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Topic: Another steering rack/pump question?? (Read 1505 times) previous topic - next topic

Another steering rack/pump question??

Did a search and found some answers but trying to clarify a few things.....


Had bad inner tie rod on sons car, and instead of doing that one, went ahead and replaced whole rack with 2.5 turn rack. Also replaced the pump since had small leak at reservoir, with a pump from sn95 mustang. And while in working mode swapped the stock 7.5 w/ 2.73's out for disc brake TC 8.8 with 3.73's:burnout:

 Anyway, got everything together and had car aligned.  Couple days go by and PS fluid is missing, so refill. Well couple more days go by and PS pump starts whinng (today 4-14-11)and fluid is low again, WTF??  So jack car up to check and fluid is dripping out of vent tube. Took vent line out of boot and fluid poured out.

On my search, seen replies about different ratio racks, and pumps. My questions are, what is the 2.5 turn(15:1 or 20;1) rack, and did I mate wrong pump with the rack? 

This is really frustrating me,  had too do job twice since 1st rack I installed had bad threads and HP line would leak. Frustrating to point, making me want to sell car and get him small truck:evilgrin:
88 T-Bird Sport-- H.O conversion, GT40 heads, FMS 1.6 RR's, Cobra/EXP intake, 65mm TB, MAC headers, X-pipe, 05GT lers, TC 8.8 with 3.73's.

Another steering rack/pump question??

Reply #1 –
All right guys/gals hopefulley 3rd time is a charm. Swapping the rack out for a 2.5 turn, lock to lock rack. Thought thats what was ordered but parts store ordered a 3 turn rack.
88 T-Bird Sport-- H.O conversion, GT40 heads, FMS 1.6 RR's, Cobra/EXP intake, 65mm TB, MAC headers, X-pipe, 05GT lers, TC 8.8 with 3.73's.

Another steering rack/pump question??

Reply #2 –
Could've been a bad rack out of the box. I have the "sport" rack, and replacement steering pump (all from Autozone), and have had no issues with them. No whining either. I use a bottle of Lucas and ATF fluid. Works great.
'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..

Another steering rack/pump question??

Reply #3 –
Thanks Vinnie.... Think I got it sorted out. Installed the 2.5 lock to lock rack and so far so good. Been 3 days and havent had any problems. Last time with 3-loc rack about 2 days, pump started to whine and fluid was low.  Would last bout 2 days and start whining again, and be low fluid. But was leaking from vent tube and around inner tie rod boots.

Pretty sure it was the pump/rack combo I had on there. When I did the swap, used a rebuilt pump from an SN95 mustang and swapped it to the foxbody brackets. But guess with the standard, rack, pump was over pressurizing it, from what I found whn I did search.
88 T-Bird Sport-- H.O conversion, GT40 heads, FMS 1.6 RR's, Cobra/EXP intake, 65mm TB, MAC headers, X-pipe, 05GT lers, TC 8.8 with 3.73's.

Another steering rack/pump question??

Reply #4 –
Quote from: JD8850;358034
This is really frustrating me,  had too do job twice since 1st rack I installed had bad threads and HP line would leak. Frustrating to point, making me want to sell car and get him small truck:evilgrin:

I feel ya man, I nearly pushed the POS into the road while trying to do the steering rack.  I literally screamed at the thing a few times.  I have a rebuild AZ pump and an oreilly's rebuilt rack.  Both work great, no leaks.  I'd rather rip my ball hair out one by one than do that job 3 times.
My car is a gravity hybrid.  The gasoline engine gets me up the hills, and gravity gets me down.
 

Another steering rack/pump question??

Reply #5 –
Quote from: 88CougarGT;358490
I feel ya man, I nearly pushed the POS into the road while trying to do the steering rack.  I literally screamed at the thing a few times.  I have a rebuild AZ pump and an oreilly's rebuilt rack.  Both work great, no leaks.  I'd rather rip my ball hair out one by one than do that job 3 times.

 
Mine went rather smoothly.  No problems  :shakeass::shakeass:

Hardest part I had was getting the knuckle off the rack shaft/hub. :flip:
Mike