Steering racks - 4cyl vs. V8 rack?

[MrKwik]

Anyone know how to visually tell a V8 rack from a 4Cyl rack. I bought a reman rack from the auto parts store for a GT to replace a 4cyl rack. When the parts cat looked it up in the computer, it showed the same part numbers for V8 or 4 cyl cars. It did ask some questions about 1 piece or 2 piece bushings and ford or TRW gears but which would be the high ratio V8 rack and how can I tell by looking if thats the one I got?

 

[MrKwik]

anybody....anybody?

 

[mikeflys1]

Visually you cant. When i was converting my old 4cyl i put in the "quick ratio" one and they looked exactly the same.

 

[tjm73]

The factory quick ratio rack had the ratio ink stamped on it.

 

[MrKwik]

The factory quick ratio rack had the ratio ink stamped on it.

This is a reman rack thats painted black so I assume that any ink stamping is long gone.

 

[MrKwik]

OK, I just went out to compare the new rack to the one on my 4cyl notch. The notch will turn exactly 2.5 turns stop to stop. The new one will turn just a butt hair over 3 turns. Now Im really confused. I mean the rack in my 4cyl car should have more turns if the new rack it the V8 rack or at least the same if they gave me a 4 cyl rack right? How many turns should a V8 rack have?

 

[OL' WHITEY]

Take this rack back and order an AGR rack from Summit. Trust me on this. I've gone through two replacement racks from Advance Auto. The car has wandered on the road ever since I took the original rack off (due to worn inner tie rods). The replacement racks are crap. The inner tie rods start to pop in less than six months. I'm still running one, but as soon as I can get through a couple of other projects, I'm going with the AGR unit.

 

[rd]

There are several variations on Mustang racks, and most will fit one way or another. Between two cars, since 1981, I have changed at least a dozen, and my lifetime warranty Pep Boys unit is failing now.

If possible, the quick ratio rack should be used with a gt pump, which supposedly has a higher flowrate to match the quicker movement.

The slower racks will work fine with any pump.

Beware, there are two types of stub shafts, fully splined and ones with an index flat, and Tbird racks have longer tie rods, but can be fit to a Mustang if you just bottom tap the outer end threads with your handy 9/16 fine tap.

Line fittings also vary, but there are adapter kits, that allow fitup of most variations.