Trying to center my steering rack after reinstalling it in the car, but struggling to get it right. Measured the travel while it was out of the car with the steering boots off, but lining it up in the car, the wheel is way off. Does anyone know what the lengths of the exposed rack should be, or even what the number of turns from center to lock are? Tried searching the forums but couldn't find a solid answer.

 

With the wheels in the air, you will not find "center". Centering the rack is fairly straightforward. You will spin it in one direction until it stops. Then you will count FULL rotations and then whatever the final spin is. You will divide by 2 and go backwards that much. You will only need to be close enough.

When you install the rack with the steering wheel centered and the steering shaft in place, it will pretty much locate itself. You may need to nudge it a spline or 2 left or right. The shaft is only keyed on the steering wheel side I think. You won't know if you got it right until you put the car on the ground. Its advised to get an alignment after.

There is an adjustment amount that can be off where an alignment will compensate. Don't stress trying to reach 100% accuracy. It may not be achievable.

 

Finally managed to get it right, just short of 1.5 turns either direction. I think the rack being so far out and the steering wheel being at such weird angles at lock kept throwing me off.