Steering rack difference

[Dingo]

Howdy

Need to replace Rack in a October 2001 XR6 with VCT - Have a rack out of AU Fairmont with VCT - But Ford saying they are not the same............

AU XR6 with VCT and AU FAIRMONT with I6 VCT have different Steering racks listed on Fords parts catalogue, i would have thort they would be the same.....

Does anybody know what the differences are please.

thanx Dingo

[mcfly94]

I looked into it but every rack supplier assured me they're identical and differences ended when the El model ceased. (Speed sensitive and the Gt)

[NCII40]

I was told to heat shield where the extractors and rack boots meet,
Can extend the life of the rack and boots

Any thoughts?

[mcfly94]

Originally Posted by NCII40

I was told to heat shield where the extractors and rack boots meet,
Can extend the life of the rack and boots

Any thoughts?

Never known anyone to have issues with cooking boots or heating up the fluid (and inadvertently damaging the rack) like vt-vz v8's.

The extractor design on all au v8 headers ive seen is suffice (hurraciane, pacemaker and difilippo)

[mik]

Originally Posted by mcfly94

Never known anyone to have issues with cooking boots or heating up the fluid (and inadvertently damaging the rack) like vt-vz v8's.

The extractor design on all au v8 headers ive seen is suffice (hurraciane, pacemaker and difilippo)

I dont know about the 8`s , but on the 6 cylinder models depending on the extractor type , they can come a bit close to the rack , mine does anyway .
the rack on the Au`s seems pretty solid , the only weak spot imo is the o ring seal at one end of the rack where they usually leak from eventually , and usually results in the whole good working rack being swapped much earlier than need be .
I think ford could have done a little better than a 50 cent o ring to the job , but it is what it is .

[Bill M]

Interesting question. I did a quick search and found some references in the this post, https://fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11206665
.

From member "The Mighty Red"

Lift the bonnet of your car, look down to wear your steering column meets the steering rack , looking straight back at you will be a valve attached to the rack , if there is only one valve then it is a standard rack, If it has two valves then it is a speed sensitive rack....