The Rack

[poupas]

   I was in the process of doing a complete brake overhaul. Calipers, rotors, pads. Which is quite a big(expensive job) in itself. As I make some progress I keep finding more and more to repair. Which is good 'cause I am finding it but bad because it is broken. So I have replaced two calipers, four rotors, eight pads, two sets of bearings, and two shocks. I noticed today that I will also need two brake lines. No big deal. Then, while I was getting my buddy to turn the steering wheel so I could access the brake hose, I heard some grinding noise from the steering...
    Took a look, my passenger side boot on the rack is fully and always compressed(stuck to one side). The rod that boot was supposed to be covering in rusty, dry, sandy. You move the steering and it basically grinds. There is alot of play as well, about an inch of movement.
    So...I searched through this forum and came across a thread from April, you guys were talking about rebuilding them, since no one makes new ones anymore.  I was just going to post 'anyone have a rack for sale', but now I will ask this 'does anyone have a rack for sale, or would like to rebuild one, or try?'
     Let me know prices, or options. I probably wouldnt try rebuilding it myself, but I will be able to remove it. I am in no big hurry. It is a '86GT.
     Also looking for the lower metal bracket for the rad, mine is 75% gone. The one where you attach the lower two bolts of the rad fan.
     Also looking for a rad fan.
                 Thanks for all help and responses!
                                              Andrew

[2ML67]

I have a few 84 parts cars I can check on the condition of the racks for you. Dan

[dguy]

    Took a look, my passenger side boot on the rack is fully and always compressed(stuck to one side). The rod that boot was supposed to be covering in rusty, dry, sandy. You move the steering and it basically grinds. There is alot of play as well, about an inch of movement.

Depending upon how long it has been like that, odds are that at the very least the passenger side bushing is shot, not to mention the inner tie rod end.  If it has spent too much time like that, there's a possibility that the rack and/or pinion gear are also damaged due to exposure to things they never should see.

If the damage is limited to the bushing and the tie rod end, the rack is saveable.

If the part of the rack which slides through the bushing has worn too far, replacing the bushing will get you a little bit further ahead, but there will still be some looseness in that end of the rack.

Worst case scenario sees water, dirt etc. getting inside the rack, and doing a nasty on the pinion gear and the toothed part of the rack.

You mentioned about an inch of play.  What direction is the play in...  can you slide the end of the rack in/out of the housing before the steering wheel starts to move, or is this side-to-side, top-to-bottom play between the rack and the rack housing?   ....or play between the inner tie rod end and the wheel for that matter? 

[Fiero_power]

Mine broke apart last year and I got a guy in Pembroke to weld it.  He did a really good job and even garanteed it.  He's really cautious though if he doesn't think it'll hold he'll let you know right away.  I'll try to dig up his number...  I also have many 85 parts and I'll let you know.  Correct me if I'm wrong but my 85 2m4 rack won't fit your 86GT will it?

Joe

[poupas]

Don Guy - I have very little knowledge about the rack. My buddy was looking at it and explaining the situation to me. He told me to look underneath and he showed me the compressed boot on the passenger side, and he pulled the rod underneath were the boot should have been towards the front of the car and that is where it moved an inch, front of car to back.  He said it was useless.

Fiero_power - I am not sure if the rack is different. I did some searching and found that people either talked about 84-87 racks or 88 racks. I couldnt find a direct answer though. I posted on another site, I should have a answer soon....

2ML67 - Any of your racks good? How far away do you live?

Anyone have the support that goes underneath the rad, which the fan shroud attaches? There is only 25% of mine left. And a battery tray?


                                           Thanks
                                                    Andrew

[dguy]

...and he pulled the rod underneath were the boot should have been towards the front of the car and that is where it moved an inch, front of car to back.  He said it was useless.

Hmmm...  hard to do an armchair analysis without seeing it.  That much play in one of the components at the RH end of the rack is repairable.  The same amount of play in the other one is quite possibly not.  Where is the car now?

I did some searching and found that people either talked about 84-87 racks or 88 racks. I couldnt find a direct answer though. I posted on another site, I should have a answer soon....

Any 84-87 rack will fit any 84-87 Fiero.  There are some variations in the number of turns of the steering wheel it takes to go from full-left to full-right, but physically they all fit.

[2ML67]

Pulled the rack out of one my parts car, looks good and does not appear to be any play will have a mechanic friend look at it on Monday. If he says its ok how does $40 sound for it. I live near Belleville but can bring it up with me next time I visit Buzz. Dan

[poupas]

Sounds good Dan. Keep me posted. I live in Ottawa but my car is in Brockville. If it all works out and you wont be visiting Ottawa any time soon I could probably go and pick it up.
                                   Thanks
                                           Andrew

Don Guy - if this rack is good, I will be pulling the old one. Dont know if someone wants to have it for a rebuild or whatnot...if its not good.....maybe I will pull it and get someone to check it out. Know anyone?

[poupas]

Installed the new rack yesterday. Thanks again 2ML67. It looks good. Broke 3 out of the four bolts taking it off. Found out my aluminum casing was broken. It would slide back and forth with the moving of the wheel. Installed the new rad fan. I noticed while doing the rack that my brake lines were quite rusty. That will be the next job, replace all the lines. You guys know a good place to get new brake lines. I also replaced the lower rad support. Mine was completely rotted away. I went to the guy with all the fieros in Brockville. Charged me $30. Thanks for all your help.
                                           Andrew

[dguy]

I noticed while doing the rack that my brake lines were quite rusty. That will be the next job, replace all the lines. You guys know a good place to get new brake lines.

I can't remember the last time I purchased an OEM steel brake line. 

You can buy various lengths of steel brake line from just about any auto parts store.  Just measure what you need, purchase the appropriate length, a tubing bender, and work carefully.  Done.

[Kevin]

  Dan and I were talking about brake lines and he said you should be able to get them ready made from CTC. I will be going in there today for some bailing wire for the Hyundai so I will check that and get back to you.  Kevin

[2ML67]

They come in lenghts up to 60 inches with the ends on them. You need the European metric ones. Can do both fronts and the short rear one, the others you will need to have made or if you have a bubble flare kit do them your self. Dan

[poupas]

Where and what is 'CTC'?

[FieroBUZZ]

CTC = Canadian Tire Corp = Crappy Tire 

There'll probably be a rack with various lengths of line with a fitting on each end.  Just pick the one you need and bend accordingly (with a bender).  A friendly garage will likely have a double flare tool should you need to make a custom length.

[poupas]

I thought it could have been Canadian Tire, just wasnt sure what the other 'c' stood for. Thanks for the help.
                                   Andrew