Re: RACK UPDATE

["cruznmd" <racuti1@xxxx>]

I would also be inclined to agree that the rack left the shop by 
accident.

I hate to say it, but I would not have taken the rack apart. You had 
just bought it and I'm sure DMCH had at least some kind of short 
warranty on it, which you voided as soon as you let your friend take 
it apart. I would have just called right away and told them it was a 
navigational hazard and requested a swap.

I'm an electronics/computer/telecom nerd who's pretty good with all 
manner of electronics. When I buy a TV from Circuit City and it 
doesn't work, just because I know 'tronics I don't take it apart and 
then ask for a refund. After all, they have no idea what I've done to 
the TV or what my qualifications are.

You might end up biting the bullet on that one.

Rich A.

--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, george caprita <dobedoc2000@xxxx> 
wrote:
> Group: There seems to be a lot of confusion about my rack post. Not 
enough detail, will try to clear it up. On 7/17/03, I ordered a 
rebuilt rack from
> DMC Humble, Texas. Before installing, I moved it lock to lock. It 
was hard to
> move, noisey, and "sticky" in some places. I called DMC and talked 
to the
> rebuilder; he said it was normal, to install it, connect tie rods 
and try it
> then. I did,aligned wheels and drove it. It steered worse than my 
old one.
> Hard to steer with excessive play at center. Now my friend, Gary, 
gets
> involved. He said we should have it taken apart--we did. It was a 
mess
> (details in letter to DMC following this). Gary then called DMC and 
talked
> to the same man I did, asking him what they did to rebuild a rack. 
After he
> finished, Gary told him we had a problem with one we got from him 
and had it
> taken apart. He said, "Oh no, you shouldn't have done that!". He 
said to
> reassemble it and send it back.
> In the meantime, I found a used one that Josh Haldeman had for sale 
in
> Cincinnati. We went to get it and took the DMC rack (not assembled 
yet) to
> show it to him. He agreed -- not acceptable! He said we should take 
his
> apart, make sure it is OK, if not, bring it back. Got back, built 
crate,
> assembled rack, sent to DMC. A week later checked used rack, big
> difference. Plenty of oil, nothing showed wear; gears shiny, tube 
clean,
> inner and outer tie rods, tension disc, seal all good- except pinion
> bearings had rust on them from condensation(?) Could have cleaned 
them up,
> but Gary said replace them. He called P.J. Grady and was told they 
normally
> don't sell rack parts, but would send them. Then Gary said it's all 
apart,
> let's replace all the parts. So I called Grady, told him about the 
DMC rack;
> he asked why I didn't get it from him? I said because it was $45.00
> cheaper. I assumed he got his from them and resold them. I got an
> education for that remark!!! Got parts, put in rack, installed on 
car;
> drove car two times, put in storage. This spring get car out, take 
rack off,
> send to Grady to get it done right. Will never try this again!! 
Sorry,
> Josh, Gary screwed up your perfectly good rack!! (I'm not taking 
all the
> heat for this one!) The day I shipped rack, got notice the core was
> credited to my card. As of this date, have not received explanation 
or
> refund from DMC. Copy of the letter to DMC follows:
> 
> > October 22, 2003
> >
> > DeLorean Motor Company
> > 15023 Eddie Drive
> > Humble, Texas 77396 USA
> >
> > RE: Invoice #81663 Invoice Date: 07-17-03
> >
> > Dear DMC:
> > I called your company and talked to the rebuilder about noise and
> stiffness,
> > tie rod ends were not the same--one had wire ties on boot. He 
said to
> leave
> > it on and mount wheels and turn rack wtih them on; said noise and
> stiffness
> > were normal. I did this but it was not much better. I connected 
steering
> > wheel, moved rack through full range wheels off ground, not very
> reassuring.
> > Aligned wheels, drove car. Steering was worse than old rack, hard 
to turn
> > left to right on sharp turning, excessive play at center. Effort 
to move
> > left or right from center.
> > Removed rack, took it to friend who is a parts manager for
> Ford/Honda/Subaru
> > and asked if they could disassemble it to determine if it had a 
problem.
> I
> > was called to come in and see what was found. The gear rack, two 
or three
> > teeth showed some wear but was deemed serviceable. The bearings 
each had
> > one dark, slightly pitted undersize ball-.003. The cups showed 
wear on
> the
> > radius-borderline serviceable. The pinion is heavily pitted, lower
> bearing
> > shaft surface of pinion is.020-undersize and worn on a taper! Not
> > serviceable. Inside of gear rack tube is dirty, rusted, and no 
oil in it.
> > Removed one inner tie rod (on driver side), it had oil in it with 
some
> spots
> > of rust. Disc had wear on one side, oil hole was plugged solid. 
Retaining
> > nuts had no pin installed. Right side not removed but oil hole 
was also
> > plugged and no pin. Hole in tube for pre-load bushing is so 
corroded it
> > cannot move freely. Only new parts found: mismatched tie rod 
ends -
> > pre-load bushing- boots.
> > With your company's integrity and reputation for excellence, I am 
certain
> > that this rack, in this condition, left your shop by mistake. I 
have been
> > on the "list"
> > for about six months and have yet to read a negative comment 
about your
> > porducts. I have since acquired a used rack in good condition and
> > Honda/Subaru is rebuilding it for me.
> > I request you return my old rack (it can't be as bad as this one, 
with
> only
> > 30K miles on it) along with a full refund, please.
> > Sincerely,
> > George Caprita
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> 
> 
> 
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