I am based in the UK. My 1995 LHD Ferrari 456GT has play in the steering rack. I was advised to replace it. 1. Does anyone know of a used left-hand drive 456 steering rack for sale? 2. Is it possible to refurbish this steering rack with play on both sides? If so, does anyone have any recommendations or experience of this?
I bought a refurb for my car from AWitalian; so far so good? Note there are technically 3 different versions: early 456GT, 456M, and 550/575. The latter is by far the best/tightest however the pipe arrangement is slightly different in terms of the connectors between the models. I do not know if you can swap GT racks with M or 550/575 racks as I never fully researched it. Before you go crazy and change the rack double check your tie rods and bushings/ball joints are all ok...
My steering rack (575) had loads of play. I left the rack in place and removed the inner tie rods which were well worn. I replaced them with this aftermarket part. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/303949192425?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=705-154756-20017-0&ssspo=qpisd29jRHW&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=JEOODXOwS56&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Did you replace the ball joint too or were you able to get the inner unscrewed with the steering joint in place?
fairly certain the tie rod ends for the 550 use the same part as a Mitsubishi, from memory it cost $20 , 10 years ago
I did replace the inner tie rod on one side 6 months ago. I found (from this forum) that Saab parts would fit. The Saab part needed the adjustment thread extending by 1 inch, but this was fairly easy to arrange. I will get under the car to look for play in the inner tie rods before spending any money.
I replaced the outer tie rods as well, they came off first and then I could get to the inner (steering) rod. Here’s another pic of the inner rod in place showing the wear. Image Unavailable, Please Login
I've heard back from the steering rack refurb place that my rack teeth are corroded and worn. It can't be refurbed. The company is suggesting a used 575 rack "which is identical except for the ratio". They said that it will fit straight into the existing fixings.
550/575 rack is a big upgrade. I swapped mine for on the 456m for that very reason. I could have swore there was something slightly different about the GT rack.
I should clarify the previous statement… Something different beyond the steering ratio change in terms of hoses. Turns-to-lock: 550 2.2 v 456 2.5-2.6 (GT v M) PN: 174950 456m v 170858 550/575 PN: 161872/15500 456GT
So I bought a used but refurbished 575 rack. From the parts diagrams it looks like there is a hose that I’ll need to change to get the 575 rack to work on my 456 GT for the 456 I already have: 157350 PIPE FROM PUMP TO STEERING BOX to make the 575 rack work I’ll need: 170860 PIPE FROM PUMP TO STEERING BOX I might need a different union too. Has anyone done this? Or can anyone confirm that my thinking is correct?
So the 575 steering rack arrives later this week. I'm told that it will fit without any modifications. I will keep you posted if this is reality!
You will likely have the most agile 456/456M out there. FHP and MSW hydraulic steering ECUs would be in play for a 456M, not sure the connector is compatible with the 456 GT.
I had a rack off a 550 I owned and just had the rack rebuilt. No big deal! The hardest part is getting it out of the car.
There is a union difference on the GT from memory. I only did a swap on an M… there it was just a matter of swapping over the lines and it was a direct fit otherwise
Been running just that on my 456m for a year. to make the most of the springs though you really need to swap to 550 shocks front and revalved shocks in the rear
OK. The ferrari 575 steering rack has been fitted today. The 456 banjo and union bolt fitted without any adjustment, literally plug and play. The 575 rack fits onto the same fixings but is apparently "more central" than the 456 rack, so the mechanic made adjustments to the tie rods to adjust. I just had the wheels aligned and I'm looking forward to the chance to try it in earnest. The 575 rack was sourced and refurbished by the steering rack refurbishment place for £1,100 delivered. The fitting was £150 and 4 wheel laser alignment was £186, so the whole process cost less than £1500. Eurospares charge £4500 for a replacement 456 steering rack. So I get a faster rack and save £3000!
The 575 rack feels more agile and sporty than the 456 rack. It might be a little heavier at low speeds (a good thing), and it feels more 'modern' than the previous rack. I drove my FF later the same day and the 575 rack felt more like the FF's steering, without being overlight, like some modern ferraris. I am happy! Now I need to understand if I have an air leak causing the emissions to change (see my other thread).
I had the same feeling when I swapped mine. Definitely tighter and better weighted. It had much more impact then changing the steering controller but at several multiples of the price, whether its worth it or not is definitely subjective (I thought so).
