how to ID steering rack

[haroldburbank]

i am disappointed in all web sources and the haynes manual discussion of how to ID and replace a '92 240 steering rack. my beefs: 1) vovlo does not have a site telling where to find the 'build sticker' in a '92 240 wagon that supposedly IDs the rack in each car. 2) there are 2 non-ZF racks, 'cam' and TRW' respectively. both are names of corps that built this style rack over time. 3) there has been only 1 ZF rack builder. 4) thus 3 power steering racks - cam, TRW and ZF - fit the car. 5) there are at least 2 manual power racks that fit the car. 6) thus 5 racks total fit the car. 7) cam, TRW and ZF racks were put into '92 240 wagons so it is imperative to know which you have for parts, repairs or replacement. 8 ) cam and TRW racks come with both banjo and pipe fittings to the power steering pump hoses. 9) all ZF racks come with banjo fittings. 10) no parts supplier or volvo site explains all of these differences in a clear, comprehensive manner. 11) thus you thus must slog through blogs and dead reckon what you see on/pull from the car and hope you conclude correctly when making repairs. 12) the easiest (best?) way to tell between cam-TRW and ZF racks is the shape of the tie rod boots 13) volvo has not seen fit to label, stamp, or otherwise make obvious these differences to the uninitiated. 13) even the 'build sticker' is either hidden or never existed in these cars.

i had to stumble through many blogs for more than an hour, plus look at my rack, to figure this much out. what i have concluded so far is: 1) i have a cam rack with banjo bolts since a) the tie rod boots are very narrow on 1 end (facing the tire) and much wider facing the engine and b) if i had a ZF rack with banjo bolts, the tie rod boots would be somewhat large on each end. 3) i do not have a cam-TRW rack with pipe fittings since i clearly have banjo bolts to the steering fluid lines.

please advise if i am correct.

finally, why in hell did volvo allow for so many racks to be built for this simple car? why did they not put the 'build sticker' in an obvious place, if 1 exists? why did they not discuss these issues in the owners' manual?

all responses appreciate. thank you for your attention.