Upgrading to SN95 steering rack
- Thread starter 91GTstroked
- Start date
I am finally doing the rack on my ‘87 GT. It seems to bind every once and a while at low speed when turning and steering just doesn’t feel right. I’ve put so much money into building a 500hp street car to not feel confident in how it steers seems foolish. I bought an entire set up from Flaming River which includes a brand new rack as well as everything I need to make it work in the car and mate up with the factory PS pump. Think the kit includes tie rod ends, steering shaft, etc. Cost me $1400 which sounds like a lot, but the way I look at it is the system that’s in there is 35 years old, except for the pump which I changed a couple years ago, so it owes me nothing and steering is a pretty important part required to safely drive the car. I’ve done some research and the Flaming River stuff seems to be well regarded. We will see. It’s going in this spring. Will update at that time.
I purchased a wrecking yard rack from an 03 to upgrade my 83.. After taking it apart to clean it, I found it was leaking.... I already have the MM hybrid shaft so I am going to suck it up and send it to Turn one for HOPEFULLY a quality rebuild.. They will install the new parts I am sending along with the rack...... new bellows, the 83 tie rod ends and I included some new SS lines I purchased...... They will install all of these included in the price.. They need the tie rod ends to check for leaks after the rebuild..
- Jun 14, 2007
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I don't like bumping old threads....but I never Installed this reman steering rack that I bought from Napa a few years ago. It was meant to go in my 90 coupe. But I sold the car this spring.
I'm in the process of doing a lot of work on my 90 7 up convertible. I placed a order with maximum motorsports on suspension upgrades, purchased a front SVE brake kit from LMR. And now I'm wondering if I should tackle the steering as well and still try this steering rack? Or buy a new OEM style rack from LMR.
But it seems the sn95 racks are a upgrade, so it might be worth a shot.
I'm in the process of doing a lot of work on my 90 7 up convertible. I placed a order with maximum motorsports on suspension upgrades, purchased a front SVE brake kit from LMR. And now I'm wondering if I should tackle the steering as well and still try this steering rack? Or buy a new OEM style rack from LMR.
But it seems the sn95 racks are a upgrade, so it might be worth a shot.
The SN95 rack with MM steering shaft does wonders for the steering feel. CC plates help further by adding caster.
- Jun 14, 2007
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Good to know. I have mm caster camber plates on order. As I'm going coilovers up front.
This is what I ordered. MM said a panhandle bar would be icing on the cake. But for now I'm not going that route. Might get a eibach rear anti roll bar yet.
- Jun 14, 2007
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gkomo
now i can hopefully expect to receive the shaft
I ‘recently’ did an entire steering system on my 1990. Ordered a reman 99+ GT rack from RockAuto (I ordered the cobra rack but a GT rack showed up and I didn’t want to deal with returning it because I heard all 99+ racks are the same except the cobra R one), MM’s hybrid steering shaft all new inner/outer tie rods and new pump and all new lines. I didn’t have too much seat time with the stock fox setup but I can tell you now the steering is crisp.., no play whatsoever. 10/10 would do it again. Maybe they’ve figured out there manufacturing and shipping issues but it took MM a loooooong time to get me the steering shaft after it was ordered.
You can look through my thread on the details and process if you’d like to sift through 100 pages.
You can look through my thread on the details and process if you’d like to sift through 100 pages.
- Jun 14, 2007
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Awesome to hear! Is a new pump necessary. Mine seems to function fine and it's silent. I'd get all new lines/hoses though.
gkomo
now i can hopefully expect to receive the shaft
My pump pulley was looking a little wobbly so I decided to replace the whole pump. Once I took it off I’m glad I did, it was super dirty and the pump shaft had a lot of play in it. But if all is good then no you don’t need to replace it.
- Jun 14, 2007
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Cool. My other fox with 28k original miles has a very loud whining pump. Drives me nuts. When I bought it, had it serviced with new fluid flush. Sounds exactly the same. I might be replacing that one.
03-04 Cobra rack is different than the other SN95 racks in that they have a stiffer torsion bar so the steering is less boosted. The Fox racks are terrible but you won’t know it until you put a SN95 rack in a Fox.
gkomo
now i can hopefully expect to receive the shaft
What I do remember is I could be driving straight and turn the wheel to like 11-1 o’clock positions and nothing would happen. I’m sure that’s more the solid steering shaft and getting rid of the rag joint but the entire steering system now responds to any little movement of the steering wheel. Almost zero play at all.
Shakerhood
20+ Year Stangneter 
The 03-04 racks are unobtainium now. Unless you pull one from a wrecked car and sent it to get rebuilt they all but dried up.
Anecdotally speaking, I highly doubt anyone would be able to tell the difference between an 04 Cobra rack an 04 GT rack during normal street driving.
Yes, on paper the Cobra rack has different parts that should translate to better feel, but is it enough to translate to better feel during average street driving??
Road course racing...the cobra rack might shine a bit more there...so i've heard.
Generally speaking, i just say don't kill yourself trying to find an '04 Cobra rack. I've had both in my fox. I cracked the housing on my cobra rack screwing in a 6AN conversion fitting and went to a GT rack. I couldn't tell a difference.
Is an SN95 rack/MM hybrid shaft a good upgrade over a Fox rack? Absolutely.
Yes, on paper the Cobra rack has different parts that should translate to better feel, but is it enough to translate to better feel during average street driving??
Road course racing...the cobra rack might shine a bit more there...so i've heard.
Generally speaking, i just say don't kill yourself trying to find an '04 Cobra rack. I've had both in my fox. I cracked the housing on my cobra rack screwing in a 6AN conversion fitting and went to a GT rack. I couldn't tell a difference.
Is an SN95 rack/MM hybrid shaft a good upgrade over a Fox rack? Absolutely.
I have GT racks in both of my cars and have driven a Cobra rack car. In my street car seat of the pants meter zero difference.
This is all crazy talk. I just got a rack from O'Reilly's for like $150 with core exchange. It's a damn steering rack, why would you pay more.
Kurt
Kurt
For the Fox cars it's worth the upgrade to the newer SN95 racks. Much better steering feel for drivers that appreciate a car that feels/drives well.
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