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Rack & Pinion

S

snarf24

CEG'er
Joined
Nov 20, 2011
Messages
112
Location
Howell, MI
Are these cars known for there Rack's going bad? I had a power steering pump go bad a month or so ago, replaced it and haven't had a problem until today. Fluid was everywhere. Took it to the repair shop to have him look at it. 45 mins later I get a call back, he says your entire rack & pinion is shot, both inner tie rods and my pressure hoses are rusted out. I can see the hoses being rusted out and the inner tie rods bad but do the racks really go bad? I was laid off 2 months ago and I've been working part time with a house payment and 2 kids bills are tough to pay. This guy wants $1700 out the door for the repair. I think hes nuts! Any input would be great. Thanks.
 
Never mind. Did some research. Sounds like it really is the rack. I might have to sell the car as I do not have the funds to do this repair and I need a car to get to work.
 
Yea, if you get it fixed note that if you have an SVT it has a different rack and pinion then the standard Contour. I was only able to obtain an SVT steering rack from the Ford dealer. They sold me a re-manufactured Ford part.
 
I can get Racks from Dearborn Rack and Axle for 125$...ones in my T-green right meow! the lines are 45 bucks from rockauto...for all 3
 
ContourGuy9817 said:
I can get Racks from Dearborn Rack and Axle for 125$...ones in my T-green right meow! the lines are 45 bucks from rockauto...for all 3
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Can pretty much guarantee you did not get the SVT rack. Most people would never know the difference though. I think the turns lock to lock are quite similar, but the SVT is definitely different.

snarf24 said:
Does that rack come with the tie rods?
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Most new racks will come with the inner tie-rods, but not the outer tie rods. The outer tie rods can be picked up at any auto store for around $18-25 a piece.
 
bgrogan01 said:
If I were you I would buy a rack and find a local ceger to help swap it out. Or find another shop.
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Called Dearborn Axle, gave me a price of $110 for a rack made for the SVT. I need the tie rod ends, control arms & all three hoses. Looks to be about $350 or so in parts. I have a friend that whos on these cars but I'm pretty sure that he has no time to do it. Sent it to my old mechanic yesterday to have him look at it and he might have a chance to look at it today he said. I've already lost out on 2 days of work now and he takes at least 5-6 days for repairs. Might lose my job now do to not having a car to go to work. Pretty sick to my stomach right now. I've never been in a bind where I didn't have money to do a repair asap.
 
snarf24 said:
Might lose my job now do to not having a car to go to work. Pretty sick to my stomach right now. I've never been in a bind where I didn't have money to do a repair asap.
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You really don't have anyone that can borrow you a car for a couple days?! Even a beat down beater? Parents, grandparents, cousins, friends, family????!?!?!
 
blu_fuz said:
You really don't have anyone that can borrow you a car for a couple days?! Even a beat down beater? Parents, grandparents, cousins, friends, family????!?!?!
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I was lucky to find someone to let me borrow their car for tonight for work. But it might have been the only time since they work full time. Nope no family in the state...It will work it self out. Don't know how but I guess it will.
 
CSVT#49 said:
Can pretty much guarantee you did not get the SVT rack. Most people would never know the difference though. I think the turns lock to lock are quite similar, but the SVT is definitely different.
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Yes, the SVT steering rack is unique to the SVT. There are three different steering racks; one for 14" tires, one for 15" tires and one for 16" tires (the SVT). The difference lies in the plastic spacers that are placed on the rack gear just behind the inner tie rod ends. These spacers prevent the rack from steering too far such that the tires start rubbing against either the wheel wells or other components in the wheel well. I have never heard of anybody saying they put the wrong spec'd rack on their car and had troubles but I haven't dug into the archives either to verify this.

The lock-to-lock turns is the same for all Contours & Mystiques.
 
I did a little research and found data that said the Cougar's steering ratio was 15:1, while the SVT Contour's was 14:1... can anyone comment on this?
 
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