Where does this go?

[AlanH]

Anybody know where this goes. It fell out when I was changing the steering rack. I assume it is some sort of shim but I can't find another one.

[Jon Tilson]

It locates the rack sideways against notches in the sub frame. Ita absolutely crucial and goes under the nearside rack mounting. The U bolt for the clamp goes through the slotted holes.

Jonners

[Richard the old one]

It goes under the nearside steering rack mount with the chamfered edge inboard and the slots are there so that you can force the rack sideways to ensure it is tight against the rubber or poly mounts. The sub-frame holes through which the nearside U clamp goes are elongated to allow this to happen. You need to look at the plate carefully and work out which way you have to push the plate to take out the play it obviously depends on which way up you fit the plate. The sub frame has a ridge / stop on it and the long side of the plate goes up against this ridge and this is what causes the U clamp to be forced sideways as the plate is pushed in or pulled out depending on which way up you have fitted the plate. I should have pointed out you need to fit and tighten the off side u clamp first before you use the plate to remove the sideways movement.

I do not think the aspect is covered very well in the handbooks and is in part why people have problems with there steering racks moving about in use.

[GTS290N]

Thanks to both replies, I've added this to my top tips document for posterity.

[AlanH]

Thanks guys that is really useful.
The plate is not flat, it is bent where the chamfer starts. Does the bend go up or down?

[Richard the old one]

It should be flat so get your hammer out and sort it.

[tony g]

Yes I removed one recently that was bent too. I presume if it sits on the welded piece on the subframe instead of butting up to it, it gets bent when pulling the u bolts down.

Tony

[xvivalve]

I have a couple of spares I think...

[Carledo]

I also have a couple lying around, no longer needed once I switched to solid rack mounts!

Steve