[Shotimes] SHO Problem du Jour - Steering Rack Seal

[Leigh Smith]

Like George mentioned; different racks have different feel. It's due to a
torsion bar in the rack, as well as the pressure restrictors. I know the Gen
1s have a much firmer feel than the Gen2s with VAPS. If you get a reman
rack, you got zero chance of getting a real original SHO rack with the
correct torsion bar/valving feel. On the Gen2s, I don't think it matters
much, the VAPS is so limp it feels like it might be a standard Lincoln part
already. I'm back-dating mine.
Lee
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Devin Fisher" <dmf@meumonus.com>
To: "'Zach Leahy'" <leahyz@gmail.com>; "'Robert A. Pittman, Jr.'"
<rob.pittman@verizon.net>
Cc: <shotimes@autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, August 02, 2005 11:23 PM
Subject: RE: [Shotimes] SHO Problem du Jour - Steering Rack Seal


> I have my subframe down right now, but I am wary of getting a
remanufactured
> rack. I have seen more than a few posts on the shoforum about the racks
> going bad within a short time span. Has anyone had good experiences with
> certain brands?
>
> -Devin
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: shotimes-admin@autox.team.net [mailto:shotimes-admin@autox.team.net]
> On Behalf Of Zach Leahy
> Sent: Monday, August 01, 2005 12:16 PM
> To: Robert A. Pittman, Jr.
> Cc: shotimes@autox.team.net
> Subject: Re: [Shotimes] SHO Problem du Jour - Steering Rack Seal
>
> You may be able to find the correct seal after removing the rack.  As
> far as I know no one sells a replacement seal.   I had mine go
> somewhere in the 200,000 mile range on the 93 Road warrior.  It's kind
> of a pain to R+R as you need to at least lower the subframe.
>
> For all the time to take it out, it may be just as wise to replace it.
>  I remember a rebuilt rack from AZ was not theat terrifically
> expensive.  It was over 200 bucks, but for a power steering rack I
> don't think that's unreasonable, there is a lot of stuff in one.
>
> Is it rebuildable, sure, anything is, and that's what the reman racks
> are, rebuilt old ones with new seals and wear items.  Is it cost
> effective to rebuild it, maybe depends on the cost of the seal if you
> can find it.  Is it time-wise effective?  Likely not as you will have
> to pull the rack, disassemble it, pull out the seal, go and find a
> replacement, reassemble rack (for me re-assemble again casue you
> messed it up the first time) and then put the rack back in.  It may
> not be easy to find the seal either, but it may be, and it may cost 12
> cents too.
>
> For me I just replaced the rack when the seals started leaking.
>
> Z
>
> On 8/1/05, Robert A. Pittman, Jr. <rob.pittman@verizon.net> wrote:
> > I've got a seal out in my steering rack.  Not that big a deal, as I just
> > carry ps fluid and top off when it starts to howl at an annoying level.
> The
> > main problem is that the leak dumps ps fluid on the exhaust manifold and
> > smokes like hell when I stop the car.
> >
> > I was told that the rack was not serviceable, and that it would have to
be
> > replaced to cure the leak.  That seems kinda extreme (and expensive) for
> > just a leaking seal.  Are the steering rack seals replaceable like the
> front
> > and rear engine seals are?  Like when you do a clutch you replace the
rear
> > seal as a matter of course.  When you do a 60K, you replace the front
one.
> >
> > Thanks for y'alls advice.
> >
> > Rob
> > 90MTX, 125K
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