How well does the Flaming River manual rack work on the street? - Page 2

01-01-2001, 01:55 PM

I have had the Manual River Rack now for almost a year and there are times I wish I still had power steering.

With the 225 Gators on the the front of the car it is a pain in the *** to turn at slow speeds. You have to learn how to steer all over again really, because you can't wait till the last minute to change direction on the road.

With skinny tires on the front it is much better. Fortunatly I don't drive the car every day so that is a blessing, if I did drive the car all the time Power Steering would have stayed on the car for sure.

Hope this helps,

James

shovelnose · 01-01-2001, 03:08 PM

I have a stock manual rack in my 82 Capri. It probably is older than the car.

I works fine. It's tough at a stand-still, but once rolling it's a piece of cake. Plus you get better road feel, lighter, no pump to drive, no fluid leaks, cleaner engine bay.

IMA, the flaming probably has a better gear ratio then stock.

Go for it.

------------------
82 Mercury Capri 302.
Comp. Cams
Tremec 3550
3.73's
12.8@106 N/A

Skankin · 01-02-2001, 12:14 PM

THe stock rack isn't completely power... it's power assist. That said, when you loose power, it is tougher cause you have to push fluid through the lines. Some people disconnect the lines (the power assist), and just run with the stock rack.

The aluminum components in the stock rack cause the other metal to rust. The produces internal leaks, and wrecks the powersteering pump as the rust floats about. This is the major problem with the old foxes... ie. why so many of them sound like they have a blower (I think they fixed the defect for the SN95's). Changing fluid annually is good.

If you have air conditioning, the powersteering reservoir is located too close to the exhaust header, and it gets overheated (burnt). Using a semi-synthetic ATF will help (I've got a PS cooler too).

The mustang rack is 15:1, Lincoln's etc. get the 18 or 20:1 (which is easier to turn).

The standard Flaming river is 18 or 20... the quick ratio is 15 (which is harder to turn).

My power assist is toast (as well as the pump), so I'll probably pick up a manual rack from an older stang (they're also 18 or 20).

------------------
'89.5 5L LX, hatch, Medium Canyon Red, 155K Km (No winters), 5sp, 3.08, GT interior, a/c, Alpine CD, K/N, Crane PS91, Walbro 190 LPH, March Pulleys, Mr. Gasket 180 therm (HP balanced), 3 core rad, MarkVIII fan, Variflow controller, Polygraphite front bushings, FMS-5300B springs, 6 KYB's, 73mm Calipers, Maximum Motorsport 4pt chassis brace, Western Motorsport Racing's Sub-frame connectors. Re-ringed bottom end, conv. motor mounts, melling oil pump, FMS-C50 waterpump, GT40P heads (blended, polli

SHaFT7 · 01-02-2001, 12:58 PM

do all the fox-bodied mustangs have that problem w/ rust going around in the pump??

i have a 91GT, and my ps pump kinda sounds like a blower sometimeas.....does this mean its going bad??

thnx

------------------
SHaFTed

AxemanZZ · 01-02-2001, 01:03 PM

If you have the correct fluid level in it and it still whines try changing the fluid. If it still does it then your pump is probably going bad =(

------------------
90 Mustang LX 5.0
My Ride*My Site

[This message has been edited by AxemanZZ (edited 01-02-2001).]

SHaFT7 · 01-02-2001, 01:09 PM

wonderful....

well, if i have to end up and buy a new pump, is there an aftermarket one that's better to get than the stock one? or stick w/ stock?

thnx!

------------------
SHaFTed

AxemanZZ · 01-02-2001, 01:17 PM

Yeah, you can find one d@mn near anywhere. I think I saw one just the other day in either Summit, Jegs, or Holcolmb motorsprots.

------------------
90 Mustang LX 5.0
My Ride*My Site

Skankin · 01-02-2001, 04:18 PM

Definitely try changing the fluid first... and use semi-synthetic.

If it's worse in the cold (as usual), it's an indication that the seals in the pump are wearing out.

I've put two pumps on my 89 (in 4 years), so I'm pretty sure my rack is toast... and there's no point in wasting money on another pump.

I've heard that some of the reconditioned racks have eliminated the aluminum problem, but I don't know which ones.

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01-01-2001, 01:55 PM	#16 (permalink)
stanglx347 Posts: n/a	I have had the Manual River Rack now for almost a year and there are times I wish I still had power steering. With the 225 Gators on the the front of the car it is a pain in the *** to turn at slow speeds. You have to learn how to steer all over again really, because you can't wait till the last minute to change direction on the road. With skinny tires on the front it is much better. Fortunatly I don't drive the car every day so that is a blessing, if I did drive the car all the time Power Steering would have stayed on the car for sure. Hope this helps, James

01-01-2001, 03:08 PM	#17 (permalink)
shovelnose Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 234	I have a stock manual rack in my 82 Capri. It probably is older than the car. I works fine. It's tough at a stand-still, but once rolling it's a piece of cake. Plus you get better road feel, lighter, no pump to drive, no fluid leaks, cleaner engine bay. IMA, the flaming probably has a better gear ratio then stock. Go for it. ------------------ 82 Mercury Capri 302. Comp. Cams Tremec 3550 3.73's 12.8@106 N/A

01-02-2001, 12:14 PM	#18 (permalink)
Skankin Registered Member Join Date: Dec 1998 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,349	THe stock rack isn't completely power... it's power assist. That said, when you loose power, it is tougher cause you have to push fluid through the lines. Some people disconnect the lines (the power assist), and just run with the stock rack. The aluminum components in the stock rack cause the other metal to rust. The produces internal leaks, and wrecks the powersteering pump as the rust floats about. This is the major problem with the old foxes... ie. why so many of them sound like they have a blower (I think they fixed the defect for the SN95's). Changing fluid annually is good. If you have air conditioning, the powersteering reservoir is located too close to the exhaust header, and it gets overheated (burnt). Using a semi-synthetic ATF will help (I've got a PS cooler too). The mustang rack is 15:1, Lincoln's etc. get the 18 or 20:1 (which is easier to turn). The standard Flaming river is 18 or 20... the quick ratio is 15 (which is harder to turn). My power assist is toast (as well as the pump), so I'll probably pick up a manual rack from an older stang (they're also 18 or 20). ------------------ '89.5 5L LX, hatch, Medium Canyon Red, 155K Km (No winters), 5sp, 3.08, GT interior, a/c, Alpine CD, K/N, Crane PS91, Walbro 190 LPH, March Pulleys, Mr. Gasket 180 therm (HP balanced), 3 core rad, MarkVIII fan, Variflow controller, Polygraphite front bushings, FMS-5300B springs, 6 KYB's, 73mm Calipers, Maximum Motorsport 4pt chassis brace, Western Motorsport Racing's Sub-frame connectors. Re-ringed bottom end, conv. motor mounts, melling oil pump, FMS-C50 waterpump, GT40P heads (blended, polli

01-02-2001, 12:58 PM	#19 (permalink)
SHaFT7 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Lawrence, KS, USA Posts: 169	do all the fox-bodied mustangs have that problem w/ rust going around in the pump?? i have a 91GT, and my ps pump kinda sounds like a blower sometimeas.....does this mean its going bad?? thnx ------------------ SHaFTed

01-02-2001, 01:03 PM	#20 (permalink)
AxemanZZ Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Indiana Posts: 984	If you have the correct fluid level in it and it still whines try changing the fluid. If it still does it then your pump is probably going bad =( ------------------ 90 Mustang LX 5.0 My Ride*My Site [This message has been edited by AxemanZZ (edited 01-02-2001).]

01-02-2001, 01:09 PM	#21 (permalink)
SHaFT7 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Lawrence, KS, USA Posts: 169	wonderful.... well, if i have to end up and buy a new pump, is there an aftermarket one that's better to get than the stock one? or stick w/ stock? thnx! ------------------ SHaFTed

01-02-2001, 01:17 PM	#22 (permalink)
AxemanZZ Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Indiana Posts: 984	Yeah, you can find one d@mn near anywhere. I think I saw one just the other day in either Summit, Jegs, or Holcolmb motorsprots. ------------------ 90 Mustang LX 5.0 My Ride*My Site

01-02-2001, 04:18 PM	#23 (permalink)
Skankin Registered Member Join Date: Dec 1998 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,349	Definitely try changing the fluid first... and use semi-synthetic. If it's worse in the cold (as usual), it's an indication that the seals in the pump are wearing out. I've put two pumps on my 89 (in 4 years), so I'm pretty sure my rack is toast... and there's no point in wasting money on another pump. I've heard that some of the reconditioned racks have eliminated the aluminum problem, but I don't know which ones.

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