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Topic: Got the rack done....finally.... (Read 1176 times) previous topic - next topic

Got the rack done....finally....

I installed a reman steering rack a couple of months ago or so,and it started leaking like mad a month ago.Wen I was pulling the front whels,one of my lug bolts was all jacked up thanks to the air tools at the shop that aliigned the car a while back.I HATE it when they use air tolls to mount the wheels on the car.To me,that's a no-no,especially with aluminum wheels.I grabbed a replacement lug bolt and swapped the old for the new.Good to go.I picked up the replacement rack yesterday on the way home and got started,then ran out of daylight.I got up this morning to get busy and couldn't find my 12 point 11mm wrench....off to buy one.Once everything was removed,I was looking around and found that the upper bracket on my driver side motor mount is busted apart.Only one bolt holding the bracket to the block,and it wants to move around.Gotta find a replacement. Once I started to reassemble everything,I couldn't for the life of me fit the steering shaft between the rack and the steering column. !!! I pulled the rack back off and got to looking a little harder and noticed that the shaft from the steering column had slid down,SO,after a few light taps with the trusty ol' hammer,the shaft was back in place,and then I had the rack back in a short time later.I measured about 20 times to make sure I got the outer tie rods back in the right place.I think I got it right.The car tracked well on the test drive.The steering seems tighter now.Not sure if I like it.

After all that,I had to package and ship 8 things,then off to the store for a few things,then,back home to cook (wife has been down with the H1N1 and is starting to heal),and now,checking in before we wrap some of the kids Christmas gifts.Holy  !!!
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Got the rack done....finally....

Reply #1 –
H1N1?-Holy shiznit!!! Hope you she feels better bro.

Got the rack done....finally....

Reply #2 –
Thanks a lot.She's over the worst part of it.She was down all last week...bad.Yeah,it's bad stuff.I had it about a month or so ago.Man,I would rather have just taken a beating and got it over with.I'm a survivor !!!
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Got the rack done....finally....

Reply #3 –
Glad ya'll made it through the flu ok. I'm sure it wasn't any fun. I've been washing my hands like someone with ocd trying to avoid it lol.
Matt
1984 Thunderbird - 89 302 HO, GT40 heads w/ Trick Flow springs, E303 cam, Edelbrock Performer 289 intake and 600 cfm 4bbl, Mustang headers, Jegs o/r H pipe, Dynomax lers, Mustang AOD and shifter, Mustang 8.8 w/ 3.73s, 3G alternator, Mustang front and rear sway bars, KYB 87-88 Turbo Coupe shocks and struts, and 11" front brakes.

1988 Mustang GT - GT40 heads, Explorer intake, 70mm throttle body, 70mm MAF, Crane 1.7 rrs, E303 cam, Kirban Kwik shifter w/ Pro 5.0 deluxe handle, aluminum clutch quadrant and firewall adjuster, o/r h pipe, Dynomax lers, 3G alternator, aluminum radiator, and 3.27 gears.
 
1986 Cougar 5.0, 1989 Mark VII LSC 5 speed, 1980 Mercury Zephyr 4 door (sold)

Got the rack done....finally....

Reply #4 –
Vinnie..sucks about your car...and Gayle...Nicole and Cole had the hog flu awhile back...py py stuff. I just merely had a cough and some congestion...i'm with you...beat me up and get it over with lol.

Good to hear everything's on the mend :D
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)

Got the rack done....finally....

Reply #5 –
We're pretty much out of the woods now.All,for the most part,is good.Now,I wish I had a week off and 70 degree weather so I can get the engine and differential in the Sport.I still have to get the Crown Vic cop car axle down to have it shortened and balanced as well.$86.00 the Sport doesn't have in her funds right now.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Got the rack done....finally....

Reply #6 –
Where's the pics so I can say  "Nice Rack" ....... lol
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
***** Project "EVOLUTION" 1987 Cougar LS  & 1985 Cougar Convertible *****
[/COLOR]
5.0 HO 306 roller block, machined GT-40P heads, Wiseco dished forged pistons, Eagle forged floating I-beam connecting rods, Lunati pushrods, ARP bolts, Scorpion aluminum 1.6 rockers, Comp Cams Magnum 266HR, Explorer intake, 65mm TB, MAF Conversion, 19# injectors, Ford Racing stainless P-headers, 2-1/2" cat-less exhaust w/ Flowtech Afterburner lers , SC AOD with 2800 BDR torque converter, 3.73 T-Lok rear, CHE rear control arms, full 2-1/2" frame w/1" jacking rails & seat supports, Rear disk brakes, Turbine wheels, All original interior w/ floor shift upgrade .......
Pretty much every panel on my 87 is new, rebuilt, or re constructed. :D
Join us on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_137541156293768&ap=1

Got the rack done....finally....

Reply #7 –
I wish I had saved the rack out of my blue car. That thing was a TRICK unit for free. Milled mounts, poly bushings, higher weight rod inside. Man I know you older guys(no offense) would have HATED that car, I set the allignment, and everything the best I oculd on that car, and with my 17x9's on there I could drift the car around with my pinky finger. It was so tight and responsive, but never felt unstable.

Vin you run power steering fluid or ATF in your racks?
RIP 1988 and 1990 Lincoln Mark VII LSC
I welcomed the dark side and currently am driving a 2000 Dodge Durango SLT plus, with a 5.9, Code named project "Night Runner"
Shes black on black, fully loaded, with headers, 180 tstat, e fan, straight exhaust into a cherry bomb vortex ler, full tune up, ported intake and T/B, MSD coil, and round aircleaner.
Mods to come: Fully rebuilt and heavily modded 46RE, and a richmond rachet locker.
my $300 beater ;)
R.I.P Kayleigh Raposa 12/18/90 - 2/24/07

Got the rack done....finally....

Reply #8 –
You better quit buying the autozone junk. You just put that in not long ago!
Like ic said, let's see that rack.lol
Old Grey Cat to this.88 Cat, 5.0 HO, CW mounts, mass air, CI custom cam, afr165's, Tmoss worked cobra intake, BBK shorty's,off road h pipe, magnaflow ex. T-5,spec stage 2 clutch, 8.8 373 TC trac loc, che ajustables with bullits on the rear. 11" brakes up front. +

Got the rack done....finally....

Reply #9 –
Pics tomorrow Jerry and Kitz.It looks just like a steering rack....in black !!! LOL. I had the alignment re-done today.$44.00.Not bad at all.The steering feels tighter.The other rack was like air.This has a firmer feel.I'll get used to it.It may be a good thing.

As far as fluid....ATF all the way with some Lucas.No whining or noise.

"Nice Rack" is right.Hopefully this rack won't leak like the last rack...LOL.LOL.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Got the rack done....finally....

Reply #10 –
good man
lucas products all the way!! And I cant stand my dads car right now cause its got power steering fluid in it. makes the steering feel so dead.
RIP 1988 and 1990 Lincoln Mark VII LSC
I welcomed the dark side and currently am driving a 2000 Dodge Durango SLT plus, with a 5.9, Code named project "Night Runner"
Shes black on black, fully loaded, with headers, 180 tstat, e fan, straight exhaust into a cherry bomb vortex ler, full tune up, ported intake and T/B, MSD coil, and round aircleaner.
Mods to come: Fully rebuilt and heavily modded 46RE, and a richmond rachet locker.
my $300 beater ;)
R.I.P Kayleigh Raposa 12/18/90 - 2/24/07

Got the rack done....finally....

Reply #11 –
You can find those little deals in almost any store's baby aisle for leaky racks....oh, my bad, wrong kinda rack lmao

I'm thinking about a new rack for mine as well...then again, I want new everything under there. Ughhh, it never ends, does it? lol
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)

Got the rack done....finally....

Reply #12 –
Nope,it never ends.I replaced the rack,tie rods,control arms,steering lines and pump,and strut mounts.Made the car feel as good as new.I waited until I had everything,then went to work.Originally,I had planned on doing it once,and done,but,I had no idea the steering rack would  out on me after a few short months.It's back in order now.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Got the rack done....finally....

Reply #13 –
Quote from: vinnietbird;302729

As far as fluid....ATF all the way with some Lucas.No whining or noise.


Which fluid? I had a pretty quiet power steering pump but it went out after like 1k miles and the replacement ACDelco one is noisy.
1988 Thunderbird Sport
 

Got the rack done....finally....

Reply #14 –
I just buy any ATF approved for Fords and use some Lucas with it.I've never had problems.The rack,I've had problems,but the pump is fine.I did change the pump simply because it didn't cost anything (lifetime warranty),and it only takes a few minutes,and I'm doing all the other work,so why not?.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..