Power steering rack brand opinions and experiences, Feb 2022

[abscate]

Come on guys. Give us a rack that we can count on please. 8 hours of horrible labor to get these off and on. The labor is more than the part. I’m leaning to going Volvo for $1000 if I think the car has more than 5 years of life left

[br0dy519]

Just adding my 2 cents. RackDoctor is not friendly. I called him and simply asked him if he offered a particular service (just wanted the pinion seal done), and he started foaming out the mouth swearing at me. And I was being a stereotypical polite Canadian about things. I had heard horror stories about Detroit Axle. So I went to a place called United Power Steering in Michigan and got a rack for my 04 XC70. He was fantastic to deal with and runs an impressive little shop.

Some people might be good at their craft, but I can't hand money over to someone with a personality like Rack Dr. Even going through some of his facebook page you can see anyone that has an issue with his racks ends up getting lambasted by him. Definitely wouldn't be trusting of that lifetime warranty with such a brute at the helm.

[abscate]

Thanks for that post, Brody. Apologies for my countryman’s bad manners. The Creator frowns upon those who yell at

Link to United power Steering in Detroit

https://www.unitedpowersteering.com/about/

[SonicAdventure]

What is the best way to determine OE rack for my 850, is it by VIN or "product #" on the chassis tag? I'm looking at FCP's Maval SMI rack, but I'm not sure if I need an SMI or TRW rack. Either way, how does FCP handle its cores? Looks like the buyer is responsible for return shipping and I'm sure that ain't cheap.

I like the price of Detroit Axle's rack, do they offer SMI and TRW replacements or only one type?

[abscate]

You can use either one. They both mount the same. The thing that has to be matched are the rack and the inner tie rods, usually you buy the rack with these already ,arched and installed

If you buy the Detroit axle one, they give you a return shipping box and label all good to go.

If you can get it to Ambler I can probably get it to FCP on the “Milgram Train”

[SonicAdventure]

Regardless of rack choice (still up in the air), I'm going to outsource the labor on this to my local mechanic. Rack aside, do we have a good source for replacement suspension or rack-related bolts that need to be replaced with the rack replacement service?

At a minimum, abscate has pointed out a new bolt and nut for the steering coupler and new rack nuts. Do any of the racks come with these, if not where could I buy all of them at once?

[Chuck W]

The wife's '97 GLT needs a new rack. I gave United Power Steering a call and will probably send them the original TRW rack from her car (we swapped a used one in when we did the RN swap a while back).

Nice on the phone and $295 to rebuild our unit. (Not including shipping). They don't keep a stock of them on hand.

[SonicAdventure]

Has anyone here other than Abscate put a Detroit Axle rack in a p80 chassis car, specifically a 96-97 850? If so, what is your consensus? It sounds like the one in his '99 is holding up well, but his is an SMI and mine will need a TRW rebuilt rack.

[abscate]

Did you catch that you can use either one as long as you match tie rod ends?

More info here

viewtopic.php?t=75524

Check with your vendor what configuration your rack is; bare rack, rack with inner toe rods, rack with inner and outer tie rods.

Don’t get confused that TRW makes the outer tie rods for both TRW and SMI racks

[SonicAdventure]

Did you catch that you can use either one as long as you match tie rod ends?

More info here

viewtopic.php?t=75524

Check with your vendor what configuration your rack is; bare rack, rack with inner toe rods, rack with inner and outer tie rods.

Don’t get confused that TRW makes the outer tie rods for both TRW and SMI racks

Yes, thanks for pointing that out. I have a TRW rack in my car (round cap on the bottom of the valve as opposed to the hex cap).