03-04 Cobra Steering Rack

95strokerPSU said:

I was considering a flaming river manual rack but having driven my car with no power assist when making left hand turns for the past 5000 miles, I don't think it's for me. Gotta let us know how hard steering is with the fr rack. And did you get the quick ratio or standard ratio?

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i got the standard ratio, ordered it from www.jdsperformance.com, he had the best price. i've been driving around witht the power rack in still and its not terrible but i think the manual rack should be better.

Here’s a quick update on my steering situation: I just installed a new ’03 Cobra steering shaft in my ’95 Cobra with the AGR quick ratio rack. (Although I think the 15:1 is the same as what the Cobras have stock.) I replaced the Teflon seals (rack side p/s line fittings) with new ones using the proper installation tools, so hopefully this will resolve the surging assist I mentioned before. I’m waiting for a Maximum Motorsports clutch cable kit, which I ordered last week, then she’ll be back on the road and I will report the results. I REALLY hope the ’03 shaft cures the crappy steering feeling!!!

I was just gonna add that i put on the 03 shaft too....havent driven the car yet though.

nmcgrawj said:

I was just gonna add that i put on the 03 shaft too....havent driven the car yet though.

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SO the 03 shaft will work on our stock rack?

The '03 shaft is almost identical to my stock '95 at first glance. The u-joing looks a little different. The rag-joint semms slightly stiffer, but that might be due to the fact that it's amost 10 years newer. It also has a white heat sheild at the bottom of the telescoping part and the busing that stick out is a different material.

The install is fairly easy. I didn't have to do anything special. The only tricky part is that you need a torx socket to remove the pinch clamp bolt at the bottom of the steering column.

I don't see anything that should improve steering feel, but I'll find out as soon as my new clutch cable shows up and I can drive again. If there's no significant improvement, then the search for a terminator rack continues.

BTW. The special tool you need to properly install the teflon seals is a pair brass flare tools. The tool caps the threads on the fittling and has a taper which allows you to gradually stretch the seal and snap it on the fitting past the threads. You could try stretching them with a punch, but if you nick the seal on the threads it's probably going to leak or suck in air. The two fittings are different sizes, so you need two tools - THANKS FORD. I bought mine from a local NAPA store for $8/each. It's definately worth it. I struggled with these the first time installed my AGR rack and that's probably why it is having a surging problems now.

Yea the install is easy...unbolt it at the rack, unbolt it under the steering column and reverse the process.