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Early Mustang Rack and Pinion Conversion
(cont.)

12 As you can see, the shaft and box come out at a severe angle. We had the luxury of a lift, but with the car on jackstands you may have some trouble. You may want to pull the cover off the steering box and work on separating the shaft from the box.
13 The only cutting required for this project is to trim the steering column tube back 5 9/16". Measure from the end of the column and cut the column straight. Use a file to clean off any burrs.

14 Install the steering shaft and the new bearing assembly (provided) into the tube. Long shaft cars reuse the stock shaft, shown here.

15 Cars with half shafts will use a new slipshaft provided with the kit.

16 Tap the bearing assembly so that is is seated against the column tube. Drill two 9/64" holes through the bearing retainer and column.

17 Remove the bearing assembly and clean out any drill shavings which may have fallen into the tube...

18 Reassemble the column by first sliding the column support sleeve onto the tube, then the bearing assembly. Fasten the bearing retainer to the tube with two sheetmetal screws.
19 Shown here is the new column support. The inner ring is slips onto the column tube (prev. picture) and the outer ring attaches to the firewall. If your column to firewall seal looks the one on the left, replace it with a new one. They are available from most Mustang mail order houses

20 Column support outer ring, and new seal, attached to firewall from underneath the dash. Reuse the sheetmetal screws from the stock support collar.

21 The column can now be placed back into the car. Be sure to replace the upper column bearing and spring before torquing down the steering wheel nut (50 lb.ft.)


22 Adjust the column to its original height, and reattach the underdash bracket and wiring harness.. Line up the column support ring and tighten up the the set-screws. Shown is the modified column, as it appears in the engine compartment.

23 The rack ships assembled. To prepare for installation, disassemble the inner and outer brackets by removing the allen head screws.

24 Remove the lower control arm bolts and install the inner brackets using the new hardware provided. Install them loose for now. On '65-'66 cars use the spacer provided to properly align the brackets with the rack and pinion tube. On '67 and later Mustangs replace the eccentric washer with the square eccentric eliminator plates provided. This will result in a more stable alignment setting. Note that the mounting tabs face towards the wheels.

25 The outer frame brackets install in the mounting locations previously used for the stock crossmember. Loosely install the right (passenger) side frame bracket first.

26 Loosely install the rack and pinion assembly to the right side frame bracket. The left side will be secured after the intermediate shaft assembly is put into place.

27 Shown here is the intermediate shaft assembly which connects the steering shaft to the rack.

28 Attach the intermediate shaft assembly to the end of the steering column shaft and torque the allen screws to 15-17 lb.ft. Raise up the left side of the rack and install the lower u-joint onto the splined input shaft of the rack and pinion assembly. Now the left side outer bracket can be installed.

29 Install the inner bracket clamps. Tighten all the brackets and clamps in an even manner to prevent distorting the rack tube, or stripping the bracket threads. Torque the outer frame brackets and inner control arm brackets to 75 lb.ft. Torque the allen screws on the clamps to 15-17 lb.ft.

30 Remove the center link and attach the inner tie rods, using the tapered bushings pictured below. Torque the castle nuts to 35 lb.ft and be sure to insert the cotter pins. Bend the cotter pins towards the tires so they don't puncture the rack boots. The centerlink can now be reattached to the rack, torque the nuts to 75 lb.ft.

31 Total Control provides the tapered inner tie-rod bushings. If you have Granada front brakes and are using Granada tie rods, Total Control can provide the correct bushing.

32 The final step is to attach the outer tie rods and adjustment sleeves. The clamps on the sleeves must face towards the rear of the car so they do not bind against the rack.

33 This car is a manual so we are done. However if you were installing a power rack, the pump and hose connections would be the final steps.


34 Before lowering the car down, double check all the connections and check for any binding or interference. The final step is to have the front end aligned. Total Control suggests the following settings depending on street or track driving:

  Street Track
Neg. Camber: 0-1/2 deg.
1-2 deg.
Pos. Camber: 1-1 1/2 deg. 1-1 1/2 deg.
Toe in 1/16"-1/8" 1/32"-1/8"


Total Control Products
9901 Kent Street
Suite 1
Elk Grove, CA 95264
1-888-685-1790

 

 

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