Power Steering Rack

[n-campbe]

The power steering rack has been on back order since October when I received the car. We are fully assembled other than the last bit of body & paint and need to find a power steering rack sooner than FFR can provide us one. I understand any Fox Body Mustang Rack should work but looking to others to see what is the best option. Any suggestions are much appreciated.

[michael everson]

I just bought 2 from Oreilly auto parts. Worked perfectly. You will need to
Install the FFR supplied rack extenders.
Mike

[nucjd19]

I am in the same boat n-. I Ordered in October and delivered in December. Missing the rack, engine mounts and front LCAs so I am DOA on almost anything north of the fire wall. Michael I did not see any rack extenders with my kit do you happen to have a picture so I can go back and check. Thanks!

[Blitzboy54]

This one is a head scratcher. You can get a steering rack anywhere. It’s weird that it's been out of stock so long

I guess I’m grateful it’s so easy to replace?

[CDXXVII]

The FFR power steering rack is an all new Made in China rack. Great price but you are at the mercy of “Slow Boat From China”. Add to that Coronavirus and you get to wait.

[michael everson]

Sorry dont have a pic but they are about 1.75 diameter with a large threads. Male on one end female on the other. Pretty sure they come with every kit.
Mike

[CraigS]

As Michael says they are readily available from most auto parts stores. You want the 3.0 turn to turn rack. Take a small pair of vice grips w/ you when you pick it up to verify 3.0 turns before you leave the store. The rebuilders mix them up so you have to verify. These are the Autozone #s.
#6406; 3.0 turns lock to lock
#6439; 2.5 turns lock to lock
#64163 2.25 turns lock to lock

[rich grsc]

If you get a 2.5, or a 2.25 turn, just remove the plastic limiter under the boot. Then you'll have a 3 turn rack.

[tmlint]

I am in the same boat n-. I Ordered in October and delivered in December. Missing the rack, engine mounts and front LCAs so I am DOA on almost anything north of the fire wall. Michael I did not see any rack extenders with my kit do you happen to have a picture so I can go back and check. Thanks!


I am receiving my LCA's today. So you should be getting yours soon.
What I did was purchase a Rack and Pinion from RockAuto and bought the rack extenders from Breeze Automotive. I am not waiting on rack from FFR.

[Blitzboy54]

I am receiving my LCA's today. So you should be getting yours soon.
What I did was purchase a Rack and Pinion from RockAuto and bought the rack extenders from Breeze Automotive. I am not waiting on rack from FFR.

So the rack extenders did not come with your kit? Interesting.

Thanks

[Avalanche325]

There is an article out there that explains the difference in Mustang racks over the years. The short version is that the SN95 rack is much improved over the Fox rack. Different torsion bar and a more precise rack and pinion. The Cobra R rack was the best. Those are long gone. AGR makes one that replicates the Cobra R Mustang rack (I have that one) and also one specifically for Cobra replicas (pricey IIRC).

[Blitzboy54]

I just ordered the rack extenders from Breeze. I figured it was cheep insurance. If the steering rack shows up before I need it I'll pass them along to someone else.

[phileas_fogg]

If you get a 2.5, or a 2.25 turn, just remove the plastic limiter under the boot. Then you'll have a 3 turn rack.

Hey Rich,

With all the reports of the lower ratio racks being too "quick" or "darty", I would have expected the 2.5 & 2.25 racks to have different gearing rather than just limiters.

The only rack I've ever had was the 3.0 turn Breeze (Unisteer), so I don't really know what's inside the others.


John

[rich grsc]

John, that is the general thought, but the cr-p they sell at AutoZone I feel is the same rack no matter. It's 'rebuilt', so who know how well they keep order. So many reports os ordering 'x' turn to turn, and instead they get 'y' when they open and check.
I like a fast rack. :eek::cool:

[Norm B]

If you get a 2.5, or a 2.25 turn, just remove the plastic limiter under the boot. Then you'll have a 3 turn rack.
Good point but, keep the plastic limiters because you may want instal them again to prevent tire rub on the F panel.

Norm

[nuhale]

late to the party here... I have a spare set of FFR extenders. PM If interested.

I changed out to a power rack early on. Bought mine from rock auto. I did have it blow on me at first start but was easy to change out with new one from warranty.

N1010106 (N101-0106) from 1993 FORD MUSTANG 5.0L V8

[nucjd19]

No, rack extenders did not come with my kit I guess because the rack they have made that I am patiently waiting on I guess has the correct length out of the box. Thanks for the info if I want to grab a rack at my local parts store. I might have to go that direction here very soon.

[JB in NOVA]

nucjd19, for what it's worth, here was my experience with the power steering rack situation. I bought a new PS rack from Rock Auto (to fit a 1982-93 Mustang), but it did not accept the FFR tie-rod extenders. So I ended up purchasing the FFR version, which comes with the rack extenders installed:


Not much going on with the Roadster project this week, except I ended up switching out my power steering rack. As I mentioned earlier, I decided mid-project to install power steering, so I bought a replacement PS rack for a 1982-93 Mustang. Specifically, it was a new Cardone 97203F PS rack from Rock Auto. Even though the new rack was $120 more than a refurbished rack, I figured it would save me headaches going forward. (Spoiler alert: it didn't). I also bought the Breeze offset bushings and the FFR inner tie rod extenders.

As I mentioned earlier, the first problem I had was getting the Breeze offset bushings to fit, although I eventually got them in with a lot of work. Then, when I went to install the FFR inner tie-rod extenders, they didn’t fit . . . at all. After taking off one of the boots and the inner tie rod, I found that the remaining piece is female, not male, and it’s a completely different size bolt than what the FFR tie rod extender is configured for:

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=130467&d=1593043135

I contacted Dave at FFR, who informed me that some OEM replacement racks for the 82-93 are configured differently and will not accept the FFR inner tie rod extenders. Apparently, the Cardone 97203F rack falls into this category. I asked whether I could “get away” with not installing the tie rod extenders, and he said, “not really.” I recall Mark at Breeze saying the same thing. The bump steer is apparently pretty bad without these. I spent some time looking for inner tie rod extenders that would fit my Cordone PS rack, and I did find some that cost over $100.

At that point, I threw in the towel and just ordered a FFR PS rack, which is already configured with the tie rod extenders. It arrived today, and what a difference between the two racks! First, just from looking at it, you can tell it’s higher quality than the Cordone unit I purchased:

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=130468&d=1593043154

Most of the FFR rack is powder coated (unlike the Cordone unit), and the hydraulic lines are heavier and better looking than the ones on the Cordone unit. The Breeze offset bushings slid in with no problem at all, and the whole rack was easy to install. I had the whole thing done in less than an hour, including centering the rack and torqueing everything to spec:

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=130469&d=1593043165

So here’s my $230 lesson for future newbies like me: just buy the FFR power steering rack!

[nucjd19]

Thanks for the info JB.

[rich grsc]

The steering rack extenders, may or may not be needed. I would not just install them with out first checking to determine if they are needed. Their intended use is to aline the inner tie rod pivot point with an imaginary line between the upper and lower control arm pivots.
On my car the extenders just moved the pivot point from 3/4" inside that line to 3/4" outside of that line. Mine are safely stored in my junk pile parts.

[Avalanche325]

I am also a fan of a fast rack. When I autocross, the only time I have to move a hand on the wheel is if I am looking over either door to see where I am going.

It felt twitchy to me on the interstate.....for about 5 minutes. Just about the same amount of time that the shifter felt weird.

I never buy actual parts from parts stores any more. Absolute crap-shoot on what you get. Mostly the crap part.