rack and pinion....

Ok I found that my bird was leaking power steering fluid like a stuck pig the other day. Ii is coming from the drivers side of the rack. My question is how long should it take to replace it, should I take it to a shop and spend the money to have it done professionaly, How can I tell if it is a ford rack or a TRW rack. Please I need help.
Thanks Guys.

I almost forgot, does anyone have a spare piece of molding, I need the passenger side front piece that is between the door and the tire, PS, I don't have side turn signals.

[This message has been edited by Matuszak88tc (edited 09-29-2001).]

Its easy to change the rack on a Bird I recommend doing it yourself and bringing it somewhere to have the front-end aliened when your done.

It only took me an hour or two, and I'm not the world's most efficient mechanic. The hard part was finding a rack with the right ratio. Most folks wanted to sell me the rack for the non-turbo Tbirds, which has a different ratio. Pep boys had the right rack, and after that, no real big problems.

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Mike Walsted
1986 5-speed TurboCoupe .

Yep, not a major job...I think you should do it youself too. Plus, if you run into any snags you have all of us to get free info from rather than paying the Ford Dealer a dime LOL !

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Dan Eaves
88TC 5spd, Crower 5.5" Sportsman Rods, Short Wiseco Pistons bored .030" Over, Ported Head with Polished Combustion Chambers, Gutted & Polished Upper, Ported & Polished Lower, Polished T/B, Ported E6, SVO T3 .63AR Turbo, 3" DP w/No Cat, 2 1/2" single cat back w/DynoMax Super Turbo Muffler, RR Cam, K&N in Fenderwell, Gillis Boost Valve, Centerforce I Clutch, Removed A/C, Polished Wheels, Polished Valve Cover, Polished Crank and W/P Pulleys, Walbro 255LPH HP Pump, Kirban Adj FPR, and the DAMN Heater Core is new too !

Thanks guys.

I agree... do it yourself. Here is a trick to get the alignment nearly right on: Carefuly count the # of turns to remove the ball joints from the old rack, and screw the joints on to the new rack exactly the same # of turns. Try to count to at least a 1/2 or 1/4 turn. While you are at it, get a set of poly rack bushings. Mustang ones fit perfect.

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Jeff Korn

88 Turbo Coupe: Intake and exhaust mods, T3 turbo at 20 psi, forced air intercooler, water injection, bypass valve, Ranger roller cam, subframes, etc., etc.. // 86 Tbird 5.0 (original owner): intake, exhaust, valvetrain mods, 100 HP nitrous, ignition, gears, suspension, etc., etc.... // 91 Escort: Bone stock winter car // 00 Windstar (wifes vehicle)