Steering Rack: Rebuild of OEM vs. Replacement with Superformance?

Over many years and different rebuilders I have had near total dissatisfaction with rebuilt racks.

Tired of wasting the time and money. Never again.

 

I agree
Always problems

 

I did exactly this in July.

Pulled the rack out, bought the proper wrenches, disassembled the thing, found things that shouldn't be a problem ARE a problem... and said screw this. It's still sitting in pieces on the bench.

Bought a new superformance rack. It arrived 4-5 days after I ordered it, and the car was on the alignment rack by Saturday. Steers easier and straighter now than the day I bought the car.

Also, the rack I removed was a quick rack. I replaced it with a standard rack quite simply because I didn't want to deal with taking the new rack apart and converting it to a quick rack, and I wasn't even sure that the parts I already had were not bent.

I am not missing the quick rack. I have not found it to be a night and day difference to a stock rack, in terms of steering "turning speed." The difference in center-to-lock is only about 30-40°... I barely notice having a "slow" rack, and it's easier to turn it.

 

Google is your friend. Someone out there is still making them. They come at all different prices and I suspect if put side by side all are same origin.

 

Just looking at the Superformance web site, and I don’t see any mention that the steering racks they offer are rebuilt - I’d have assumed they are new?
Have you got additional information that indicates they are rebuilt units?

In terms of sourcing a new rack, I have read that the 308 and de Tomaso Pantera used the same identical rack, originally made by TRW. I’ve also read that the TRW rack was originally used in the Austin Mini, but you’d want to compare part numbers and photos pretty closely before trying to use a Mini rack

Gordon

 

I bought a new rack from someone in California for $200 .Std not quick .Had it shipped to the U.K. for fitting .Used SP for new bushes .It’s been fine . It’s probably from China , but then the SP one is as well .
I have the old one cleaned up but not dismantled, it’s was the bush furthest away from the pinion as expected .
Read all the DIY rebuild threads, but as mentioned the cost of the parts and the phaff removing grub screws , then shimming the box , new tie rods ends etc etc - going the whole hog for the sake of similar money dismissed that idea .

 

I replaced the rack in my 328 around 6 months ago with the Superformance rack and it has been the best thing I had done to my car,, Couldn’t believe the difference and can’t believe how long I lived with the existing rack.. Mine was the dreaded passenger side bush as well..

 

I've put the Superformance-supplied rack in two of mine. It's definitely a new rack, it is not a rebuilt old one. I've not done many miles with the second but don't know how many with the first - 20-30k miles probably, no problem

 

Maurice what do you mean by the dreaded passenger side bush?
I have an 89 gts and bought the rack from superperformance. Great experience. Arrived fast. All good. However, they have one size for pre 89 cars and one for post. I bought the post 89 (ie 130mm vs the 113mm for the pre 89 cars) and unfortunately there was some period of time where the post 89 cars were still using the pre 89 rack and my car has the luck of being one and now need the older rack. Unbelievable. Sending back to get the right one. Weather finally turned here in LA and she’s languishing in the shop.


Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat

 

The bushing inside the passenger side end of the R&P steering assembly wears out allowing the rack itself to flop around. As already mentioned earlier in this thread the Pantera uses the same R&P, a rebuild tutorial from a Pantera website can be seen at this link:
http://www.panteraplace.com/page203.htm

 

That was my worry and I have an 87"..
Thankfully the correct one came for me though..

In regards to the bush,,Mike explained it perfectly..

 

Post '89 would be a 348 rack

They sell 113cm racks for early cars ('85~'88), and 130 cm racks for '88~'89 cars : https://www.superformance.co.uk/328/steering.html

Your situation isn't that unbelievable.

During the mid '88 update of the 328 model, there would have been a few "early" cars that had their production delayed for various reasons, and weren't completed until late '88/early '89, because they would have re-geared their parts supply for the updated cars.

So if they needed a replacement part for an "early" car, chances are they had to wait to have one made especially, as there was no longer a supply of them on the shelf.

Where possible they may have mixed and matched pre-update and post-update parts, such as the doors, the seats etc., etc., making some cars more of a nightmare to order parts for, than most.