Later power steering rack
Discussion
Hi Guys and Girls.
Ok im going to put this one to bed for ever i hope, The SUPRA power steering rack was made by a company called Supra Engineering and has nothing to do with Toyota at all. I know this for a 100% fact as i have talked to a chap who used to work there and assemble them for TVR. The racks are totally different to any other rack the biggest and most obvious difference is that the whole casing is made of aluminium. The most common problem with them is that the stops on each end tend to wear into an oval shape, these can be taken out and replaced with phosphorous bronze ones.
The biggest problem however is because they are not made any more some company's ( No names mentioned )will charge you the earth because "Its a TVR part sir" and sucking hard through teeth "Very difficult to work on you know" (Eyeing up your wallet). We have all been there, as soon as you say the letters TVR the pound signs start rolling in there eyes. I suppose the only answer is to do as much as possible yourself and with a bit of luck find a few decent people to help you along the way.
Ok im going to put this one to bed for ever i hope, The SUPRA power steering rack was made by a company called Supra Engineering and has nothing to do with Toyota at all. I know this for a 100% fact as i have talked to a chap who used to work there and assemble them for TVR. The racks are totally different to any other rack the biggest and most obvious difference is that the whole casing is made of aluminium. The most common problem with them is that the stops on each end tend to wear into an oval shape, these can be taken out and replaced with phosphorous bronze ones.
The biggest problem however is because they are not made any more some company's ( No names mentioned )will charge you the earth because "Its a TVR part sir" and sucking hard through teeth "Very difficult to work on you know" (Eyeing up your wallet). We have all been there, as soon as you say the letters TVR the pound signs start rolling in there eyes. I suppose the only answer is to do as much as possible yourself and with a bit of luck find a few decent people to help you along the way.
At the end of the day a worn bit of metal is an engineering repair job. Find someone with a mill to bore out and fit sleeves back to original size, job done. OK it'll cost money but as soon as you leave the motor trade out and talk about what is a simple maintenance task for a toolroom, the job can often be measured in beers 
adam quantrill said:
Has anyone with a duff Supra rack tried fitting an SDi rack in there instead? If we can get some interchangability established then maybe we can get our racks replaced or serviced with less £££ lining their pockets.
My '88 390's got the ford cortina PAS rack, and i know they're rare too ,but i've seen a few classic spares places advertising rebuilt racks. could a supra rack be swapped for one of these??I have had a long running problem with my rack, where there are no leaks or untoward noises but the power steering is lighter in one direction than the other. After eliminating the pump and steering/suspension joints we came to the conclusion that it has to be the rack. Consequently, I have been researching into replacing or rebuilding the rack. The most practical solution seems to be rebuilding the existing one, but it's a bit pricey. The cheapest I can find so far is close to 400. That's for the whole job of removal, fix and fit. There is some doubt in my mind as it could be the rack set up causing the problem as the power steering sometimes returns to normal function at certain times when the camber of the road changes. Hence the search and investigating goes on until I solve the problem, within the easiest and the cheapest option.
Tony. TCB.
Tony. TCB.
Wedg1e said:
At the end of the day a worn bit of metal is an engineering repair job. Find someone with a mill to bore out and fit sleeves back to original size, job done. OK it'll cost money but as soon as you leave the motor trade out and talk about what is a simple maintenance task for a toolroom, the job can often be measured in beers
..Shame we dont know anyone like that...
..We need somebody who knows what they are doing...Someone who has the capability and someone who wont rip us off.......MMmmm..Now let me think...There was this guy who turned a lovely set of alloy indicators for me a while back but i cant remember his name........Liam...No......Austin....Nah....Stan....Nope.....I think it might of been brIAN....
looks to me like Tony has already found somewhere. £400 to take out and fix and then put back in is not a bad price at all i know of a couple of guys who have paid twice that just to get the rack reconditioned. It is quite a time consuming job to get one out and in again.
Tony could you put up a link for me or send me an email with info please.
Thanks guys
Glen
Tony could you put up a link for me or send me an email with info please.
Thanks guys
Glen
£400 squid seems expensive.
Barnet TVR sent mine to these guys in Brum who it seems have an excellent reputation: http://www.steering-racks.co.uk/
Turnaround time was fairly quick and cost was I think £175.00.
I had a Ford Cortina PS rack.
Sold it to a PH'er and now implementing rebuild non-PS rack with adjustable Corsa leccy PS.
Phil
420 SEAC
Barnet TVR sent mine to these guys in Brum who it seems have an excellent reputation: http://www.steering-racks.co.uk/
Turnaround time was fairly quick and cost was I think £175.00.
I had a Ford Cortina PS rack.
Sold it to a PH'er and now implementing rebuild non-PS rack with adjustable Corsa leccy PS.
Phil
420 SEAC
Transmitter Man said:
£400 squid seems expensive.
Barnet TVR sent mine to these guys in Brum who it seems have an excellent reputation: http://www.steering-racks.co.uk/
Turnaround time was fairly quick and cost was I think £175.00.
I had a Ford Cortina PS rack.
Sold it to a PH'er and now implementing rebuild non-PS rack with adjustable Corsa leccy PS.
Phil
420 SEAC
£175 is not bad but you have to add removal and refit to that, and its a Cortina rack, its a whole different ball game with the Supra rack.
Barnet TVR sent mine to these guys in Brum who it seems have an excellent reputation: http://www.steering-racks.co.uk/
Turnaround time was fairly quick and cost was I think £175.00.
I had a Ford Cortina PS rack.
Sold it to a PH'er and now implementing rebuild non-PS rack with adjustable Corsa leccy PS.
Phil
420 SEAC
£175 is not bad but you have to add removal and refit to that, and its a Cortina rack, its a whole different ball game with the Supra rack.
The guys that have given me this price as an estimate are a couple of old time motor engineers that work on classic cars just down the road from me. I have been going to them since TVR Barnet have shut down and moved from Barnet. They have done quite a lot of work for me on my 400SE, including rebuilding the front suspension and I have been very pleased every time. They are not the cheapest but they are not expensive either. Above all they have been very honest with me, and that is something I value immensely when it comes to motor mechanics. After examining my steering thoroughly, they told me that the removal of the rack, sending away for a rebuild and refitting would take about a week. They would keep my car inside the garage, off the road and the whole thing would be around 400 pounds depending on the time spent. From previous work I have had done with them, their estimates are fairly accurate. Because I spent a lot of money on my car already I told them that I would be back to have the rack sorted out at a later date. That was a couple of months ago, but I must have it sorted, unless I find a better offer in the mean time. I don't know if I am allowed to give info of workshops on this forum but I can pm anyone who needs their contact No.
Tony. TCB.
Tony. TCB.
Transmitter Man said:
Tony,
Whereabouts in London are you?
As noted above I too used to use Barnet TVR. I spent tons of money with them to get the car roadworthy and through my first MOT after first buying my car.
Good quality work.
Phil
I am in North London, Barnet, Southgate borders. If you want I can pm you these guys details. They repair all classic cars. Whereabouts in London are you?
As noted above I too used to use Barnet TVR. I spent tons of money with them to get the car roadworthy and through my first MOT after first buying my car.
Good quality work.
Phil
Tony. TCB.
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