The Black Hole

[gmanpaint]

Ok, so I decided to break out the wrenches last Sunday and had a look see at the Dr side front suspension area.

I was looking for the leak origin. I knew the steering fluids were leaking from somewhere, and wanted to try to make sure it wasn't just a bad line or reservoir issue.

As usual with this rig, when you attempt to do one thing, it always leads to others.

With the tire off, I found the area around the C/V joint to be wet as well. I figured it was blow back from driving speed winds throwing the leaking steering fluids over everything. When I went to wipe it off, it was a thick black sludge, like grease.

Ok, so I didn't find anything wrong with the C/V boots, but after pulling the C/V out, it was very very easy to move the joints. Like the boots were empty.

Ok, so hmmm. Looking at the axle seal (replaced in 09), the diff was wet on that side, and the lower half of the cover was wet. I wasn't sure if it was from steering fluids caked with dirt, or diff fluids, or C/V axle grease.

So.. what do I do? I pull out the new trail spares. All good. Run and get a new axle seal.

Pulling the old seal with a seal puller is a cake walk. Installing the new seal with the coil springs in the way... made me want to set fire to the rig. An hour later, a couple bleeding knuckles, and it's in with no harm. Phew!

I installed the new C/V, and the new hub. Put it all back together, and look at it from the front. the tire seems off. Like somehow I moved the Toe outwards on one side. HUH? Wut? How can this be? I didn't touch the TRE's. :scratch:

So to ease my mind, I went and got two 4' straight edges, and did the tire measure trick. Measured the distance behind the tires, then the fronts. It was 1/8" out. Perfect!

Guess the heat got to me, and I was seeing things. LOL! That's just how this rig has always been to me. One thing always turns into 10 others. I didn't want to take a chance, so I feel better at least it is fine.

I didn't find any wetness up high, and it seems the rack itself is leaking by the inner TRE. So that's the next project. Ugh...

Wish the uploader didn't turn the pics sideways on me! :thumbdwn:
#1- Wet rack area
#2- Old Front axle seal
#3- New spares
#4- Spares installed
#5- Checking the toe

 

[gmanpaint]

Insights or advise on a reman rack, anyone?

So trying to decide on which brand replacement rack, & where to buy it is frustrating as heck.

Since it is not an easy part to R&R, as much as I would like to use one of our vendors here, it doesn't seem logical to me to get one online.

So looking at the auto parts stores that offer a lifetime warranty on the remans, the brands & prices vary like crazy. Super confusing.

I want one that is trusted, strong, and reasonably priced. Also a parts store near me in case of a return for a defective reman unit, or another failure.

The reman currently installed is a A1Cardone unit. It hasn't lasted for 10k miles. It also didn't come with a lifetime warranty when purchased from Oreilly's auto parts.

I hate it when I come against a mental road block like this!

Stores I can use near me with lifetime warranties:
Napa - Napa brand/ BBB Industries $116 & $139 core
Oreilly - Master Pro $94 & $64 core ( I think this is a renamed A1Cardone)
Autozone - Atlantic $143 & $105 core
Advance - A1Cardone $93 & $75 core

So the AZ - Atlantic brand is the most expensive, but what does that really mean? More expensive isn't always better, but sometimes it is! Ack

 

[albi1cnobi1]

Hey gman. Just my .02, but I used NAPA for mine. They were super easy to deal with when getting the replacement rack. I usually save receipts but of course this one I couldn't find. They went above and beyond researching my purchase, and when they found it replaced it immediately.

 

[gmanpaint]

Hey gman. Just my .02, but I used NAPA for mine. They were super easy to deal with when getting the replacement rack. I usually save receipts but of course this one I couldn't find. They went above and beyond researching my purchase, and when they found it replaced it immediately.

I have had good luck with Napa as well, and they seem to sell quality parts overall. I looked up the warranty pdf they had linked to the rack, and it is made by BBB industries, which I know nothing about. Heck, I can't really say I know anything about any of these reman companies, only that they all seem to rebuild the OEM units, and all boast they are the best. :scratch:

Your .02 is what I'm after! Thanks!

How long did the reman last before you had to replace it again?

 

[albi1cnobi1]

I have had good luck with Napa as well, and they seem to sell quality parts overall. I looked up the warranty pdf they had linked to the rack, and it is made by BBB industries, which I know nothing about. Heck, I can't really say I know anything about any of these reman companies, only that they all seem to rebuild the OEM units, and all boast they are the best. :scratch:

Your .02 is what I'm after! Thanks!

How long did the reman last before you had to replace it again?

I believe it was about 2-3 years. But I suspect it had something to do with the fact that I wasn't aware of the fact that the new unit didn't come with the check valve, so it was installed without it.

 

[gmanpaint]

I face palmed myself. I forgot you mentioned that time frame already when you explained about the check valve earlier on. My brain was on a one track mission to figure out which to buy and how good is the part overall.

Sorry about that. I did retain that I have to makes sure that is swapped over when I do the R&R tho, if that counts for anything. LOL!

 

[albi1cnobi1]

No problem, happens to the best of us. I had to buy that check valve. THAT was a hard little sucker to find!

 

[CDW6212R]

Would any of the aftermarket high end performance builders do an Explorer rack? I wonder if AGR would do it, they are very good with steering "boxes", the best I recall from 30 years ago doing NASCAR units. I have a new one in my Lincoln(the 94-04 Mustang R&P).

I'd ask before buying any "rebuilt" unit, after a certain age of a steering box model, they are often worn out beyond usable. You cannot reliably now buy a rebuilt Fox Mustang rack, they are all so bad that they often leak very soon after bought etc. I wonder what condition most Explorer racks are in at this point.

 

[gmanpaint]

Well, I think that because all of them want a core charge, they are all being rebuilt over & over. Who knows how many times the ram shafts have been polished and new seals installed on the remans. Heck, I could be buying back the same unit I traded Oreilly's years ago.

As far as getting a Heavy Duty aftermarket rack goes. It would be out of my price range. I am shopping remans for that reason. LOL!

But... For those that have a disposable income, a HD Racing rack would be a nice Mod. If they are already made, I would think they have to be for the Mustang or Pre-runner Ranger crowd.

 

[CDW6212R]

The new AGR rack for Mustang was about $330, and the "hot item" was the rebuilt 03/04 Cobra rack. I chose the new part just to not have to wonder if the rebuild would last 20 years, versus a couple.

Hopefully these Explorer racks are not much different, and popular enough that they do work on them, and that they aren't any more really. I'd prefer a rebuilt from a place like AGR if they do it. I have a rebuilt Saginaw PS box from them in my old Ranchero. I got that in about 1988, and those were about ten year old boxes, used for all of NASCAR.

The rack and pinion boxes are a whole different thing though, much more fragile to long term use(seals, the shaft wear etc). I'd ask them just for future reference, and post their pricing or recommendations. Good luck, other than that I'd go for the NAPA rack.

 

[gmanpaint]

I looked into the AGR Racing racks for mustangs.

I'm not sure they would work. It looks like the mount centers are 15.5" centers. Our 2nd gens are aprox 11.5" centers.

I have been searching for Ranger rack upgrades this morning, with no luck really.

I will most likely just get the Napa reman unit. I will need an alignment afterwards, and since I have a custom front bash bar being made, that uses the front LCA bolts, I am going to have to wait until that is installed before I can do this job.

Always something! lol

 

[CDW6212R]

I looked into the AGR Racing racks for mustangs.

I'm not sure they would work. It looks like the mount centers are 15.5" centers. Our 2nd gens are aprox 11.5" centers.

I have been searching for Ranger rack upgrades this morning, with no luck really.

I will most likely just get the Napa reman unit. I will need an alignment afterwards, and since I have a custom front bash bar being made, that uses the front LCA bolts, I am going to have to wait until that is installed before I can do this job.

Always something! lol

I called AGR just now, and there wasn't someone then to say how much, but they do rebuild the Explorer racks. The lady said they are about four weeks to do that given the lack of cores and their workload. Here's a link for anyone for future use to contact AGR. Call and and ask how much they would be, I'll be interested too for my two high mileage trucks eventually.
http://www.agrperformance.com/Contact-AGR-Performance.htm

 

[gmanpaint]

I called AGR just now, and there wasn't someone then to say how much, but they do rebuild the Explorer racks. The lady said they are about four weeks to do that given the lack of cores and their workload. Here's a link for anyone for future use to contact AGR. Call and and ask how much they would be, I'll be interested too for my two high mileage trucks eventually.
http://www.agrperformance.com/Contact-AGR-Performance.htm

Nice!

My curiosity is peaked as well. I would like to know if they just rebuild them like everybody else, or if they upgrade them to make them better then stock.

I see that they offer different ratio's on the Stangs racks, so if they do that on our racks as well, this could get interesting for us all.

 

[CDW6212R]

That sounds good. The Mustangs had a number of different racks and ratios. Hopefully the internal parts are similar enough that their expertise can make one for ours that is a better than stock. I would trust them more than most places to rebuild one and be sure it didn't have excessive wear in the core parts.

NAPA also should be more trustworthy than other brand rebuilders. Night,

 

[gmanpaint]

That feeling when:

After two years in the making, your custom one of a kind part is made, and have been told it is on it's way, from across the country.

WOOT!!!

 

[gmanpaint]

And it has arrived!

 

[Turdle]

A pink "serious explorations" thong?

A banana bunker?

What is it what is it?

 

[gmanpaint]

A pink "serious explorations" thong?

A banana bunker?

What is it what is it?

Not a thong, nor even a dong.
Some will dare guess,
But most would be wrong.

Once it's completed,
The masses will see it.

Ti's a treat for the eyes,
Guaranteed to surprise!

 

[GRNMACHINE]

Green Eggs and Ham a custom rear bumper would be my poor guess

 

[vroomzoomboom]

Not a thong, nor even a dong.
Some will dare guess,
But most would be wrong.

Once it's completed,
The masses will see it.

Ti's a treat for the eyes,
Guaranteed to surprise!

viagra dispenser?