steering rack - problems

[Mikemgs]

Update for anyone interested

Spoke to a couple of really helpful people today - Mark at Volvo SAAB in Nottingham, spent a good 30 minutes on the phone with me trying to help, gave me alternative part numbers to try and locate a rack, also actually looked around himself but we didn't find anything.
He recommended me to a guy called Mike (good name) at power racks direct. I called him and we went through everything as earlier in my post and he was certain that he had a rack on the shelf that would fit, told me it should be 1100mm long and to ask my mechanic to measure the rack that was too long and send pics. I did this, and the rack we have is around 1093 long from end to end with the ties rods on and this was too long for my car, so all in all, the rack Mike has on the shelf cannot possibly fit either.

Everyone is now stumped. Mike at power racks said there's two lengths. 1100mm and 1115mm so how the shorter 1100mm one we have is too long is impossible.

I've asked the mechanic to put the very first recon rack back on and do what he can to make it work.


Seems like my car is the only one in the universe with the rack that was first on it.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KeR...ew?usp=sharing

[chunky2778]

Can't you contact the suppliers he sent the rack back to and see if they still have your old rack? It might just be sat in a box somewhere waiting to be refurbed?

Is it worth finding out if the rack bodies are the same width and you could just fit genuine/correct length track rods and ends?

Why is your mechanic fitting parts and sending old ones off before it's even been checked it's the right one?

[Mikemgs]

[QUOTE=chunky2778;2791131]Can't you contact the suppliers he sent the rack back to and see if they still have your old rack? It might just be sat in a box somewhere waiting to be refurbed?

Is it worth finding out if the rack bodies are the same width and you could just fit genuine/correct length track rods and ends?

Why is your mechanic fitting parts and sending old ones off before it's even been checked it's the right one?[/QUOTE

1: - tried to contact the rack people they said it was gone. No chance of getting it back - this was about 2 months ago

2: tried everything rack wise - everyone says the inner and outer tie rods are the same across all racks

3: Was a collection on delivery. The courier that dropped of the new rack had to collect the old rack at the same time

[JunKie]

Sorry I can't help you but I also had a nightmare with recon racks from Lion. Seems they did little more than paint them black, there was still rust inside and the valve drive pin was dangerous, with the car wandering all over the road. Had two from them before I gave up and sent one to Kiley Clinton in Birmingham, got it back in 3 days and all my problems are fixed, wish I'd gone with them to start with but they didn't have one in stock for a quick swap over....

[chunky2778]

Just seen there's a sticky at the top of this page about wheels rubbing the inner wing.

Looks like it's a common problem and wondered if you'd seen it?

I saw that you said earlier in the thread the rack seemed too short and the wheels were rubbing inner wing, seems someone fixed it with 5mm wheel spacers?

[MrJames]

[QUOTE=Mikemgs;2791674]

Originally Posted by chunky2778

Can't you contact the suppliers he sent the rack back to and see if they still have your old rack? It might just be sat in a box somewhere waiting to be refurbed?

Is it worth finding out if the rack bodies are the same width and you could just fit genuine/correct length track rods and ends?

Why is your mechanic fitting parts and sending old ones off before it's even been checked it's the right one?[/QUOTE

1: - tried to contact the rack people they said it was gone. No chance of getting it back - this was about 2 months ago

2: tried everything rack wise - everyone says the inner and outer tie rods are the same across all racks

3: Was a collection on delivery. The courier that dropped of the new rack had to collect the old rack at the same time

It sounds like you're in a similar situation to me when I had issues with the C70, you need to push for the rack supplier to sort this, they either need to return your rack and refund you or they need to supply a rack that fits the car if they can't supply a refurb THEY need to go and speak to Volvo about a rack from them and pickup the bill and learn to keep track of core returns until the return period is over.

[CricketyJimin]

2: tried everything rack wise - everyone says the inner and outer tie rods are the same across all racks

IIRC the outer is indeed the same for SMI vs ZF, but the inner is not. Push fit is ZF isn't it?

[AdamPJH]

Did you mangage to get to the bottom of this?

I recently picked up my first volvo, a 2005 2.4 v70 SE. The thing is imaculate apart from the steering. Im changing the pump this weekend and fluid as i hope this will fix it. But im concerned it may be the rack (the steering wheel goes light and heavy/twitchy when turning at all speeds); so i've tried to find a replacement rack but it seems like a mine field....

[abdiel]

Originally Posted by AdamPJH

Did you mangage to get to the bottom of this?

I recently picked up my first volvo, a 2005 2.4 v70 SE. The thing is imaculate apart from the steering. Im changing the pump this weekend and fluid as i hope this will fix it. But im concerned it may be the rack (the steering wheel goes light and heavy/twitchy when turning at all speeds); so i've tried to find a replacement rack but it seems like a mine field....

Just get yours refurbished if it proves to be causing your steering problems.
I believe the turnaround time is very short?

[BathFS60]

I'm having same problem with my S60. Mechanic trying to get a quote to do clutch, flywheel and rack. Can he get price for the rack? Nope, only from volvo and they aren't very forthcoming with part numbers and specs! I feel your pain!