Steering rack blew

chris91LX · 08-25-2002, 08:58 PM

Backed my Stang out of the garage the other day and there was a huge puddle of PS fluid that leaked out of the boot on the passenger side of the rack. I was told that the piston blew a seal and I'd need to replace the rack. Any chance this can be rebuilt and if not, where can i get a new rack? I want to stay with power steering, I put a short belt on in the meantime, bypassing the ps pump, and it steers like a dead pig. I might consider a manual rack if it steers about a hundred time better than my current rack with the ps pump bypassed. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Chris

Mustang_289 · 08-26-2002, 06:46 AM

Best thing to do is get an aftermarket rack - that provides a better steering ratio. Not that hard to replace - been there done that.

cyberstang5.0 · 08-26-2002, 08:10 AM

If you rebuild your rack, you'll have to pull it off. So since your have to do all that work on taking it off and tearing it apart, it makes more sence to buy a complete new one. If you want a stock replacement, go to Autozone. I bought two from them (2 different stangs) and have held up really well. I put the "sport" one on my 5.0 (it's a little stiffer) and the regular one on my brothers 2.3L. It was a 20 dollar price difference. My "sport" rack cost me about 100 bucks.

chris91LX · 08-26-2002, 08:17 AM

Thanks Cyberstang, do you know what the ratio is on the stock one and what it would be on the "sport"? If I'm going to replace it I'd like to make sure I get the best bang for the buck, so to speak.

cyberstang5.0 · 08-26-2002, 09:25 AM

The ration is 2 1/2 turns total. Same as stock. The only difference, is it's a little stiffer. If you want to go to a quicker ratio rack, go with Flaming river. Flaming River is one of the best, but you'll pay for it

08-25-2002, 08:58 PM	#1
chris91LX Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1998 Location: Suburban Chicago, Hanover Park Posts: 695	Steering rack blew Backed my Stang out of the garage the other day and there was a huge puddle of PS fluid that leaked out of the boot on the passenger side of the rack. I was told that the piston blew a seal and I'd need to replace the rack. Any chance this can be rebuilt and if not, where can i get a new rack? I want to stay with power steering, I put a short belt on in the meantime, bypassing the ps pump, and it steers like a dead pig. I might consider a manual rack if it steers about a hundred time better than my current rack with the ps pump bypassed. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks, Chris __________________ My Ford Club http://www.midwestfords.org/ Best time N/A 12.9 @ 107 1.711 60' 125 shot - 12.04 @ 113 1.59 60'

08-26-2002, 08:17 AM	#4
chris91LX Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1998 Location: Suburban Chicago, Hanover Park Posts: 695	Thanks Cyberstang, do you know what the ratio is on the stock one and what it would be on the "sport"? If I'm going to replace it I'd like to make sure I get the best bang for the buck, so to speak. __________________ My Ford Club http://www.midwestfords.org/ Best time N/A 12.9 @ 107 1.711 60' 125 shot - 12.04 @ 113 1.59 60'

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08-26-2002, 06:46 AM	#2
Mustang_289 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 512	Best thing to do is get an aftermarket rack - that provides a better steering ratio. Not that hard to replace - been there done that.

08-26-2002, 08:10 AM	#3
cyberstang5.0 347ci of HORSE POWER!!! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,416	If you rebuild your rack, you'll have to pull it off. So since your have to do all that work on taking it off and tearing it apart, it makes more sence to buy a complete new one. If you want a stock replacement, go to Autozone. I bought two from them (2 different stangs) and have held up really well. I put the "sport" one on my 5.0 (it's a little stiffer) and the regular one on my brothers 2.3L. It was a 20 dollar price difference. My "sport" rack cost me about 100 bucks.

08-26-2002, 09:25 AM	#5
cyberstang5.0 347ci of HORSE POWER!!! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,416	The ration is 2 1/2 turns total. Same as stock. The only difference, is it's a little stiffer. If you want to go to a quicker ratio rack, go with Flaming river. Flaming River is one of the best, but you'll pay for it