Power Rack and Pinion

[TX-Excalibur]

Located a 2008 Ford Focus with power rack n pinion and seeking advice/info from anyone that has replaced the manual rack n pinion in their cobra with one from a vehicle like this one.

[strictlypersonl]

The Excalibur is a rear-steer?

[t walgamuth]

Originally Posted by TX-Excalibur

Located a 2008 Ford Focus with power rack n pinion and seeking advice/info from anyone that has replaced the manual rack n pinion in their cobra with one from a vehicle like this one.

I removed a flaming river manual rack and installed a ford t bird style power rack. I got most of the parts from Speedway motors. It is a little tricky to get all the hoses to match up. I used a chevy pump on it so that made it a little trickier. It works good. 2.2 turns lock to lock..front steer.

Here is a thread which goes through all of it:

Hi.

[TX-Excalibur]

Thanks for the info. So far the swap is close to doable. Like you I am dealing with the pump and getting it mounted and lining up with drive pulleys. Still considering finding a Mustang ll as a possibility.

[t walgamuth]

My T bird style is interchangible with the Mustang 2 rack. Yes, the pulley situation must be dealt with.

[Luce]

Check yourself before you wreck yourself.

Most FWD cars are rear steer. I don't know what front spindles the excaliber is based on, but most are mustang2-pinto and front steer. If you put a rear steer rack in a front steer car you'll be quite unhappily surprised to find turning the wheel left makes the car go right.

Edit-add-

It's also best if the inner tie rod to inner tie rod is close to the same width as the distance between the inner control arm bushings, interpolated at the height of the steering arm. FRD cars often have narrower that ideal racks. If you have Mustang2, the power steering rack is almost a drop in replacement with the exception of needing a different U joint. One has a smaller input shaft splines, and I don't remember which,