Manual rack dimensions issue

[Shady302]

Can someone who has the manual rack from ffr not installed yet do me a huge favor and measure the total rack length, From thread to thread NOT INCLUDING THE OUTER TIE RODS.

I have a manual rack I purchased from someone on the forum a few years ago (while collecting parts before I ordered my MK4 base kit) that only had a couple hundred miles or so on it. Now that I'm installing it on my new MK4 kit it doesn't seem to be wide enough with the 5-inch tie rod ends. I measured my rack and it's about 44-1/4 inches wide from thread to thread BEFORE putting on the outer tie rod ends.

My issue is, in the MK4 complete manual it says to screw the tie rods on about 1-2 inches onto the rack, but when I do that, both of my wheels are way pointed into each other. so I really believe this rack may have been cut on the ends for some reason and they were using a longer outer tie rod for some reason. Any help on this would be great.

Btw, I am using the MK4 spindles with my build and the ffr lower control arms

[chmhasy]

you may need the steering rack extension. look in the base manual on page 162

[karlos]

Mine measures right at 48", end-to-end. The actual threaded section measure 4-3/8" on both ends.

[Shady302]

Yeah that's my problem. 4 inches different from yours, and i cant even get my tierods to start. very frustrated and feel like i was taken advantage of with this purchase.

[Shady302]

you may need the steering rack extension. look in the base manual on page 162

I have the rack extensions but even they are only about 1-1/2 inches each. Hopefully that will be enough. i also am not sure if the rack extensions will work with the manual rack OR if they are only designed for the power racks.

I wont know until i get home from my work trip on friday, when i can take apart my rack and see. I hope it will cure the problem.

[edwardb]

The rack extensions generally are only intended for power racks. Unless yours is really old or not an FF supplied rack, the manual racks for a number of years from FF are the proper wider width. The extenders may not fit plus if the rack is already the wider version, could mess up your front end geometry with them added. Doesn't sound good for the rack you have. :(

This is from a post on the other forum briefly explaining how the front end should line up with the proper width rack. "If you check, the outer pivot point (ball) is most likely about the same distance inboard of a line drawn between the outer pivot points of the upper and lower control arms..." This thread has a lot of detail, but unfortunately also does have broken Photobucket links. http://www.ffcars.com/forums/63-brake-suspension-tech/1406-bump-steer-idea.html

[slpro1207]

It may be a bitter pill to swallow, but it might be less frustrating to pick up a new rack from FFR. $300. And you know what you have. Sorry it’s not working for your new build.

[Boydster]

I have a manual rack, brand new in the box, from F5R, that I'm not using. I can check the length on it later today and maybe help you out some.

[DaveS53]

There's more to a rack than just the total length. If the distance between the ball joints is not correct, it will NOT work properly. You'd have huge bump steer.