gunpowder

I need to have the steering rack on my Mondeo 2.0. Ive changed the pump but the steering is still intermitantly heavy so it must be the rack right?

Ford wanted £735 for a new one so thats out. There are some remanufactured ones on ebay for about £100 and various ones around the net for about 140. The garage wants about £200 to fit it. The garage told me that the remanufactured ones can be rubbish and wear out fast.
Does anyone know the best place to get one from please?
Thanks

percybigun

have you bled the pump, to do it just leave the PAS tank cap off, engine running, and turn the steering lock to lock a few times, and make sure there is enough fluid in.

have a look at the PAS cooler rad (in front of the rad, behind the bumper) to see if it is leaking.

if you need a new rack, i had a recon rack which failed after a few months (and i know of someone else who had it happen on two racks).

i now have another recon rack on which cost £120 but i cant remember the brand name, the garage who fitted it said they fit them regularly and have no probs with them.

the other option is get a 2nd hand rack from a low miler which is breaking, i got one off an st200 for £25 posted from a mondeo forum to keep for a spare!

gunpowder

OK thank you
I have bled the pump but its still the same.Whilst driving normally its not too bad but when im at a stop or going slow its very heavy and has just started making a groaning noise occasionally too.
I was considering trying some of that Lucas power steering stop leak stuff as it says it helps stiff racks. At £9 it may be worth a try i suppose.
I must admit i havent looked at the power steering rad yet.

I have seen on ebay some old stock geniune Ford racks that may be of use.

percybigun

careful if you get a second hand rack, one that i got was totally knackered and rotten with seized track rod ends so was no good (but didnt cost nowt), the other second hand one i got was fine.

i am not sure if mk1 racks fit a mk2 and vice versa, theoretically they should but the part numbers are different.

and there was 2 types of rack, one for 14" wheels, and one for 15" wheels and above (although i used 18" wheels on my old mk2 with the 14" rack and they were on for years with no probs caused to the rack)

the difference from 14" to 15" racks is probably more to do with the turning circle.

the st200 supposedly had a different rack, and st200 steering does feel nicer than normal mondeo's steering but they have the same part number as the regular 15" rack?

tabetha

It sounds like the valve in the pump is sticking, try some WYNNS power steering stop leak, I use this myself in many auto boxes and it works ace, about £9.
Rack is easy/ish diy change buy a haynes manual and save a shed load of cash.
tabetha

gunpowder

Thanks for the advice. I shall try that first.

Thank you

percybigun

3 different garages i have spoke to about having the rack done (2 of which have done mine) all said it was a total pain in the arse of a job, pretty involved, and take a long time to do

gunpowder

Yes they told me up to £200 labour. Anyone know the amount of fluid the system holds?

tabetha

I don't know what they find hard, it's a long winded job but kids stuff.
tabetha

gunpowder

Hmm dunno if my skills would stretch to doing it otherwise i would give it a go. Im just worried about that front subframe. To give you an idea so far i myself have fitted front shocks , discs and pads. I also recently fitted the aux drive belt and pump myself , so thats as far as my skills stretch so far!

mcginge

ref worried about subframe....surely you must have lowered it to do the shocks,i just done the rack on my mondeo,and yes it is a long job and yes you do have to lower the subframe,all i did was undone all the subframe bolts but not completly just undone them three quarters of the way done the rack then jacked up subframe and tighten bolts and car still drives aswell as it did before.

bookwyse

If you need a good rack then I have one sat here in Sittingbourne, Kent that came off a ST200 with less than 40k on the clock. It had a rear end shunt and I know the rack is good. Yours for £30 if you want to come and get it.

Jeff

gunpowder

Mines a Mk2 estate , dont know if that makes any difference? would it fit that?

Didnt touch the subframe to do the shocks.

tabetha

All this scare stuff about front subframe alignment is major over hyped, assuming it's "correct" to start with, it is easy to do at ZERO cost, simply wrap tape around the bolt until it is a snug fit in the hole of the subframe, I just do mine by eye, then get the tracking checked afterwards, you need to anyway with new rack so nothing lost.
tabetha

bookwyse

Straight fit as the racks are the same.

studabear

subframe alignment pins are really cheap these days, I got a used set on the bay for less than £10 with post iirc

Gabriel

Hi all, anybody have up-to-date suggestions for fixing steering rack leaks? '09 Mondeo 2.0 TDCi Estate, Ford asking for too much to replace the leaking original, any alternatives welcome.