is there anyshims or adjustment on the pinion.
ive removed damper plunger springs in the past..just wondered if u can do a similar job on pinion to remove slop?
or am i acting like a cowboy?
car has only done 27000 miles,,shame to lose the rack,,eh ?
The shims adjust the bearing free-play/pre-load ( steering column "push-pull" ).
The "thrust block" (don't think that's the correct name. -You call it the "damper plunger"?) and small spring push the rack into mesh with the pinion, as well as reducing the effects of play in the rack bearing.
-My early '60 Mk1 had shims between the thrust block and cover plate, (the Somerford Mini picture shows what looks like an O ring, but I think it's a shim, because there is a gasket there as well...).
-That was the last rack I rebuilt.