Anyone change their own Rack & Pinion? EDIT: Problem with Reman Rack!

[JTS03COBRA]

EDIT: I got this fixed.
EDIT #2: I will be working on this this again! Read my response below in the thread of an update of what's up.
Would like to know what you used and where you placed it on the subframe to lower it and hold it in place. This is the only thing that's bothering me and stopping me from replacing the rack & pinion on my sister's '99 Taurus SHO. I was told it has electronic variable assist. So the parts the shops are quoting me are expensive to say the least. i located one at Advance Auto, a Cardone, and it costs $360, the cheapest I've found w/ the electronics. I see they also list one w/o the assist, why is that, didn't they all come w/ it stock? Thanks.:thankyou:

 

[luigisho]

Would like to know what you used and where you placed it on the subframe to lower it and hold it in place. This is the only thing that's bothering me and stopping me from replacing the rack & pinion on my sister's '99 Taurus SHO. I was told it has electronic variable assist. So the parts the shops are quoting me are expensive to say the least. i located one at Advance Auto, a Cardone, and it costs $360, the cheapest I've found w/ the electronics. I see they also list one w/o the assist, why is that, didn't they all come w/ it stock? Thanks.:thankyou:

They came with it stock. It is a variable assist ZF rack.

Don't know if the price is still good but it says free shipping --but core charge
http://www.buy-steering.com/partsdisplay/1999_Ford/Taurus.html

here's a write up
http://v8sho.com/SHO/SteeringRackRemoveReplace.htm

 

[JTS03COBRA]

They came with it stock. It is a variable assist ZF rack.

Don't know if the price is still good but it says free shipping --but core charge
http://www.buy-steering.com/partsdisplay/1999_Ford/Taurus.html

here's a write up
http://v8sho.com/SHO/SteeringRackRemoveReplace.htm

Thanks for those links, I don't know if the rack has banjo or screw fittings, how do I find out? At that link, they ask this question before showing a part # w/ pricing.
Also, thanks for that other link, I actually have the Ford service manual, BUT, in the manual it says to use some kind of powertrain support fixture, which I don't have, lol. So, I was wondering what do-it-yourselfers have done to lower it and hold it in place. Those instructions at that link don't say how they held it up in place.

 

[luigisho]

How high can you get it off the ground? I would say jack stands or you could hold it with thick lumber or something. The write up says dropping it 6-8" so you will need a little room under there. The support fixture is probably for use while it's on the lift. If you're on the ground probably jacks and jack stands.

 

[JTS03COBRA]

How high can you get it off the ground? I would say jack stands or you could hold it with thick lumber or something. The write up says dropping it 6-8" so you will need a little room under there. The support fixture is probably for use while it's on the lift. If you're on the ground probably jacks and jack stands.

Thanks for that reply. :thankyou:
Have you replaced yours?
I'm not sure, probably about 18" from the ground to where the jack stand would be placed. That would probably be enough?
Does anyone know for sure if the y-pipe has to be removed altogether, or just disconnected from the flex pipe?
I see what you're saying, so if I had 2 jacks, I could then perhaps lower it down after the bolts are removed, right? I have a large 4 ton jack, and then a cheap 2 1/4 ton one. I suppose they could work, so long as they seemed to be steady. Either way, I can't get to this until this weekend at the earliest. In the meantime, I'll see if anyone else can chime in who's done this.

 

[luigisho]

Haven't had to do this myself. I do have a few sets of stands so I can raise the vehicle and stabilize it, and also be able to get under and lower stuff and support it safely. Jacks can fail and your face isn't a good brace for the powertrain.

 

[JTS03COBRA]

...Jacks can fail and your face isn't a good brace for the powertrain.

Agreed. I'm going to use my smaller set of jackstands to hold up the subframe, (hopefully will be possible), in addition to the jacks. My main set of jackstands I have will be holding the car up way in the air, it appears. Hopefully this will all work out.

 

[JTS03COBRA]

Ok, thought I'd give an update. I did get the old rack out today. Did order another one from that website listed above. The instructions link is pretty good. I followed the factory manual pretty much to the letter, I've added my experiences below:
The exhaust bolts at the y-pipe to flexpipe connection were pretty rusted, but they came loose, the gasket, of course was toast. I got one thru Advance Auto.
You will need a 15/16" box end wrench with an angle to it to get the nut off the rack bolt above the y-pipe. Piece of cake doing it that way. I used a deep socket on the other nut. Don't forget to count the # of times you turn the outer tie rod when removing it off the rack.
I wish those instructions gave details on how the subframe was lowered. I used 1 jack and 4 jackstands (2 to get the car up in the air, 2 to hold the subframe up) to get it to come down. It appears you only need 1 jack as the subframe is rigid enough that you only need to lift it from one side w/ the jack. You will need a jack that can lift up pretty high. I'd say I've lowered the subframe 5-6" and the rack came out w/ lots of room to spare.
Definitely learn how the wiring was routed, as it's a bit odd as to how it goes underneath part of the ps hose bracket. Also, I did disconnect the 2 O2 sensors so that the wiring could get pushed out of the way. I also disconnected the ps pressure sensor harness, so that it wouldn't get stressed while pushing the ps line it mounts to out of the way. So, I disconnected 4 wire harnesses overall.
I didn't find any bracket holding a ps hose to the intake manifold, which they said got damaged in that instructions link. I did remove the alternator wire off the clips in the engine bay, so that it wouldn't get stressed. The ps hoses off the reservoir do get twisted a bit, but look to be not overly stressed.
Yes, you have to "persuade" the splined bolts to come out of the old rack once you get it out, that was a bit of a hassle for me, as they were corroded a bit.
Overall I've spent 3 hrs on it so far, probably not too bad considering it's the first time I've changed one of these. Will be waiting for the reman. one to arrive either end of this week or next Mon. Hopefully installation goes as smoothly as removal.:sun:

 

[luigisho]

On a first run through that sounds pretty good. let us know how the install goes.

 

[JTS03COBRA]

The install went well, took about 2 3/4 hours, 3 1/2 w/ cleanup (made a mess). It's done. :woo-hoo:
Just gotta get it aligned now.
Special thanks to luigisho for the info & help.

 

[JTS03COBRA]

Ok, will be going thru this again this weekend as the reman rack I bought off that link posted above (and listed below) is beginning to bind up, like maybe something's wrong with it mechanically (not hydraulically, as it acts the same with the engine shut off and the trans in neutral while going down the road).
http://www.buy-steering.com/partsdisplay/1999_Ford/Taurus.html
Thankfully it still is in warranty and they have sent out to me another rack (which isn't here yet), of course they charged a rather large deposit on it ($240) until they get the old one back.
The problem started suddenly according to my sister and really hasn't worsened. Basically the car's steering is stiffer and acts like it's under alot of friction. As a result it won't center on its own and this causes the car to wander.
I took the car to a shop and they said it's the rack and so I called the # for the place that sold the reman rack to me (listed at the link above). The person I talked to seemed dubious of the situation, and he said it couldn't be the rack, but did offer to still send out a replacement rack. So, that's when I decided to get a 2nd opinion. The 2nd shop went so far as to say that I shouldn't be driving the car as the rack could lock up suddenly. So, I then called again and this time I talked to someone who was less dubious of the situation and she offered right away to get another rack on the way.
So, I'll update the thread once I get it replaced (again)...
Has anyone had any trouble w/ the rack they bought at the link above for their SHO? I'd hate to think it, but you know how the saying goes, you get what you pay for...

 

[JTS03COBRA]

Ok, installed another one from them, all seems to be well so far...definitely was something coming apart in the old one as it was loose when turning it back & forth and was binding up mechanically so bad that it would pop before it would start moving. Had a buddy help me install it this time, came in handy (for the most part, lol, as he's not used to turning wrenches).