Power Steering Pump / Quick Ratio Rack

[Bullitt69]

I can't find any info in the archives about my question:

I replaced my rack & pinion with a quick ratio / high performance rack, but have not replaced the power steering pump.

Is there in fact a different pump to handle the quick ratio racks, or will I be OK with the stocker?

Car seems WAY too easy to steer, and I've just noticed a bit of whining from the pump - I've put no more than 200 miles on since the upgrade.

Really appreciate anyone's feedback!

Cheers!

-Steve-

 

[HISSIN50]

i think this is a double post. see
http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=457611

 

[james51381]

I can't find any info in the archives about my question:

I replaced my rack & pinion with a quick ratio / high performance rack, but have not replaced the power steering pump.

Is there in fact a different pump to handle the quick ratio racks, or will I be OK with the stocker?

Car seems WAY too easy to steer, and I've just noticed a bit of whining from the pump - I've put no more than 200 miles on since the upgrade.

Really appreciate anyone's feedback!

Cheers!

-Steve-

Hey Steve,

I have a quick ration rack on a new power steering pump, and I aslo had it on with the old stock pump. The stock whined since the day I bought it, as well as 80% of the fords pump.

The steering is easy to turn, but not easy enough to do it on its own. My only concern is running our setup with under drive pullies.

While reading Bill Mathis's book on handling, I came across a problem he had with it. When using the quick ratio rack, stock pump, and under drive pulles, the wheels would lock. He noted that it would only happen during slow quick turns like a hair pin turn. This has happen to me a couple of times turning really quick into a parking stall, and also making a quick snap U-turn. He recomends getting a better pump, but if your not running UDPs, I think you should be OK. It hasent been a safety issue with me, so I wouldnt worry too much.

Hope this helped

james

 

[Bullitt69]

Thanks James,

Sorry it's been so long since I've posted.

So, as I understand it, your pump started whining immediately after you replaced the rack to a quick ratio? That's exactly what happened to me anyway.

I used to have underdrive pullies, but now the stockers are back on since the supercharger upgrade.

Thanks for your feedback, have a good one!

-B-

 

[Legendary]

Quick question. Do you guys like the quick ratio rack? Is it a big difference over the stock rack?

 

[Bullitt69]

I didn't like it at first.... way too "touchy" I thought.

Now, I'm kinda getting used to it, and like it.

The normative thinking is that the standard ratio is best for our cars though.

-B-

 

[james51381]

The pump always made a noise, before and after the pullies. I have had the new pump on the pullies for about 1500 miles, and I havent heard anything yet.

from what I understood from Mathis, is that our stock pump wasnt made for the quick ratio rack. I dont know if it will limit the "life" time of the pump, but it does have an affect at low speeds ( I am noticing a lot more). I am having to rev the motor a little more to keep the power steering pump from either becoming reall stiff or the motor stalling.

I have only driven my buddies car with the stock ratio, and there is NO way I will go back to what stock is. Dont the 94's and up have a quicker ration rack?

Legendary--- It is a noticable difference between the two racks.

james

 

[Bullitt69]

James,

I'm gonna have to agree with you about the quicker rack. After an initial "break in" period, where the driver has to get used to the added responsiveness, he learns that this rack really does make a difference in the overall feel of the car. Almost feels like a big Go Cart, for lack of a better analogy.

With the new rack, strut tower brace, g-trac bar, subframes, and being lowered somewhat, it really has a "Carty" feel to it. Whipping through the twisties is so much more fun now! Helps having a blower too!