Evan6ardner
Active Member
- Joined
- August 17, 2006
- Messages
- 50
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Austin, Texas
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- '01 Sport Trac 2WD
I just wanted to mention a few notes to folks out there with leaking steering racks.
First of all, don't rebuild it yourself. It is a PITA. You can get it for $200 at Advance Auto Parts and get $90 back when you return the core.
Secondly, there is a video on youtube of a guy removing his rack on a 95 ford explorer. The 2001 sport trac is similar, but it is WAY tighter. I found that I had to remove 2 fluid lines already on the rack to squeeze it through. I also tried every way possible to install and remove the rack. It really seems like the only way to do this is:
1) remove both wheels
2) unscrew everything
3) slide rack all the way to the right
4) move driver tie rod forward such that it is in front of the cross member.
5) move the rack back to the left. be patient, you're going to have to jiggle and wiggle and curse and spit. At some angle, it will magically get out
5a) if you have issues, you may want to unbolt the little bracket holding what I believe is an AC line and try to move it a 1/2 an inch.
Good luck. You're going to need it. I hated myself while I was doing the job. I was covered in power steering fluid...dirt, grime. I had never been more covered in crud in all of the other car repairs I've taken on.
First of all, don't rebuild it yourself. It is a PITA. You can get it for $200 at Advance Auto Parts and get $90 back when you return the core.
Secondly, there is a video on youtube of a guy removing his rack on a 95 ford explorer. The 2001 sport trac is similar, but it is WAY tighter. I found that I had to remove 2 fluid lines already on the rack to squeeze it through. I also tried every way possible to install and remove the rack. It really seems like the only way to do this is:
1) remove both wheels
2) unscrew everything
3) slide rack all the way to the right
4) move driver tie rod forward such that it is in front of the cross member.
5) move the rack back to the left. be patient, you're going to have to jiggle and wiggle and curse and spit. At some angle, it will magically get out
5a) if you have issues, you may want to unbolt the little bracket holding what I believe is an AC line and try to move it a 1/2 an inch.
Good luck. You're going to need it. I hated myself while I was doing the job. I was covered in power steering fluid...dirt, grime. I had never been more covered in crud in all of the other car repairs I've taken on.
