The invention relates to a gear rack arrangement, which, for the compensation of backlash, comprises two gear racks (A, B) which are mutually displaceable on latch elements and are resiliently braced, and refers both t o the assembly and disassembly characteristics of the gear rack arrangement and to the number of moulded elements used. Application is envisaged, in particular, for a positioning device in a recording and reproducing instrument for optical recording carriers, although the field of application is not however thereby restricted. According to the invention, an anti-detachment safeguard is provided, which is formed by an elastic boss (E). In order to prevent the detachment of a second gear rack (B) from a first gear rack (A) during the assembly or disassembly, the elastic boss (E) is provided at one end of one of the gear racks (A, B). Furthermore, a latch element (C, D) is provided as counter-rest for a means which braces the gear racks (A, B), whereby the number and shapes of necessary moulded elements is reduced. The field of application relates to the manufacture and to the assembly and disassembly of gear rack arrangements comprising, for the compensation of backlash, two gear racks (A, B).