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Converting to manual steering - any gotchas?

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Old 10-16-12, 09:56 AM
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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
Old 10-16-12, 10:50 AM
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did it come with mounts?
Old 10-16-12, 12:06 PM
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uh-oh, not sure. Still in a box in the garage. I thought it bolted directly to the cross member
Old 10-16-12, 12:30 PM
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Nope, there is something different. It may just be the "bushings". I don't recall.

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Old 10-16-12, 12:39 PM
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Right side manual tie rod is different from the left/power rack ones.
Old 10-16-12, 12:45 PM
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Originally Posted by Acroy
uh-oh, not sure. Still in a box in the garage. I thought it bolted directly to the cross member

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
Old 10-16-12, 04:39 PM
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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
Old 10-16-12, 05:15 PM
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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.
Old 10-17-12, 08:02 AM
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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?
Old 10-17-12, 08:23 AM
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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
Old 10-23-12, 09:24 AM
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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.
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