60s were about as extreme as my cars got. Or maybe they just don't make 'em like they used to.