Rack and pinion

[Rommel]

As with any old car, as soon as you fix one leak you create another. That's what I did. I just replaced my P/S pressure hose and in doing so I caused the steering shaft seal to start leaking. I found replacement rack and pinion sets on "Parts America" but there are several different ones with vastly different prices! I have an early 84 SVO, how do you tell what type of R&P is installed? and is there an available rebuild kit that has this steering shaft seal in it?
Thanks,
Brian.

[Rommel]

R&P info

Great info! Thanks that's just what I needed. I'll check Parts America again to see what is available.

[Erics SVO]

Just tell 'em you need a rack for an 86. I needed a pressure side hose for my 84 w/the later rack and told them it was for an 86 so as not to confuse them too much... I ended up with a guy who knows his s*&t and he put the 86 hose under the 84 SVO for my warranty purposes. Needless to say I always look for him when I go in.

-Eric

[svoman2300]

Definately put in a later 15:1 rack. It was one of the best things I have done to my car. I found the best price at Napa. Just don't tell them your are putting in a different rack so theyy don't give you any crap when taking back the core ( not that they would probably care).

[Rommel]

Good info.

All good info, I will take everyones suggestions on board and I will let you know how I do. I also came across a guy who is replacing his K member and installing SN95 control arms. Says he will sell his R&P to me for cheap! unit only has 50K on it so I'm going to take a look tonight.
Thanks again,
Brian.

[Eyelawdoc]

Brian, get all the parts you can from him. You will need to reuse your rack mount bushings and bolts from your 84 to mount the GT rack on your car. 84 SVO tie rod ends will screw on to the GT rack tie rods. It's a good idea to replace them with the mileage on your car. You will need to reset your toe-in, but you can get it close by counting how many threads are exposed on your 84 rack tie rods and then matching that position on the GT rack.

The pressure hose I used was for a 1985 N/A 2.3 Mustang and bolted right onto the GT rack and the SVO pump. As for the return line, I left the metal tube that threads into the GT rack in place and just joined my SVO return hose back onto it.

You will really like the more solid and linear feel of the GT rack. It gets rid of the vague feeling that plagues the TRW unit in the early SVO's. Any more questions, just ask!

[Rommel]

Got one

Well I got a R&P from the guy. It's from another 84 SVO so the benifits you talked about will have to wait. It's another standard TRW unit. Cost is the issue and being as cheap as I am I think I will try this first. If it leaks or is sloppy than I will give it back to him and go with the 15:1 unit. I will install it this weekend to see if there are any problems.. Thanks for the good info, keep it coming
Brian.

[140cilx]

I need a new R&P, mine is shot. So I get a GT unit I see mentioned above, hi-po unit from the handling package.

Mike mentions replacing the ball joint's. I didn't think we could, thought this was one of the achilles heals of our cars for which we were seeking aftermarket replacements w/ no success? This cheap standard part is spec'd on what year/models?

So in basic I can go to Napa as Rick said, pick up a GT hi-po Rack, it's a bolt in and replace my ball joints?

That'd be awesome, I'd have a like new front end. Am I missing something? I've been reluctant to take care of this because I thought it was a real problem.

Thanks for help!
140

[Eyelawdoc]

Ball Joints Not Replaceable

The 85 GT rack will work great, but the ball joints in an SVO are NOT REPLACEABLE. You will need to replace the entire lower controlarm assembly.

[Majestic]

Mike was most assuredly referring to the tie rod ends, not the ball joints in the control arm.

I upgraded the earlier rack to the later and would echo the opinion that it is much better feeling.

[Ken Potter]

I just put a rebuilt rack in the 92 coupe I'm building from Autozone. It's the power unit at 20:1. Cost was $74 with a $45 core. I just threw the crappy old one from an 89 LX 5.0 in the box and let them have it. No problems.

[140cilx]

The pressure hose I used was for a 1985 N/A 2.3 Mustang and bolted right onto the GT rack and the SVO pump. As for the return line, I left the metal tube that threads into the GT rack in place and just joined my SVO return hose back onto it.

I'm going hunting now for the fittings to go into the new GT rack I purchased. One of my SVO hoses threads into the rack, but I'm not sure if it the correct plumbing connection to make a seal. The other one is clearly different.

The car is up in the air on jackstands again.

I'm hoping I can just buy new connections that clamp to our hoses, but mount correctly to the rack.
To easy for sure!

[140cilx]

Will ordering the '86 hoses allow me to complete the install? You know on our hoses, it's a hardline with rack fitting end that just clamps to our rubber hoses.

Do the '86's attach like that?

My 88 LX clamps on the low pressure side (smaller one) and uses a press fitting special hose/connection for the other side. So to use that version I'd have to buy an all new hose from the power steering pump to the rack - which would be okay if it will fit our older steering pumps.

If you remember specifically what made the hoses work please lemme know. I hate buying/returning runs to the parts store.

[svoman2300]

Here's my post from when I did it.

http://www.svoca.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5070

Just use the high pressure hose for a later Mustang and you will probably need that fitting I have posted in that thread , unless there is an adapter I don't know about.

[140cilx]

thanks Rick!

Searched using "Rack and Pinion" and didn't pull that one up. That's my answer.