Help! Middle of Rack Dampner Project - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

diesel don · #1 10-24-2002, 09:13 AM

I'm in the middle of installing a new rack dampner pin.

My old one [just removed] has a rubber washer halfway in the middle of the inner threads. Is this washer supposed to go on the new pin and is it in the right place?

Thanks

Don

leathermang · #2 10-24-2002, 11:35 AM

UH OH !

diesel don · #3 10-24-2002, 11:43 AM

Thanks Guys:

leathermang: what was that response for? did you know what was coming next?

Next Problem: The car smoothed out wonderfully and while I was congratulating myself on being a gift to the world of mechanics, I noticed that I'd lost all vacuum. Car wouldn't shut off, locks don't work, etc.

So I figured I'd knocked off a vacuum hose since they're in the vicinity. Not so. Everything is nice and tight.

The only thing I can think of is that the washer [which I didn't install on the new pin] was some type of vacuum preserver. Does this make sense to anyone?

Anyway, I guess I'll remove the pin and do it again with the rubber seal. I'll let you know for future reference when done.

Thanks

Don

diesel don · #4 10-24-2002, 09:23 PM

I cannot get the rubber seal installed in the correct place. At least I'm assuming that this is the culprit of my vacuum problems.

Does anyone know if there is a slot in the hollow tube [where the rack pin goes] that holds a rubber seal? Its a very tiny rubber washer that came out with my old rack pin. It was rolled onto the inner most set of threads????

Any help would be appreciated as I'm kind of stuck

Don

psfred · #5 10-25-2002, 08:42 PM

The only thing with vac on the IP is the vac side of the shutoff. I think you are chasing your tail. The only thing that would leak at the rack dampner would be oil.

I suspect you cracked the plastic bit in the center of the main vac hose when you were working on the bolt. Do you still have power brakes? If so, for sure you broke the plastic thing, all the vac for the rest of the stuff is connected there.

There is also the possiblity that coincedentally the vac pump died.

Peter

diesel don · #6 10-25-2002, 11:10 PM

psfred:

Thanks for the reply. I've been waiting for a pro to speak up. While your response encourages me about the rack dampner pin, I don't know what to do about the vac leak. So far, I've:

1. Tested both extensions off the main vac line. Both are at 20.
2. Plugged each of these one at a time and tried to chase down a leak.
3. Discovered that the rearward extension [which feeds the locks, etc] is good up until the firewall. But once inside I'm getting hardly any vac at the driver's floormat. What am I missing?
4. I currently have those two lines [red/green] plugged [under the driver's mat] and am doing manual locks. The car takes about 2-3 seconds now to shut off.
5. What I can't figure out is that it worked perfect before my rack pin project. This seems like too much of a coincidence.
6. The brakes work perfect and the rack pin smoothed the car out like new.

Thanks

Don

psfred · #7 10-26-2002, 09:29 PM

Don:

Sounds like the lines inside the car are leaking. The yellow vac supply goes to the drivers door to the main vac switch, and to a reservior -- under the left front fender, I think. A leak somewhere here will prevent anything from working. You will have to get a hand vac pump and see.

Ditto for the shutoff. The supply is a brown line -- don't know if it if attached with the others or someplace else on the main vac line. If the rubber connectors are bad, no vac. This can also be the shutoff itself (on the back of the pump) or the vac switch on the ignition switch. You will again need a hand vac pump to test the parts.

The yellow with green and red stripes are the opening and locking lines for the door locks -- a leaking diaphram in one of the five actuators will prevent any of them from working -- again, a hand vac pump makes this easy.

Peter

Holson Adi · #8 10-26-2002, 09:59 PM

Mine did have a rubber gasket of some sort when I took it out so I just slid the gasket back on the new rack dampener. I think it was actually below the lock nut (against the injection pump)

diesel don · #9 10-27-2002, 07:35 AM

Holson:

Thanks for the reply. Each attempt that I've made to put the rubber gasket on the lower [inward] part of the rack dampner pin hasn't worked. The reason is that upon screwing it in, it fits so tight that the threads force it up the pin near the smooth part. It always ends up butting against the locknut and therefore doesn't appear to seal like it should. Any ideas?

PSFred:

Thanks again for the help. I've had my mighty vac on all that stuff with the exception of the driver's door stuff. All actuators, shut off, etc are in working order. Will continue to trace.

Thanks

Don

Holson Adi · #10 10-27-2002, 11:10 AM

I don't remember for sure but I think that's how it was for me and I remember it being a little awkward. However being the ignorant that I sometimes am, I didn't really wonder what the gasket should do, so I just installed it back where it was relative to the lock nut and the 'pin'.

Good luck,

diesel don · #11 10-27-2002, 12:39 PM

Much appreciated and am glad to know of another person that discovered the washer. I'm wondering if it fits into a groove in there.

Don