Steering Rack Rebuild 308

Superformance sells quick-ratio racks and rebuild kits...

 

I'm in the process of rebuilding mine now. I'll let you know how it turns out...

 

The rack is the same as the Pantera. I rebuilt my rack using parts from a Pantera specialist in Nevada, a google search will find them. I posted a bunch of pictures when I rebuilt my rack a couple of years ago, a search will find those and others. It is a pretty straight forward operation. Also a google search for Pantera steering rack rebuilds will bring up even more tutorials. If you're not up to the rebuild you can ship it to the Nevada Pantera place, they rebuild them also.

 

Pantera Parts Connection, Carson City. Panteraparts.com

They say a rebuild is $302. Unless your ball joints are completely toasted you're going to need way less than $100 in bushing, boots and grease so there is some savings in DIY.

 

I just had mine rebuilt by a company in uk who specialize in rebuilding ferrari, aston etc.... racks and actually make the upgrade rak for superperformance. What was also interesting is that the bushings in the rack are from the classic mini and the tie rods are from old minis and morris minors, as the original racks where made in uk

 

A friend asked me this the other day : who please ?

 

The company in the uk are Kiley-Clinton tel 0121 772 8000 or 0121 766 5959 they rebuilt updated and returned to me in 2 days , but if not busy will do quicker ie hours . Total cost including tax and shipping 319.20 sterling. That didnt include track rod ends they were 7 pound from the local factors.

They do have a website.

Rebuild without rack updated rack is 75 pounds plus tax carriage

 

Thanks rapid reply - I will pass on

 

Hi scott,

I bought one of these (there are two companies that supply them on ebay, pretty sure I bought from this one)


1975 Ferrari 308 Manual Steering Rack Parts from Buy Auto Parts

I am getting ready to fit it, it looks to be the right size etc but one wont know until I try to fit it. I have the later mounting clamps and they fit fine. It looks well put together to the eye, and is brand new. Time will tell how it lasts but it has to be better than the 38 year old rack in my car now. From what I have read the oem steering rack was a marginal choice for the some of the cars that used it (Pantera, 308..) so in my mind it's not like a am pulling out a jewel and replacing it with a potato or performing a sacreligious act going this route:

My reasons for buying not rebuilding:

Originally wanted someone else to fit it and I didnt want to have my car sitting and blocking shop space while the rack gets sent away to get rebuilt (everyone knows how that 7 days turnaround becomes 3 months), and I didnt really want to send my rack away and get someone elses rack rebuilt. This way the old rack could come out, the new one is ready to go in, all going well. I keep the old one - winter project? backstop?

rebuilding myself: I didnt think I had the tools/skill/patience to rebuild it myself. Not yet at least. I didnt find an obvious source for the rebuild kits either.

it is brand new, and yet cheaper than a rebuild (result of chinese mass production and labour cost no doubt). Just because its cheaper doesnt mean its crap. It may be crap, but I dont there is much correlation between that and the cost of getting one rebuilt.
++

I am not recommending you buy one of these racks, but it is an option. Jury is still out if they are any good, but you can try and still have your original rack.

I am actually surprised that there isnt simple aftermarket conversion to put a better rack in these cars, if its true that the OEM was marginal/of not the highest quality.

 

Please post your thoughts of the rack once it's installed.

 

I certainly will, however I am replacing all bushes and ball joints at the same time so the car wont have to try hard to feel better. It will be interesting to see if the actual rack fits well though. Will report back.

 

jH355 here on Fchat rebuilt mine. I am not sure if he still provides this service or not. Worth checking out.

 

Guys who can rebuild a 328 steering rack?

Thank you.

 

Ditto - I think mine needs doing and no one seems to do replacements for the 328. A rebuild kit would be perfect as shipping racks around the world from where I am starts getting expensive.

Cheers

Mark

 

I have found a shop that does the 328 equivalent racks and the rebuild is $250, while the new one is $375. I am assuming that the new one with no core charge is aftermarket...

Can somebody tell me differences between OEM and aftermarket?

Also -- I was told that the rebuilding process modifies the rack and introduces new, more reliable tie rod ends; does this sound right (i.e. instead of going with the Ferrari OEM tie rod ends).

 

Can you give me the details of the shop you mention? The new price you mention seems very reasonable (if it fits)

Cheers

Mark

 

Sent you a PM...

 

I would like the details on the rebuild or new rack as well.

Thanks,

Eric

 

Friends,

I rebuilt mine myself and it was so easy, it only has about 25 parts. The hardest part on mine was getting in in and out of the GT4. QV's have an access hole under the tire not sure regular 308 GTB/S does.

All you need to do this are a few simple tools and some basic instructions.

These are the EXACT same as on a Pantera. They were made by Cam Gear in the UK and are NLA. After some much needed help from some friends who have done many of these it is a very simple job. I also replaced the new original bushing with a bronze one from:

Suspension & Chassis 1045 Rack Bushing

The picture here is not what it looked like and I bought several of these from different sources, so I could experiment a bit, but this place had the one that fit the best! The consensus was the plastic one wears out in about 10K miles and the bronze one wears out at about 40-50K. I know on you tube some guy takes out a regular 308 rack in 5 minutes but on the GT4 it is more like 5 days. There are two round headed allen bolts that no tool I could find would remove them as they are inside the frame and ended up carefully removing each one slowly.

The tools are:

JH Williams O-471-3/4 to 2-Inch Adjustable Pin Spanner Wrench,

JH Williams O-471-3/4 to 2-Inch Adjustable Pin Spanner Wrench - Amazon.com

a Armstrong 34-305 1-1/4-3-Inch Adjustable Hook Spanner Wrench,

Armstrong 34-305 1-1/4-3-Inch Adjustable Hook Spanner Wrench - Amazon.com

I used CRC SL3331 Extreme Pressure Engine Assembly Lube, 10 Wt Oz,

Amazon.com: CRC SL3331 Extreme Pressure Engine Assembly Lube, 10 Wt Oz: Automotive

Here are a few websites that I used one from an old friend and fellow fchater who really helped me out, and the other from a Pantera expert who has done many rebuilds:

Steering - Ferrari - a set on Flickr

Pantera Steering Rack

I opted for the newer style GT4 rack mounts and I sure wish I knew then what I know now. I would have kept the old style mounts, as both were a pain to get in or out.

A few tips; The bushing once driven in gets a bit tighter so I had to remove it and very carefully hone the inside of the bushing with a very small brake hone to get it just right. I bought a few bushings because I knew this would happen. I ended up selling the unused ones on ebay. There is a jam nut style locking collar that once the tie rod is lubed and adjusted is peened down on both sides, this is critical and not forgiving and there are no extra part available so you just have one shot at this. It took quite a few ground down punches to get the locking collar un-peened. I also scotch brited the rack shaft. I kept my original outer tie rods they felt fine, just cleaned them out real good then filled them with grease. I had an extra set of outer tie rods that were new so I just switched the boots of them. The other boots are on ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FERRARI-STEERING-RACK-BOOTS-208-246-DINO-308-328-512-/230953393987?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35c5e51f43&vxp=mtr

and this is about what I paid for 1 bushing! HA

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FERRARI-STEERING-RACK-AIR-CON-BRACKET-BUSH-x-4-/230450610068?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35a7ed3f94&vxp=mtr

Anyway all the instruction are above and its not hard to do. You have to read them several times!

If anyone needs any help I would be more than happy to add more tips especially on what not to do…..

Rob
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Concerning the outer end bushing. The write up shows one on the opposite end of the rack from the pinion. Is there one on the pinion side of the rack? What holds in the lube/oil on the outer end on the pinion side?

 

No, there is only one on the passenger side.

The rebuild is an easy process. The only somewhat uncommon tool is the pin spanner. I followed the instructions from the Pantera site. After the rebuild the steering felt much smoother.

The removal and installation of the rack was easier than I was led to believe. At least on a '79 you can slide it out the driver's side wheel well.

One note, you may want to replace the rubber bushings on the mounting brackets with either new rubber ones or a nylon one as others have. There are lots of posts on this. Surprisingly mine were in excellent condition and I reused them.

 

Just incidentally,

I had play in the steering which led me to think I needed to replace the rack. It turned out to be a loose connection between the steering column and the rack. Once tightened was perfect.

I only discovered this when doing another job on my 1983 euro QV which required me to remove the spare wheel binnacle. I could then see and feel the connection to the steering rack.

Just hoping to save someone the expense of making the same mistake as me as I had bought a new rack in anticipation.

Cheers

 

Pulled the right tire off. Peeled the boot back. Inner tie rod end is perfect. Rack end wiggles indusevthe housing so thinking the bushing is in need of replacement.

 

Friends,

All you need to do this is read the linked instruction in my post #20.

Rob