Soooo I took out my rack and then took it all apart. I followed FM's guide and put the dealy back together. I tightened the front cover with the nut lock super tight (cause i fail at reading). I noticed I could not move the rack easily. Ithen read again and backed off the cap then re-tightened the nut.

How easily/smoothly should the rack slide side to side? if i grab each inner tierod end and pull back and forth it slides but not like warm butter across a pan. that normal? my rack was pretty dirty and took a lot of cleaning to get all the sand and things out. I didn't have a good reference when i started.

enlighten me. If i have to i'll video it but don't really want to. please advise.

 

There is a torque spec for the tensioning bolt.

Pulling on the tie rod, with it installed in the car wont feel uniform and smooth... but it may feel fine with the steering wheel.

 

I posted a how-to a while ago:
Suspension How To: Power Steering Delete - Page 2 - Miata Forumz - Mazda Miata Chat Forums

Tighten the tensioner bolt to 4.9 N/m then loosen 25 degrees
then tighten the locknut while holding the tensioner nut in place.

 

Thanks 99 i actually used your silicone idea. I did back off the cap... I just wasn't sure if the current movement was normal or not since i have nothing to base it on. My rack was in bad shape when i took it out

 

I installed the sob and changed the caster to 3.5* and it's what the dr ordered. It was a little rough at stock 5 or whatever it is but manageable. 3.5* though is rockin.

I de-powered it for no particular reason. My rack needed new boots and was leaking so since i was down there i figured why not. So far I don't regret my decision.

On a side note. maybe i missed the boat on installing the rack but it was kind of annoying that my oil return line was directly in front of the rack thereby making me unbolt my a/c. I was able to remove the bolt with some various extensions but it was nearly impossible to get the correct angle to get it back in.