Brakes! Steering! Dropped subframes!

[DustyLBottoms]

Well,

My variable assist rack has been slowly dying over the past year. I was able to diagnose the VAPS actuator assy. as the problem, but research has shown the the valve assembly is not part of a new rack, or availible by itself. (Discontinued by Ford, no aftermarket.)

What to do?

Should I risk a rack & valve from a junk car? It sure would suck to do all the work replacing the rack just to have a bum unit.

No!

I'll do something better.

For this repair you will need


One New or Reman power steering rack (non-VAPS) from a 1992 3.8 Taurus,
Pressure line for same car. Plus a new return line. (Lines are a bitch, replace them while the subframe is down)
Drop your subframe, replace lines, swap rack. You'll need to bend the pressure line a little bit to screw into the rack (We're bypassing a pressure switch that the Taurus would have used, don't worry though. It'll work just fine).

If you're planning on any suspension upgrades (SHO swaybars anyone?), This is the time to do it. Dropping the subframe isn't much fun. So I'd do as much as possible with it.

Which is why I did the 11.6 inch big brake upgrade this weekend as well. ;) Oh yeah, it's even better than it sounds. The car stops soo much better.

[pro-five-oh]

Nice! The brake upgrade must be a big jump, I'm pretty spoiled by those on the Mark VIII...they stop great at high speeds with a good semi-metallic pad.

Any error messages on the DCL by converting to a "normal" power rack?

[DustyLBottoms]

Nice! The brake upgrade must be a big jump, I'm pretty spoiled by those on the Mark VIII...they stop great at high speeds with a good semi-metallic pad.

Any error messages on the DCL by converting to a "normal" power rack?

Thanks!

No errors that I see, I'll scan for codes in a day or so.

I didn't get codes when I ripped out the air suspension & electronic struts. And the ECU is still getting steering wheel angle data from the optical sensor in the steering column, and everything seems happy.

Next upgrade will new brakes hard lines, and braided stainless Flex-lines.

[MichiganTeddyBear]

hmm, just going from my swiss cheesy memory here, but I thought the steering angle data went to the A/S computer, and that controlled the VAPS, as well as the dynamic (well, 2 position) damping.

[pro-five-oh]

hmm, just going from my swiss cheesy memory here, but I thought the steering angle data went to the A/S computer, and that controlled the VAPS, as well as the dynamic (well, 2 position) damping.

Sounds right...so none of that would throw a EEC code. Nice.

[Fordace]

damn Dusty, I guess you missed this post.....:(

http://www.lincolnsonline.com/forum/showthread.php?t=60196

[DustyLBottoms]

LOL, darn it!

Oh well, At least I know the swap works now. Maybe someone else will find that information useful.

Thanks though!

[Fordace]

one bid......cheap too......oh well......

[DustyLBottoms]

I had already looked on ebay, no dice at the time.

Same with Dealer locate, no one had any.

I'm happy with the non-vaps rack though. Doesn't bother me as much as I thought it would.

[Steve Moran]

I converted one of my Contis to a normal rack about 2 years ago and to be honest it still steered just fine. With 4 wheel independent suspension it still takes corners like a dream.

I changed my rack out by just dropping the two rear bolts and let it hang. Remove the air filter housing and battery and it makes removing the hoses a dream.