Manual steering racks

[stereo]

My CSX has had a bad rack for some time now. It leaks power steering fluid out of the seals. Anyways I was told the only manual ones came on early L-bodies. So it was a whatever thing cause I was hoping to get one because I've gotten used to it and it free's up some nice space. I go on partsamerica and start looking at racks and a new power steering one was around $120-$130 which isn't too bad. But then I get to the bottom and they got Manual steering racks, so I'm think sweet. Then I look at the price, $212. Why is it so much more, it's minus all the power steering parts. shouldn't it be a fraction of the cost of a power steering rack? Anyone know why this is?

[mock_glh]

Probably because they're not a dime a dozen like the other ones. I'm sure scarcity plays a part in the pricing.

Besides, you probably wouldn't like driving with it, especially when parking and doing other slow maneuvers. Just think, you might be able to get the power rack, a pump, hoses and a belt all for the same price as the manual unit. Food for thought.

[Turbodave]

The manual racks are more $$ because there are less of them out there, these guys rebuild power racks all day long, and that's what sells the best so the manual racks are slow movers and extra overhead, thus the higher price.

The L-body racks are different from the P-body ones. For a manual rack that fits a Shadow look for one from a K-car, probably around the 83-85 era.

The manual racks have a different gear ratio in them to make it easier to turn the wheel, but you will loose that quick steering response you have now. For a drag car this is fine, but for a street car it may not be much fun.

Just a few things to keep in mind.

[stereo]

I heard that it has a little bit quicker steering in the l body's.

[Directconnection]

Neon racks are reportedly bolt in swaps as well. Just the coupler issues you'll run into just like fitting a manual rack into anything else.

So...you need more than the rack...that's the easy part. hybrid coupler.

[stereo]

What kind of coupler would I need?

[Directconnection]

dealer and reportedly very $$$.

People that have done the conversion used the original coupler from the car that donated the rack, and hybrid-ed it to the coupler from the car being used.