308 steering rack replacement - did a search already.

changing the steering rack is about the largest most painful job that there is on a 308
step 1) make sure your local blood bank has a good supply on hand of your type--the cuts and skinned knuckles are going to cost you a pint or so.

removal of wheels, brake rotors, AND complete lower front valence pannel will help. You also having 4 hands will help. make sure the bank has enough blood for your helper too.

MAKE SURE YOU CHANGE OUT THE MOUNTING BUSHINGS AT SAME TIME

 

The rubber bushing Charles is referring to are Red/Orange and they are on the brackets that hold the rack to the frame. You will need 8 of them. Yes, change your tie rod ends too. It will need an alignment after that unless you get it just right. I spent a lot of time aligning my toe in with a square. It worked but it is still best to take it to a good shop and at least have them check the alignment.
I removed my rack without too much effort. It was one of my first projects. Pull it out the driver's side. I removed the wheels and the lower inspection plate and that was it to get to all of the bolts. You will get scratched though unless you wear gloves.
Pic of the bushings.
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Here is a pic of my rack removed. It had never been serviced before.
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They aren't orange unless they've already been changed out to urethane bushings (which is a good idea -- I just did it, see the post here for info and pics). The oem are black rubber.

 

That is false. OEM is not black. In my pic those are orange/red OEM bushings. (hard to tell in the pic as they look black from all of the years of dirt/grease) My replacement bushings which came from the dealer were red/orange not black. I have done 3 racks and all 3 were red/orange. Also these are in red/orange are made of rubber.

Sounds like you are good to go. Just r and r it.

 

Orange is is---unless you have had some oil leaking on them--then it is a pink gue.

 

Same on my 328....had them replaced when I had a new oem rack installed.

 

Matteo US$650(AUD$870)seems a bit expensive.My Fmech told me it would cost me aboutAUD$700(US$525)to remove,recondition,refit and align.That didnt include the tie rods though but I thought parts in the US were cheaper than here Down Under.I probably will remove and refit myself and just bring it to him for reconditioning.About AUD$350-400(US$260-300)BY the way has anyone pulled the rack out of a GT4.Is it he same as GTB?S.On visual inspection it didn't seem to hard .Famous last words

 

Dont bother reco the rack, buy a new one from Superformance in the UK for 205 or 325 Pounds depending on the one you choose & keep or sell the old one.
The Ferrari 308 rack is a UK made Cam gears rack used in Cortina's of the early 70's, it's cheap to reco, just don't tell anyone it's of a Ferrari.
It's a pain to r&r the rack due to limited access, change the bushes that hold the rack at the same time

Michael

 

If this is true, it's new information for the site. There have been several threads hypothesizing on equivalent racks on other cars (Mini Coopers ?)

Heck, which Ford Cortina is it? I'll go and buy half a dozen

 

Well at 325 pounds for a std rack or 205 pounds for a fast 2.5 turn rack you are already paying Cortina prices, so your'e not going to do much better.
Don't know the model of Cortina, but Mike Elliot at Superformance would be the person to ask.

Michael

 

Maybe I'm wrong, but the picture on the SuperPerformance web site only shows the actual shaft and gear (and boots and tie rod ends). Unless the picture is wrong this doesn't include the housing which is usually the part that needs to be rebuilt. If not GBP 205 is a pretty good price for a whole rack!
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You are correct 205 Pounds is for the rack & pinion only. not the housing.
Its 325 pounds for the complete unit, including tie rod ends.
The main problem is usually a bent rack, as they are thin and the housing is only bushed at one side so there is not much support
Michael

 

I was told the Mini's use the same rack but the gearing is different.

I wouldn't go with a quick ratio for around town. The steering is stiff enough as it is.

 

I heard this from a Ferrari trained mechanic that covets the 308. I think the reference he made was to the rack itself and it's internals. I'm sure the tie rods would have to be different...............................

 

I ordered the quick 2.5-turn LHD steering rack, should be here today or tomorrow...

Hopefully it won't be to much heavier than the stock steering.

The slow-geared steering on the 308 has always been my main complaint of the car.

Watch this space for dumb install questions!

Greg
77 308 GTB USA

 

OK, well, the 2.5 turn LHD rack arrived.

Just the inner rack, and the pinion gear... 2 pieces.

As I get closer to installation I'll post progress/questions here.

Greg