Converting to manual steering - any gotchas?
 

I bought a manual rack to drop into my '90 GTUs. The rack came from an S5.

Any gotchas here? tie rod ends, etc all the same? any input would be appreciated before I go diggin in

Why I did not just de-power the stock rack: 1) I want to keep the part in case I or the next owner wants to return to stock 2) Car has a smallish Momo Apache steering wheel already and I'm nervous about the steering effort of the shorter-ratio power rack vs. manual rack

did it come with mounts?

uh-oh, not sure. Still in a box in the garage. I thought it bolted directly to the cross member

Nope, there is something different. It may just be the "bushings". I don't recall.

Rob R.

Right side manual tie rod is different from the left/power rack ones.

mounts/bushings are different, and NLA, but if you can rummage through the parts store you can find sway bar mounts that fit
tie rod is a new one on me, I swapped in 2 FCs, one a s4 and one a s5 and dont recall any tie rod issues

its an s5 meaning it would have to be a depowered rack so to answer your question it has the same tie rods and everything. any s5 rack should be interchangeable the only rack that is any different are the actual manual racks from the manual steering s4s. all power steering models use the same tie rods, rod ends, etc

The difference in tie rod ends is the internal threading, not the tapered, outside end.
All of the tie rods will fit your spindle.

The passenger side mount bracket is different between manual and power racks, the driver side is the same.

The seller included mounts and both tie rod ends. whoo! good man.
It is indeed a manual rack though he said it 'came out of an S5.' So I assume it is an S4 rack swapped into said S5, as S5 never came with manual steering from the factory, correct?
thanks for the assistance

Next question:
Rack feels a graunchy when operated by hand. No slop, but a bit rough. Anyone tried disassembling & lubing?

You should probably check out the part number then that would be the best way to determine what you actually have. Maybe post some pics and or the part numbet so we can help you out

INstalled the rack no issues. The brackets were quite different and I had to scrounge some extra rubber to shim in the passenger side. Tie rods popped right off the knuckels, new (old) ones popped right in and have Zerk fittings! yahoo.