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

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

Discussion in '308/328' started by dave80gtsi, Aug 22, 2022.

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  1. dave80gtsi

    dave80gtsi Formula 3
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    Nov 3, 2003
    1,911
    Ohio
    Full Name:
    Dave Meredith
    Greetings to all!

    The steering rack of my 308 (with 60k miles) is showing some signs of looseness, and a rack rebuild would seem to be on my horizon. Appears to be a pretty common problem at this age / mileage, based upon a deep Search here, right?

    Doing some preliminary research, I see that Superformance UK sells complete rebuilt racks for under 400 pounds. That price does not seem too bad to me, and if I were to take my existing rack to a local rebuilder, I'd not be too surprised that their rebuilding costs would end up being relatively close to the Superformance cost as noted.

    So, my question to you all: For those of you who have already rebuilt your racks (either using a rebuilder or done as a DIY project), looking back, would you recommend a rebuild of the OEM, or else just a swap for a replacement?

    My initial hunch is that the cost and minor hassle of looking after the rebuilding of the original would mean that the Path Of Least Resistance might be to just chuck the OEM unit and swap it with the ready-to-go replacement.

    So, does anyone have some "Been There, Done That, I'd Do This Instead The Next Time" comments?

    Thanks - DM

    P.S.: Related, I see that Superformance offers an optional so-called 'Quick' rack. As long as I am at it, has anyone installed this and would recommend it (or not) over the OEM 'Slow' unit?
     
  2. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    36,896
    Cowboy Capitol of the World
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    Brian Crall
    Over many years and different rebuilders I have had near total dissatisfaction with rebuilt racks.

    Tired of wasting the time and money. Never again.
     
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  3. craze

    craze Formula 3
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    Mar 5, 2021
    1,162
    Melbourne
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    Michael
    I agree
    Always problems
     
  4. dave80gtsi

    dave80gtsi Formula 3
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    Nov 3, 2003
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    Wow, thanks to you both - you may have just helped me dodge a potential bullet!

    But, of course, this begs the next question: What now looks to be my best option? I can hardly believe that there would be any NOS OEM racks for sale today.

    Brian, what do you and your firm do for such a situation? Might you offer your own rebuild services, for example?

    Thanks to all - DM
     
  5. thorn

    thorn F1 Rookie
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    Aug 7, 2012
    3,324
    Tallahassee, FL
    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.
     
  6. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    36,896
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    Brian Crall
    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.
     
  7. GordonC

    GordonC F1 Rookie
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    Aug 28, 2005
    4,159
    Calgary, AB, Canada
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    Gordon
    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
     
  8. Portofino

    Portofino Formula Junior

    Sep 17, 2011
    779
    Yorkshire UK / Switzerland/ Antibes France
    Full Name:
    Portofino
    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 .
     
  9. dave80gtsi

    dave80gtsi Formula 3
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    Dave Meredith
    Ha! This sounds exactly like the same sort of situation which I can easily see me putting myself into!

    Thanks for your comments! - DM
     
  10. dave80gtsi

    dave80gtsi Formula 3
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    #10 dave80gtsi, Aug 23, 2022
    Last edited: Aug 23, 2022
    You know, upon further review, you may have made a very good point.

    I might have been guilty of jumping to a conclusion, based only upon the fact that these are 40 year old cars, and therefore (per my earlier thought process) there 'must be' no more NOS units left remaining. And that all racks being sold today are therefore going to be rebuilds of old worn used racks, right?

    However, since these racks are apparently not 308 unique, there could very well still be a large enough universal world market for them to justify their continued manufacture, most likely in China, as has been noted.

    Even so, the comparatively modest cost of a "new" rack from SF (and other vendors) makes me lean towards the idea of saving the labor required to attempt to rebuild my old worn unit.

    Thank you all for your thoughts and comments!

    DM
     
  11. maurice70

    maurice70 F1 Rookie

    Jan 25, 2004
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    maurice T
    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..
     
  12. steven_ew

    steven_ew Karting

    Apr 3, 2009
    107
    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
     
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  13. Stenley

    Stenley Karting

    Oct 20, 2020
    54
    Los Angeles
    Full Name:
    Scott Tenley
    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
     
  14. miked

    miked Formula Junior

    Feb 7, 2001
    893
    Cincinnati, Ohio
    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
     
  15. maurice70

    maurice70 F1 Rookie

    Jan 25, 2004
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    maurice T
    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..
     
  16. 4rePhill

    4rePhill F1 Veteran

    Oct 18, 2009
    8,247
    Worcester, England
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    Phill J
    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.
     
  17. dave80gtsi

    dave80gtsi Formula 3
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    Nov 3, 2003
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    Dave Meredith
    Huh! I had not realized that I had started this thread!

    But since I did, anyone who is interested in "the rest of the story" can see this related thread which discusses my experiences with the Superformance rack:

    ebay steering rack | Page 2 | FerrariChat
     

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