458 - Catastraphic failure of steering rack | FerrariChat

458 Catastraphic failure of steering rack

Discussion in '458 Italia/488/F8' started by 24000rpm, Aug 5, 2023.

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  1. 24000rpm

    24000rpm F1 Rookie

    so , I was trying to install a bolt on one of the front fender liners and asked my bud to turn the steering wheel for me when the engine's off and key on II.

    I heard a little breaking sound and then a few min later i saw a pool of red fluid on the floor.
    Started car, and there's no power steering.
    added at least 1 liter of ATF and power steering resumes, and I see the leaking is from the RH end of the steering rack.
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  2. 24000rpm

    24000rpm F1 Rookie

    so , removing the steering rack is the next thing to do.
    remove the luggage frunk first. a line of bolts at the bottom and a few screws inside,
    since the 458 is such a storied car, that I don't even have to remove the windshield panels under the hood to remove the luggage frunk tub. See, crashes does have silver lining. The side panels under the hood has very few clips to hold them down, that's why.

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  3. 24000rpm

    24000rpm F1 Rookie

    next is to remove the rod ends connected to the wheel hub carrier.
    I put that nut back onto the rod end so that I don't lose it to demonstrate that I am such a weekend warrior.
    17mm banner ( or wrench?) and a hex tool( forgot how many mm, maybe 4mm or 5mm) to hold the rod.


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  4. 24000rpm

    24000rpm F1 Rookie

    next is to remove the front stablizer bar.
    to do this, first is to remove the 17mm nut on the endlinks on each side, see pic.
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    next , you can remove the 2x 13mm screw at the bottom of the chassis, on each side

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    Now the stablizer bar can be freely removed from car, but you don't have to do this. Just wait until you got the steering rack loose and it can stay here and just be wiggled a bit to make space.
     
  5. 24000rpm

    24000rpm F1 Rookie

    now, looking from the LH (driver side for USA, passenger side for UK), you'll see this. Remove the connector and the 2x banjo bolts. the bolts are 22mm and 17mm if my memory serves me.
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  6. 24000rpm

    24000rpm F1 Rookie

    now, look from the front of the car towards the back of the car, you'll see in front of the shining steering rack's main body, there's a black recirculation valve. Remove it from its bracket since it'll be in the way when removing the steering rack. Don't need to disconnect any connector or any clamp. Just dislodge it from the bracket. My bracket is actually half missing as you can see from this pic.

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  7. 24000rpm

    24000rpm F1 Rookie

    now, go inside of your driver's cabin, down low, you'll see this connection between your steering column and your steering rack.
    turn your steering wheel until you can see the bolt's head facing upwards like in the next pic. I found this position to be the easiest for its removal.
    13mm. Remove it.
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    Using a blue marker , I did mark it just to make my self happy, although I don't think it could be of any use later when I install it. Anyway.
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  8. 24000rpm

    24000rpm F1 Rookie

    #8 24000rpm, Aug 5, 2023
    Last edited: Aug 5, 2023
    remove the 2 bolts and nuts on each side that hold the steering rack to the chassis. I think the size is 17mm for bolts and 15mm for the nut on top, I can't be 100% sure though.
    sorry I didn't take any pic for this one.

    wiggle the stabilizer bar, wiggle the steering rack. wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle.
    then you can remove the steering rack from the LH side (driver for USA, passenger for UK) of the car.
    be careful not to damage that solenoid's black plastic on its way out.
    Oh yea, this whole thread is for a RHD car such as those in the US or China.

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  9. 24000rpm

    24000rpm F1 Rookie

    in total, removing the rack took me 4 hours ( 2 days. 3 hours in the first day, 1 hour the 2nd day) .
    Hand tools. No helper. got something to eat after the removal.

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    Willl, Qavion and tomc like this.
  10. 24000rpm

    24000rpm F1 Rookie

  11. 24000rpm

    24000rpm F1 Rookie

  12. 24000rpm

    24000rpm F1 Rookie

    edit:
    found the pic for the bolts and nuts that securing the steering rack to the chassis. Pic showing only 1 bolt from the driver side(LH), the other one is blocked and the 2 nuts on top of the bolts are blocked too

    here
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  13. SD455TA

    SD455TA Formula Junior

    Sure have no idea what those numbers mean but I do want to compliment you on your ability to dive in there and make things happen. There is no way in the world I could ever dream of doing something like that. I do wish that you could get parts from Italy on that. I don't care what it is, whenever I know that a part is from China I get nervous. But I suppose that what you don't know won't kill you either. GL with the completion.
     
    NYC Fred likes this.
  14. Nuvolari

    Nuvolari F1 Veteran
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Sep 3, 2002
    6,593
    Toronto / SoCal
    Full Name:
    Rob C.
    Where is exactly is the ‘Catastrophic Failure’ you mention in the thread title? All I see are some leaky seals.
     
    Eric C likes this.
  15. mike32

    mike32 F1 Veteran

    May 13, 2016
    5,905
    Isle of man- uk
    Oil seals normally have 3 numbers like. 40. 30. 10. Outside/ inside/ width sizes
     
    24000rpm likes this.
  16. 05F430F1

    05F430F1 F1 Rookie
    BANNED

    Oct 22, 2005
    3,600
    Fort Lauderdale, Florida
    Full Name:
    Todd
    The removal and replacing IS the catastrophe!


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  17. 24000rpm

    24000rpm F1 Rookie

    its at least 1 liter of ATF pool in a few minutes. I'd think that's a catastrophe for me since I can't drive it no more.

     
    Eatpies99 likes this.
  18. Nuvolari

    Nuvolari F1 Veteran
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Sep 3, 2002
    6,593
    Toronto / SoCal
    Full Name:
    Rob C.
    In mechanical terms a 'catastrophic failure' refers to a major structural failure like the wing folding in half on an airplane or a suspension arm breaking cleanly. I was expecting to see the rack casing broken in half or the rack sheared. Looks like you got off easy with just some seals to take care of the big leak you had.
     
    Caeruleus11 and 24000rpm like this.
  19. 05F430F1

    05F430F1 F1 Rookie
    BANNED

    Oct 22, 2005
    3,600
    Fort Lauderdale, Florida
    Full Name:
    Todd
    The question is… did the turning of the wheel with car off somehow contribute to this seal breaking?


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    Altoria F likes this.
  20. 24000rpm

    24000rpm F1 Rookie

    i think yea. although i don't have any evidence...


     
  21. 24000rpm

    24000rpm F1 Rookie

  22. 24000rpm

    24000rpm F1 Rookie

    now, remove the ball joints
    looks like mine was worked on before.
    unlike my nissan's steering rack I worked on, there's no provision for a regular wrench , so a big ass pipe wrench is needed
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    now the steering rack looks like this:
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    if you look closely from the RH side, push the rod all the way in and look into the casing, you'll see this. The 2 holes are provision for the circlip plyers to be inserted and rotate the thing.
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    on the casing, you'll see this small opening.
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    Rotate the circlip plier provisioned thing and you'll see a clip to be rotated out of the opening, like this
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    and then this
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    and then this
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    now its time to remove the rod completely from the casing.

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    then its time to replace the seals. What a day. took me 5 hours to figure this out
     
  23. Boiler Inspector

    Boiler Inspector Formula Junior

    Oct 14, 2017
    347
    Texas
    Full Name:
    Brian
    Excellent photos for this DIY.
     
    Caeruleus11 likes this.
  24. AD211

    AD211 Formula 3
    Owner Rossa Subscribed Silver Subscribed

    Aug 19, 2017
    1,201
    South Carolina
    Full Name:
    Andy
    Very impressive. A labor of love no doubt. Never ever would I venture into this world. Some jobs you just gotta do with your checkbook.


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  25. versamil

    versamil Formula 3
    Rossa Subscribed

    Apr 28, 2013
    1,215
    Gaston, Oregon
    Full Name:
    Brian Healy
    While an owner of a 458 may worry that their power steering rack may fail, your car LOOKS like it's been through the wringer. Is this car a rebuilt total?
    Steering rack survived an accident but was ready to break? No part of your car in the pictures looks likes it's been a cared for car. Even the pin holes in your steering rack, looks like some hack has attacked the car already.

    Your tenacity certainly is to be applauded, but one has to think this car has NOT had a happy life.

    A lifetime ago, I owned and operated an import car repair shop, and did a LOT of work on Maserati BiTurbo's. A TRW power steering rack was used in them also.
    While I thought I could simply repair these leaking steering racks, after attempting Two different racks at different times, with no success at keeping them from leaking, resorted to just buying rebuilt steering racks. Looking at your pictures, the rack in these cars SEEMS like a duplicate of the rack used almost 40 years ago in the Maserati's. Even had to use a pipe wrench to unscrew the same part you did.
     

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