After finally getting all the fittings & hoses solved, the rack LEAKS from the top where the steering joint fits.
Looking online my rack looks different from the pics of the Cavalier racks I find.
Can anyone Tom or Sparky especially tell me what make model or year rack I need to order ?
I can't remember what year Cavalier rack it was, but I can give you an Advance Auto/Cardone rebuilt part number. It's Cardone 22-108. Check for online discounts and free shipping if it's not stocked locally. cost was 105.68 including 20 core charge, which can be had locally even if it's shipped to you. Head's up...their shipping is relatively slow, it took 8 calender days Fla(?) to Tx.
I just replaced mine last month
I did find one at advance auto, but it looked different.
Rich you were CORRECT!!, the Cardone 22-108 rack looks exactly right.
How does the bottom bracket attach to the rack.
I recently purchased this R&P from the same guy, John Sparks, and he told me the rack was warranted. So before you go pay for a new rack, I'd suggest you contact John. If you need his number let me know and I'll P.M. it to you.
The rack that I have is for a '86 to '90 Chevrolet Cavalier.
John
I don't know how the bracket attaches. I had the hot rod shop in my neighborhood put the new rack on when I had the coil springs switched out.
Thats why I wont put brand x parts on my Ford...not even an alternator kit. Im brand loyal for a reason.
With the help of Rich Muise, I was able to order the correct replacement rack.
I emailed S & T fabrications but got NO RESPONSE.
The rack was available from AMAZON for $99.81 NO TAX - NO CORE - Free shipping
Parts Geek ----- NO TAX - NO Core $81.32 + $9.95 shipping ----- Total $91.27
Stock Wise Auto ----- NO TAX - NO CORE - $76.76 + $10.02 Shipping ----- Total $86.78
Napa sells the rack for $121.52, but the guy at the counter said this particular rack is way too weak for a full sized 57 Ford, and would not stand by the warranty if not used for a cavalier.
Sparky is not real big on computers...even email. Heck, I'll go a week or more without checking my email. Best way to get him is phone.
Lots of people think cars from the 50's were tanks. Not always so. I wonder what the weight of a Cavalier is. Not too many cars on the road today are going to weigh in at 3460 lbs (Custom)
Cavalier weight is 2600-2800lbs
Well that's kinda surprising. I guess alot of us are going to find out how long they actually last. I'm 95% certain when Rick Wurthit was making the originally available units for our cars he was using the same rack.
Makes me wonder what the kit that Unisteer had out a few years back for the '57's was using. I'll see if they are still making the kit. It was reported by one of our members it was a badly designed kit that couldn't be made to fit properly. Makes me wonder if they corrected that. Unisteer is generally considered a good company.
Thanks for posting that weight, Kerby. Not to change the subject, but does wherever you found that info also have the weight of a 95 Lincoln Mark VIII? All I can find is a gross weight(fully loaded).
Friend of mine,long time GM mechanic and NHRA record holder, once told he couldn't understand anone using those racks as they seldom lasted more than 80,000 miles. He did a lot of custom work and would refuse to use them. And he was a dyed in the wool chevy man.
Zap- :unitedstates:
95 mark 8 curb weight is3700 lbs.
At less than 100 replacement cost, I'll be happy if it only lasts 40k.
Thanks Kerby..I would have guessed more with the gross weight listed as 4960 if I remember correctly.
That's the base model, advertised lighter than the mark 7. Might have been a 6 banger with less of a lot if things if yours shows 1000 lbs heavier. That a huge difference.
I do recall the mustang grande package having additional sound deadening materials which added some weight and upgrades to a 351 verses the 6 cylinder or 302. Options definately add up but not sure how they could make as much as 1000 lbs.
I too installed the cavalier rack and mimicked the wurth set up. I haven't had any leaking but do wish I had more turning radius and may change mine at some point just for that reason alone.
The 4960 was Gross vehicle weight, just like you see on truck trailers where they post the empty and fully loaded gross max veh. wt. , only with at least the MarkvIII, they didn't post the empty weight. That why I was surpised at the 3700 you found. I guess they're figuring 1260 lbs of passenger, luggage, and fuel.
The Marks only had one drivetrain, difference in Base and LS models was gear ratios and trim.
On the Cavalier rack..seems I read about the developement of these kits years back there was alot of looking for a rack that would work with our rear steer cars. Maybe the Cavalier was the best or only option that would fit. I forgot about Unisteer. I did check their website, they are offering kits for the '57's, but I don't know who's rack they're using. I'll see if I can remember to call them.
I too wish I had less turning radius, but I'm so far departed from driving a stock '57 I can't draw a comparison, other than the handling is a HUGE improvement over stock.
As long as we're discussing problems with the rack, the one thing that I don't like with it is the effort to return the car to going straight after a turn...anybody/everybody else having the same issue?
JFYI...I just talked with Unisteer. The teckie there told me he believed the rack that they used was an Omni, and that it was modified to fit their kits. If their rack goes bad, it has to be returned to them for rebuild. I'll leave everyone to their own thoughts on that senario on what happens if the rack blows out on a road trip....particularly for those of us who are using the ps pump to power a hydroboost.
Quote from: RICH MUISE on 2016-03-15 10:00
The 4960 was Gross vehicle weight, just like you see on truck trailers where they post the empty and fully loaded gross max veh. wt. , only with at least the MarkvIII, they didn't post the empty weight. That why I was surpised at the 3700 you found. I guess they're figuring 1260 lbs of passenger, luggage, and fuel.
The Marks only had one drivetrain, difference in Base and LS models was gear ratios and trim.
On the Cavalier rack..seems I read about the developement of these kits years back there was alot of looking for a rack that would work with our rear steer cars. Maybe the Cavalier was the best or only option that would fit. I forgot about Unisteer. I did check their website, they are offering kits for the '57's, but I don't know who's rack they're using. I'll see if I can remember to call them.
I too wish I had less turning radius, but I'm so far departed from driving a stock '57 I can't draw a comparison, other than the handling is a HUGE improvement over stock.
As long as we're discussing problems with the rack, the one thing that I don't like with it is the effort to return the car to going straight after a turn...anybody/everybody else having the same issue?
Rich, a while back there was some conversation about caster. Our cars have limited caster adjustment, but you want as much as you can get with R&P. Modern cars use as much as 5 to 6 degrees. This will center the steering. Don't know how yours was set and there may be another issue but that is something besides the turning radius that has me thinking Borgeson.
Other than the turning radius thing, mine drove great. Easy, near effortless, stable steering with great road manners. The steering sector seal will leak if the hoses are hooked up backwards. I popped the seal immediately on the first rack. I've one other one with sector seal leakage. I asked the owner if they hooked the hoses backwards. Yes, he did. It didn't blow immediately but failed prematurely.
The Corsica style rack was used because the Corsica tie rods were long similar to '57 tie rods to mimic the long swing arc of the lower control arm. When I built mine, the rack was mounted to run the same plane as the OEM drag link. The adopter plate that mounts to the rack and inner tie rods was made with the same inner tie rod spacing as the OEM drag link. I have air bags and run the car at different ride heights with NO bump steer. Without the power steering pump, racks turn very hard...much harder than power steering boxes. I can barely turn mine without the engine running. I have nearly four degrees positive caster and have no issues with returning to center after a turn but it will not do it by its self.
Rich, I understand what you mean regarding the gross weight. I was out in space cadet mode. You are right about the rack upgrade verses original driving feel. No turning back once you've had the rack for sure.
I'll have to did out the alignment sheet to see where my guy set the caster. He's pretty good with the old cars, but not sure how much experience he's had with old cars that have modified setups/racks.
Kerby, exactly, no turning back. The only considerations now are rack vs. Borgenson...not an option available way back when I bought my r & P.
Finally got the new replacement rack installed, removing and replacing the rack was easy, only took 45 minutes.
Went for a short ride, up and down the street, basically to check for leaks.
Bone dry !!!
I will go around the block later this week to evaluate the steering, but I need to bleed the brakes, as they are spongy.
Thanks for all the help.
I'm going to throw in my two cents on R&P steering here at the end of the discussion. I had the Wurth-It Design rack conversion on both my Custom 300 and my Ranchero. Each had it own feel but both worked exceptional and are/were a pleasure to drive. My Ranchero actually steers better than my Silverado. The caster was set to stock settings and it worked like it should. I did notice a slight loss of turning radius but I could live with that to have the nice steering. My conversions used a Cavalier rack but I'm guessing it is very similar to the S&T unit.
I'm ready to scrap the S & T unit.
The rack doesn't leak, but squeals sometimes, when just barely turning the wheel.
The squeal is not present when the car is not in motion
NEW, not rebuilt pump (69 Mustang)
New Belt is tight.
Any suggestions?