How do you get TIGHT steering?

MustangLX-5.0 · May 1, 2010

So, I replaced my rack a while ago. Probably been about 4 years , but theres only about 300 miles on it since I just started driving my 92 very recently. Its got MM CC plates and a full Eibach suspension kit. However, the steering still feels loose. I'm not going to go into an SN95 comparison but the steering racks and strut setups are very similar. Could my tires have something to do with it? Or is this just as simple as an alignment?

I HAD loose steering on my 96. When I replaced the rack, both times, the steering got stiffer. When I added urethane bushings, it got impressively tight. I thought the solid bearing on the CC plates would make it stiff? No? Thoughts on this.. or is this just the way it is on Fox Mustangs?

Shaolin Crane · May 1, 2010

its a common problem with the foxes, i have the whole MM catalog and the steering is free, but it is still tight sharp responsive and accurate just very effortless to move

MustangLX-5.0 · May 1, 2010

Is your steering rack stock, or aftermarket? I was thinking maybe the Fox steering rack has more ease of movement than SN95. Even think about doing an SN95 spindle & control arm swap. Later sometime though. My budget is lacking right now.

5.0Droptop · May 1, 2010

Have you replaced the rag joint or upgraded to a solid steering shaft?

fivespeedsteed · May 1, 2010

put a sn rack in there. that will firm up the steering feel. that or a bigger power steering pump pulley to slow down the pump

lancec2c30 · May 1, 2010

Go buy an sn-95 rack and the MM conversion shaft with the solid joint.

92GreenGT · May 1, 2010

Here is what I have going in:

K member/A-arms(new balljoints yO!)
2004 Cobra rack
MM Solid steering shaft
MM aluminum rack bushings
MM bumpsteer kit

Hope all that provides a pretty good feel, if I'm still not happy I'm going to go with the bigger PS pulley as noted above.

Shaolin Crane · May 1, 2010

personally i like the steering how it is with the fox short turn rack and goodies

MustangLX-5.0 · May 1, 2010

Ragjoint? What is that? I'm not familiar with that slang term.. but I assume it's some sloppy ass connection. Never messed with the steering shaft. Isnt it very similar to an SN95 shaft where it has about 2 or 3 little u-joints on it? I don't think the shaft will help much. My 96 shaft has some piss poor slop in it, but the steering it tight as hell. The SN95 rack sounds like it will do the trick. Hell I'll just order one for for my 96 and use that one. Are the tie-rods longer?

S&B · May 1, 2010

you'd be loose to if you were beat on for 20 years . driven hard and put away wet

metalman85 · May 1, 2010

manual rack will do it. my steering is stiffer than hell.. but i like it that way

MahFiVeOh · May 1, 2010

S&B said:
you'd be loose to if you were beat on for 20 years . driven hard and put away wet

lancec2c30 · May 1, 2010

MustangLX-5.0 said:
Ragjoint? What is that? I'm not familiar with that slang term.. but I assume it's some sloppy ass connection. Never messed with the steering shaft. Isnt it very similar to an SN95 shaft where it has about 2 or 3 little u-joints on it? I don't think the shaft will help much. My 96 shaft has some piss poor slop in it, but the steering it tight as hell. The SN95 rack sounds like it will do the trick. Hell I'll just order one for for my 96 and use that one. Are the tie-rods longer?

You can't just throw an SN-95 rack in. You need the conversion steering shaft from Maximum Motorsports. Which has the solid u-joint style upgrade, as opposed to the rubber "ragjoint" that ford uses.

1987LXragtop · May 1, 2010

replacing the rack wont do sh** for you if the steering shaft is loose. replaced my rag joint last fall and it steers like new. You could spend a c note plus on a flaming river steering shaft or 10 bucks for the rag joint.
The difference will be in road feel. a solid shaft will give more road surface vibration while the rag joint set up was designed to absorb it.

5.0Droptop · May 1, 2010

MustangLX-5.0 said:
Ragjoint? What is that? I'm not familiar with that slang term.. but I assume it's some sloppy ass connection. Never messed with the steering shaft. Isnt it very similar to an SN95 shaft where it has about 2 or 3 little u-joints on it? I don't think the shaft will help much. My 96 shaft has some piss poor slop in it, but the steering it tight as hell. The SN95 rack sounds like it will do the trick. Hell I'll just order one for for my 96 and use that one. Are the tie-rods longer?

The rag joint is at the end of the steering shaft. They get sloppy as they age.

The rag joint is on the right side in this picture.

View attachment 220943

aar0s · May 1, 2010

not to hijack the thread but how hard is it to change a ragjoint. the "feel" from my steering is kinda sloppy with a "catch" at the top. thought that it was my rack but now i think that its the joint.

1987LXragtop · May 1, 2010

aar0s said:
not to hijack the thread but how hard is it to change a ragjoint. the "feel" from my steering is kinda sloppy with a "catch" at the top. thought that it was my rack but now i think that its the joint.

not hard. If the bolts come apart relatively easy its like a half hour job.
its the best few bucks you can spend on your steering.

old_blue · May 2, 2010

agreed with above. I could turn my steering wheel a 1/4 turn before any response. But I didnt replace the rag joint, I just tossed it and went with a solid flaming river steering shaft. worked perfect. I expect a new rag joint would work good too. sometimes they are called steering couplers too but they are referred to as rag joints. it isnt a slang term.

old_blue · May 2, 2010

here is what I had.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Flam...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

mine was for power rack.

RydeOn · May 2, 2010

92GreenGT said:
2004 Cobra rack
MM Solid steering shaft
MM aluminum rack bushings
MM bumpsteer kit

I did all of this but used urethane bushings and I couldn't ask for anything more. Car tracks soo good on the highway now it is much easier to keep the car pointed where you want. It also seems to have refined the car a little, the power steering is quieter and everything is just tighter. Now if you want TIGHT i would suggest a manual rack as the terminator rack is still a power rack and it may not be the drastic difference you are looking for.

How do you get TIGHT steering?

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