steering rack replacement

[jon@127]

Can someone please enlighten me as the the degree of difficulty involved in replacing the rack on a 350. I have done the job on my 280 and although fiddly it was possible without removing any other parts. With the 350 engine being bigger does this make the job more difficult and does it mean anyhting has to come out before the rack can be removed/replaced.
Thanks
Jon

[wedg1e]

Not that I know of. Disconnect the column (which will probably mean cracking upper and lower joints anyway), pop the track rod ends off, four bolts and away you go. The PAS rack is slightly more involved because of all those pipes and things...

[l33]

While your at it, a PAS conversion is well worth the little extra grief.
It might cost a little more but transforms the driving experience of the wedge AND you will be able to parallel park afterwards, regardless if you work out or not...

[350zwelgje]

Done my manual one, nothing was in the way. Not to difficult as said before, although disconnecting the steering column can be the most time consuming one (just be persistent....), and don't damage the u-joints as they are difficult to get (not made for many years, and people get old one's overhauled).

Rob

[jchase]

Hmmm, not so easy to upgrade to PAS. You need a shorter intermediate shaft, and unless you get the Ford rack the mountings need to be changed. The Ford rack also fouls the PAS pump pulley, so some people have had to make a smaller pulley, which can't be good for the pump at 6,000rpm! Or you can try locating the PAS pump high up, with the special TVR bracket, or even put in a electric PAS pump - but the LandRover high up PAS pump won't fit the SD1 style front cover as the Crank pulley is different. The SD1 rack has different mounts, and the inner tie rod arms need to be swapped for the Ford ones, so you can fit the Ford tie rods to fit the Ford stub axles. Also, you need to be sure the chassis has the bent tube to allow the PAS rack control valve tower to fit. So, not so easy.

To replace the manual rack:
1) Loosen roll bar mounts at the lower suspension arms
2) jack up car
3) Push roll bar out of way, by rotating on brackets.
3) remove rack - Four big bolts on chassis, and one M8 on the lower UJ.

To reinstall, it is far easier to remove the steering wheel, and align it after you put the UJ on, or you'll be there trying a dozen times.
I've done it in under an hour, but allow three or four if it's your first attempt.

Regards, Jim