2013 rack and pinion interchange

[manualpoor]

Could someone please tell me why the re-manufactured racks all state that the standard Explorer rack and the PIU rack are not interchangeable, but the used racks on ebay all say that they are. Someone has to be wrong.

 

[RhinoQuartz]

Could someone please tell me why the re-manufactured racks all state that the standard Explorer rack and the PIU rack are not interchangeable, but the used racks on ebay all say that they are. Someone has to be wrong.

Resellers on ebay are usually trying to make a buck. I'd check a Ford parts store to verify before buying on ebay.

 

[KayGee]

Hate to state the obvious, but have you called any of the remanufacturers or businesses that stated explorer and piu racks are not interchangeable and asked them about it? If so, what did they say?

Some parts may be physically interchangeable, but have different programming, so they are stated as "not interchangeable" by some and "interchangeable" by others - just depends on what their definition of interchangeable is. Some parts that are physically interchangeable may also need to be "programmed" to the vehicle to be fully compatible.

Always best to ask the source of the info first to see what they have to say.

 

[manualpoor]

Hate to state the obvious, but have you called any of the remanufacturers or businesses that stated explorer and piu racks are not interchangeable and asked them about it? If so, what did they say?

Some parts may be physically interchangeable, but have different programming, so they are stated as "not interchangeable" by some and "interchangeable" by others - just depends on what their definition of interchangeable is. Some parts that are physically interchangeable may also need to be "programmed" to the vehicle to be fully compatible.

Always best to ask the source of the info first to see what they have to say.

I have called Cardone and Detroit Diesel two major remanufactureres, gave them the OEM Ford number and they said it wasn't available in their catalog. I am currently working with a local dealer parts dept. to try to determine the differences between Explorer and PIU racks. They have similar part numbers with different prefixes and suffixes. My parts man is trying to find out how to interpret the part number and decode what the differences imply. It could possibly be closer geared for police usage. If having to reprogram was the only problem why would all the local ford dealerships say they are not compatible? The manual says that any time you change out an electric power assist unit it must be reprogrammed anyway.

 

[KayGee]

I have called Cardone and Detroit Diesel two major remanufactureres, gave them the OEM Ford number and they said it wasn't available in their catalog. I am currently working with a local dealer parts dept. to try to determine the differences between Explorer and PIU racks. They have similar part numbers with different prefixes and suffixes. My parts man is trying to find out how to interpret the part number and decode what the differences imply. It could possibly be closer geared for police usage. If having to reprogram was the only problem why would all the local ford dealerships say they are not compatible? The manual says that any time you change out an electric power assist unit it must be reprogrammed anyway.

The ford part numbers are easy to decipher. The first part loosely defines the year and model of the first vehicle it was designed for. The second part is the part series it belongs to (alternator, switch, rack, etc...), and the last part is the design suffix/level. There's not a lot to decipher - it's pretty basic knowledge that has been around for decades. Anyone in the industry should know this.

Ford dealers are not all knowing and I would say most don't really care what is "technically" interchangeable.

When people/businesses find parts that are interchangeable, they can choose to share that knowledge freely, keep the knowledge to themselves and capitalize on it, or not tell anyone or share it at all.

I don't believe you'll be able to determine gearing or other part specific features from the part number - you'd need the part drawing to verify specs (I doubt you will get drawings unless you have a really, really good friend at ford or TRW) or you'd have to disassemble some parts to verify.

 

[manualpoor]

The ford part numbers are easy to decipher. The first part loosely defines the year and model of the first vehicle it was designed for. The second part is the part series it belongs to (alternator, switch, rack, etc...), and the last part is the design suffix/level. There's not a lot to decipher - it's pretty basic knowledge that has been around for decades. Anyone in the industry should know this.

Ford dealers are not all knowing and I would say most don't really care what is "technically" interchangeable.

When people/businesses find parts that are interchangeable, they can choose to share that knowledge freely, keep the knowledge to themselves and capitalize on it, or not tell anyone or share it at all.

I don't believe you'll be able to determine gearing or other part specific features from the part number - you'd need the part drawing to verify specs (I doubt you will get drawings unless you have a really, really good friend at ford or TRW) or you'd have to disassemble some parts to verify.

Thanks for your help. It may be pretty basic knowledge among ford enthusiasts but my dad worked for gm and I was trained on gm vehicles. I think from what I have researched is that they are pretty much compatible, the only difference I could tell in 2013 was the first digit which as you said indicated production date and last digits which deal with supersession. You are correct about dealers not knowing or caring about interchanges which is understandable. The problem I had is that the reman. companies seem to automatically exclude the limited production PIU vehicles from their inventory catalogues.

 

[manualpoor]

Update on my search for reman. unit. The most likely reason for the part number difference is the fact that the PIU was the only 5th gen. Explorer based model to use the 3.7 Duratec. Don't know if this would rule out interchange or not. Motorcraft part# STE585RM(3504) application is listed as 09/04/2012-05/04/2015 Explorer, Police Version but I can't find anyone that seems able to cross that to the dealer number. Has anyone on this forum with a PIU ever replaced their electric power rack gear with a re-manufactured unit and if so where the devil did you buy it?

 

[peterk9]

If you are looking for Ford part numbers, try this site; 2013 Ford Models | Auto Nation Ford White Bear Lake

Peter

 

[manualpoor]

If you are looking for Ford part numbers, try this site; 2013 Ford Models | Auto Nation Ford White Bear Lake

Peter

Thanks to everyone for help. I'm closing this thread as I found a used PIU rack on e-bay with only 55,000 miles out of a 2015 PIU.