355 Ferrari F355 Challenge Steering rack

Yes it's out of the car, again...

 

Interesting, I will check them out. Thank you

 

@yelcab in Norcal would be the man to rebuild it.

 

Do you know what the problem was with the Volvo kit?

Volvo kits were recommended on FChat

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/posts/146256631/

 

The Volvo kit repaired my Fiorano rack. Is the challenge rack the same?

 

Yes. Exact same.

 

If you no longer want to deal with the headache, I’ll gladly give you $6k for it as is .

 

This is where I will go too when the time comes. Dale and Eric at GP Autoworks are awesome.

 

Lol, thanks for the offer but definitely not getting rid of it for this restoration

 

I'm rebuilding my standard rack now. I can only answer for myself, but here's the problem I've run into with the Volvo kit.
Seal 12014254B (Corteco part number) AKA 34002485 (TRW part number). The original I pulled out and destroyed in the process is a double-wiper radial shaft seal. The one supplied in the kit is a single-wiper and very delicate. If I do end up using the seal supplied in the kit, I'll have to make a tool to press it in, because where it seats in the bore is thin and it lacks the broad lip to press on. I'll have to press it in without damaging the wiper spring or whatever that things called.

I bought a few Corteco 12014254B seals off ebay from a vendor in Lithuania. Correct dimensions in their listing. They showed up in Corteco bags with that part number on them, but they're totally different seals - no shared dimensions, some weird big metal flange built in. Some other places say they have these seals, but shipping is $60 for a $3 part..

It looks like this seal just keeps grease from migrating up the input shaft, and since this one is for my personal car I was just going to give this single wiper seal a shot..


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I assume you are restoring a challenge car? If so, maybe a trade is in store? I have a ton of challenge parts.

 

Yes, I'm doing a complete restoration on my 1997 Challenge. I have most of everything I need, however, there are always a few parts here and there that always rear their head up. I'll shoot you a DM

 

I believe I forgot to post a pic of my RHD challenge steering rack #176037. Perhaps, 2x as unobtanium as 176036.


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Well here we go, the last piece of the puzzle for the mechanical restoration of my challenge
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Can we can a good pic of the rack?

 

Get rid of the power steering pump.
insert a 348 rack.

But here, you are going to fight the caster specification (around 7º for F355 and around 5º for 348) which may make the unassisted rack heavy, but because of the top speed advantage of the F355 over 348 you may find a high speed instability with this little caster.

Alternate plan:
Get rid of power steering pump (or connect output to input.)
connect PS inputs to the F355 rack to each other to simply recirculate fluid.

 

The problem with the 355 rack isn't the assist, it's the ratio.

 

Another option could be fitting one of those reducer boxes into the steering column linkage, and keeping the PAS

 

My Challenge rack (2.75 ratio) underwent this alternate plan. If one derives a lot of driving enjoyment out of a very communicative steering car, I would highly recommend.

Another thing I’ve done in a different car is a 997 GT3 Cup race car ps (electric pump-assisted hydraulic) with a custom on/off switch (hydraulic to manual). GT3 Cup ps is one of the best hydraulic ps I’ve experienced. Yet if I want the manual steering feedback, I can switch off the ps.

 

In my experience you don't get manual feedback on hydraulic rack with the pump disconnected. You get "oh my god I'm pushing around a bunch of hydraulic fluid with my arms" feedback.

 

993 owner here. I put a 340mm momo steering wheel in my F355. While not as good as the 993 steering, it's close enough. There's no way I'd convert to a manual rack on a F355.

 

340mm is the perfect size for the F355, IMO.