Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Technical => Suspension/Steering => Topic started by: JD8850 on April 14, 2011, 05:13:06 PM

Title: Another steering rack/pump question??
Post by: JD8850 on April 14, 2011, 05:13:06 PM
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:
Title: Another steering rack/pump question??
Post by: JD8850 on April 16, 2011, 12:54:30 AM
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.
Title: Another steering rack/pump question??
Post by: vinnietbird on April 16, 2011, 10:44:53 PM
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.
Title: Another steering rack/pump question??
Post by: JD8850 on April 21, 2011, 11:11:51 AM
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.
Title: Another steering rack/pump question??
Post by: 88CougarGT on April 21, 2011, 11:38:28 AM
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.
Title: Another steering rack/pump question??
Post by: mcb82gt on May 03, 2011, 10:00:58 AM
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: