Tricks to swapping out steering rack? Reply #15 – February 05, 2011, 05:22:06 PM So here is how I did mine.First I soaked all nuts and bolts with PB blaster the night before. I also marked the rotating part of the shock with the stationary part of the shock with the steering wheel in the straight ahead position. Then after removing the tires and supporting the car securely on jack stands I removed the cotter pins and castle nuts (3/4) from where the tie rod ends go into the spindles. I used a puller type tie rod remover on the TC (because it has 10" brakes now) but the 11" brakes on the Cougar interfered and I had to use a pickle fork type separator.After those were separated I removed the pinch bolt (11mm) connecting the rack to the steering shaft.I then held the bolt (rusty, in center of pic) in the back side of the k-member that the rack mounts on with a socket (15mm) and a breaker bar held in place through one of the openings on the k-member......and loosened up the nuts (18mm) on the front sideAfter that it just takes some prying to work the rack loose from the bushings and then some prying to separate the steering shaft from the rack coming off the shaft. Putting the new rack in is pretty much the reverse. I took the bolt out of the steering shaft (between the steering column and the rack) and removed that section from the column. I hung the new rack up on the bolts to mount and then attached the steering shaft to the rack and then attached that to the column. I tried it with the steering shaft still attached to the column first but I just couldn't get the splines to line up on the bottom. Quote Selected
Tricks to swapping out steering rack? Reply #16 – February 05, 2011, 07:32:12 PM Wow, thanks for the detailed response. REALLY helps to get the picture of what is involved. Quote Selected
Tricks to swapping out steering rack? Reply #17 – January 01, 2014, 09:02:59 AM Quote from: Chuck W;351710If the current rack in the Cougar is not a 15:1 rack, you need to update the PS pump in the car to match the TC rack.Quote from: 88turbo;351719why is this? I have no issues with the way my silver tc is set up and I am using a pump from my 79 cougar with a steering box and the 15:1 rack.Did I miss the answer to this question? I'm facing a rack replacement in my LS and would like to go to 15:1 and therefore, may have to change the pump according to what I'm finding in some of the posts.(I figured using an old pre-existing thread is better than creating a new one.)*edit* I found more in another thread :http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?34212-I-need-a-new-steering-gear&highlight=mustang+steering+rack+pumpThis appears to have varying opinions and experience results. Quote Selected
Tricks to swapping out steering rack? Reply #18 – January 01, 2014, 08:05:25 PM i didnt swap to another pump like being said,, but who knows since im running dextron atf in my power steering.The hardest part about the rack is getting the fittings and wrenches to do what you want up at the cluster F&$^ area where they all come together.another point is to learn how the innner tie rod ends are installed. There are two types of inners..****both types are secured in its set point with an allen set screw machined into the knuckle nut,~one has a simple adjustable disc on the inside of the knuckle for fine tuning.~one has a plastic disc that simply crushes to take up inner slack for fine tuningmost of the time your new rack comes with new inners so its moot but good to know....cause you can destroy a rack if you dont know this.The next hardest part is dialing in the rack to center to ultimately agree with the steering wheel.Its funny how being off one spline with wheight off wheels seems to look just fine up in the air then you drive and find out its wrong. Quote Selected
Tricks to swapping out steering rack? Reply #19 – January 02, 2014, 02:46:23 PM Quote from: Cougars 2 go;426578Did I miss the answer to this question? I'm facing a rack replacement in my LS and would like to go to 15:1 and therefore, may have to change the pump according to what I'm finding in some of the posts.(I figured using an old pre-existing thread is better than creating a new one.)*edit* I found more in another thread :http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?34212-I-need-a-new-steering-gear&highlight=mustang+steering+rack+pumpThis appears to have varying opinions and experience results.I've got a 15:1 rack with a stock 20:1 pump on my Thunderbird. Works fine and I've never had an issue. It actually feels firmer than the 15:1 rack and pump on my Mark VII. Quote Selected
Tricks to swapping out steering rack? Reply #20 – January 02, 2014, 11:09:05 PM Most of what changes how the steering response in a rack car like ours is the torsion bar in the rack. You can put a bigger pulley on the pump and slow it down or put restrictors in the high side line but it really all comes down to the T bar in the rack. Most road racers use the larger pump pulley to slow the pump down and keep from running the reservoir dry and to keep the fluid temps lower as there is less work being imparted on the fluid by the pump. The 2003-2004 Cobra rack is the most desired rack due to the increased resistance it has which gives the driver a better feel of the road. Our cars are waaay over boosted so your grandmother could drive them to the grocery store. The SN95 rack is much better than the Fox racks as they offer more resistance but nothing like the Terminator racks.Anyhow, just thought I would share some info on this as I have several friends who road race and have been down this route a few times.Darren Quote Selected
Tricks to swapping out steering rack? Reply #21 – January 03, 2014, 10:59:09 AM ahh, ""less""" power steering Quote Selected
Tricks to swapping out steering rack? Reply #22 – January 03, 2014, 11:03:58 AM Quote from: Loaded87IROC;351953...and loosened up the nuts (18mm) on the front side.I have randomly revisited this thread because i noticed something.your control arm bolts are not original. Quote Selected
Tricks to swapping out steering rack? Reply #23 – January 03, 2014, 05:53:09 PM Quote from: jcassity;426695I have randomly revisited this thread because i noticed something.your control arm bolts are not original.Lol good eye Quote Selected
Tricks to swapping out steering rack? Reply #24 – January 03, 2014, 11:15:30 PM Well, I've never changed them, lol. Quote Selected
Tricks to swapping out steering rack? Reply #25 – January 04, 2014, 01:05:18 PM reason i mentioned it is becaue the oem bolt is impossible to get out unless you cut off part of the outter lip.see below.. if you pull out the bolt, the CA bolt lip conflicts with the rack & pinion.taking away part of the bolt cures this problem... Quote Selected
Tricks to swapping out steering rack? Reply #26 – January 04, 2014, 02:12:14 PM I just remove the rack bolts and the rack will move enough to clear the CA bolts when you need to remove them. Not a lot of effort and my bolts stayed whole. Darren Quote Selected
Tricks to swapping out steering rack? Reply #27 – January 06, 2014, 05:56:37 PM First never use a PICKLE FORK for anything you want to reuse. And second what the hell is that setup jay you are using to hold that spring????????? Just had to chime in on this as you do not even need a puller to remove a tie rod end or for that matter a ball joint. Pickle forks are used to separate joints that will never be reused as they destroy the sealing boots and they mess up the jopint by stretching it and gthat is DANGEROUS. That is why i chimed in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just me!! Quote Selected
Tricks to swapping out steering rack? Reply #28 – January 06, 2014, 06:40:17 PM hey tom,,,well,,, as you may not have noticed and what inspired me to make the tool was / is an illustration in the shop manual pertaining to control arm removal.this thread has nothing to do with control arms....just fyi.... my pic illustrates the bolt i mentioned to the OP earlier.i made the tool.The threaded rod passes through the frame of the car and up through a hole in the frame dead center of the spring with a metal plate and nut up top.now i have the lower plate with a couple welded shims and a nut at the bottom..now i can tighten the lower nut and the spring is compressed and safe,, it cant fly out at me,, its 100% bullet proof.I can compress a spring in 5min from pulling the tool off the wall and being done. *(excludes taking off the tire) Quote Selected
Tricks to swapping out steering rack? Reply #29 – January 06, 2014, 06:42:17 PM as soon as i found this illustration,, i confirmed the hole in the frame,, also confirmed more of an opening in another strategic area..so,,,,, the tool has saved me so much time. Quote Selected
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