steering troubles!!!

[93MTXSHO_STUD]

I've had a lot of problems with my steering on my car. What happens is when you take a curve the steering wheel will **** back and forth, like when your turning it pulls back the other way in little pulses. I replaced the rack and pinion and that didnt seem to do the trick. The powersteering pump seems to be holding fluid fine and whins a little but nothing that uncommon for a ford powersteering pump. Any suggestions???

 

[sdpatt]

That behavior is due to leaking seals within the steering rack. You will need a new or remanufactured rack to correct the problem.

 

[93MTXSHO_STUD]

That behavior is due to leaking seals within the steering rack. You will need a new or remanufactured rack to correct the problem.

well when i got the car it did the same thing. When i replaced the rack n pinion, the old one was re-manufactered as well, the new one i put on which was also a remanufactered one worked for about a week then it did what it always did. How sure can you be of this? I know there are two main components to the steering the rack and the pump, but what else could it be? I dont loose fluid at all, the color of the fluid is normal as well.

 

[SHOkid13]

Oh, man. That's not good. I had been hesitating to ask about the shifty wheel... man!

Okay, what's the best rack to use?

 

[stick]

Oh, man. That's not good. I had been hesitating to ask about the shifty wheel... man!

Okay, what's the best rack to use?

Same thing here on my 93 ATX.... :corn:

 

[ohfosho]

im having the same problem on my 93 sho atx. the p/s fluid is black and a lil low, so im going to get the system flushed out and freshly refilled...i hope that at least helps.

just driving in the city straight you can feel tension for 2 seconds and then it lets go, and then grabs back after 1 more second.

 

[93MTXSHO_STUD]

yea im still trying to figure out whats wrong. It seems that its not as bad if you take curves faster than normal and the steering stiffins up a wee bit

 

[Bizzy]

You can use a rack that was intended for the SLO, it's about $100 cheaper and the only difference is that it won't have the nylon stops that the SHO rack does. I've had a SLO rack on my car for over a year now with no problems. When making tight turn your wheels can rub a little, but that's easy enough to avoid. I've only had mine rub once.

 

[naval-avi8or]

It could be the VAPS. Mine did a simular thing prior to my tranny rebuild, I assume that the VSS was replaced during that rebuild and was the culprit for my steering wows since it supplies the VAPS with speed info to vary the steering assist.

 

[SHOkid13]

I talked to Doug and he says the swap from the VAPS Gen II rack (15:1) to the non-VAPS Gen I (14.1:1)rack is common and costs about $450 for the kit.

Aparently it is a worthwhile upgrade that offers a more positive steering feel and response.

I feel this is in my future!

 

[93MTXSHO_STUD]

ok something else i found out is the faster you go the **** seems to go away. Now I hears this might be from a VAPS?? Is that the silver thing you bolt back to the rack n pinion when you in install it?

 

[shomesomesho]

You can use a rack that was intended for the SLO, it's about $100 cheaper and the only difference is that it won't have the nylon stops that the SHO rack does. I've had a SLO rack on my car for over a year now with no problems. When making tight turn your wheels can rub a little, but that's easy enough to avoid. I've only had mine rub once.

Is the steering ratio from a GEN1 SLO the same as a GEN1 SHO?

 

[220ksho]

I like the SLO rack idea.

Both of my SHO's do it. I hate it. The '90 has a re-man rack ($250), still does it. The '93 with vaps also does it pretty bad. Whenever I let someone drive it (not very often) they're like, "man, what's wrong with your steering?" I've gotten pretty used to it, but everytime I drive my wife's Vibe or my old Jeep, I wonder what the heck is wrong with my Fords?

I guess I ruled out the rack being the root cause since I spent so much $ on another, SHO specific one and the problem was no different. I was gonna go after the pump next, but now I'm not sure. I've flushed the fluid many many times in the '93 to no avail. I've been using Mobil 1 ATX. The fluid is clean, clear, and red, and the steering is still awful.

 

[whlav]

steering troubles

Shokid13 got the right input. I had Doug at FPS install a Gen 1 non VAPS rack in my Gen 2 about 2 years ago and the result was fantastic. Well worth the price in my opinion. Car steers like a BMW.

 

[SHO SPD]

The problem is the VAPS. I also ha dthe problem, replaced the rack with a refurbished unit, helped a little, then replaced the VAPS and problem gone. Exactly what yours is doing.

 

[adidas_kn]

What happens if you just do the SHOtimes FAQ way and put a switch on the electronic vaps unit. It says that you splice into the 2 wires with a switch and it locks the steering in the current assist that you switch it at. I think the little electric VAPS motors are going crazy and always over assisting the rack. I'm going to try this before I have a big steering rack shipped over to Italy. I personally don't care for the over assisted power steering. I like a nice solid feel. I don't know why you would want to down grade to a slower ratio rack as the quicker racks help for sport driving and track driving. Anyways take a look over at the mods section on SHOtimes FAQ and have a look at this easy mod.

Later
"J"

 

[SHOkid13]

I have thought about doing that mod for the VAPS control many times, just never done it. My rack is going out anyway which is why I'm looking at doing the changeover to the Gen I. When I do it, I won't have to worry about VAPS anyway.

FYI - Moving to the Gen I Rack isn't a downgrade as far as steering ratio, it is an upgrade. It has a quicker/tighter ratio which means you turn the steering wheel less for the same movement of the front wheels.

VAPS Gen II rack (15:1) to the non-VAPS Gen I (14.1:1) rack

 

[adidas_kn]

My bad SHOkid13. I was mistaken on the ratios as it is only 8:20 am here in Italy and Iam at work dog tired. Is the non-VAPS rack a direct swap or is something else needed? I should be able to order a 92 SLO unit from Partsamerica and it will work? If so I might just do it while my car is completly apart. 1 less electrical doodad to reconnect and worry about. Already thinking of removing the cruise control as I never use it and it keeps popping off the throttle assem. when full throttle is applied.

92 3.0 taurus GL non Vaps unit.

Later
"J"

 

[SHOkid13]

It's getting pretty late for me, so we're even.

It isn't a direct swap, as you need a new high-pressure hose, acording to Doug. He has them made with a "surge protector" (I can't remember what it's called for fluid). It makes it so the pressure stays consistant from the pump so your steering is crisp and consistant.

Maybe we could just get the new pressure hose, as I can find a Gen I rack for pretty cheap.

PS - Nice cars and good luck on the restoration!

 

[adidas_kn]

Only thing I'm worried about is the pressure hose is probably different between the SLO and SHO as they have different PS pumps because of different engines. The fittings will be different and the bends will differ also. Where would we get the pressure hose from? I think that $69 for a PS rack is an awesome deal.

Thanx, the SHO restoration is a passion of mine.Everthing is being replaced and redone. I even stripped and painted the underbody to match the new smoothed and painted engine bay. You should see my removed subframe right now! Shiny smooth black(cleaned sanded and painted) with new adjustable tension rods, TPR bushings, HD control arms, HD plastic endlinks, cleaned sanded and painted tranny mount(chrome silver), extreme engine mounts F/R, painted 94 knuckles(waiting for the 13" brakes and Koni/Groundcontrol coilover struts), TPR sway bar bushings on 24mm blue sway bar with chrome silver brackets and finally Alsfb's to top it all off.
Nothing but performance and attention to detail in mind. That's just the subframe, now imagine the rest of the car.

Later
"J"