GEN 1 Steering Rack Replacment - Notes and Info

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602Raptor

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Mine's leaking now as well. Though it was the hose at first, but I pulled all the skid plates and pressure washed the undercarriage and rack and I'm pretty sure its the rack. Both boots have fluid on them and there's fluid around where the steering shaft enters the rack. I'll replacing the pressure hose as well as I have a new one.

RockAuto has the MOTORCRAFT STG450{#CL3Z3504B} for $675 including core. Should I buy this?

Can someone explain how to properly "bleed" the rack of air? Is there any other maintenance I should be doing while I have all this apart? BTW, my truck has 42000 miles.

As always, thanks for the help!
 

BenBB

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Mine's leaking now as well. Though it was the hose at first, but I pulled all the skid plates and pressure washed the undercarriage and rack and I'm pretty sure its the rack. Both boots have fluid on them and there's fluid around where the steering shaft enters the rack. I'll replacing the pressure hose as well as I have a new one.

RockAuto has the MOTORCRAFT STG450{#CL3Z3504B} for $675 including core. Should I buy this?

Can someone explain how to properly "bleed" the rack of air? Is there any other maintenance I should be doing while I have all this apart? BTW, my truck has 42000 miles.

As always, thanks for the help!

Would also be interested in learning the bleed process, replaced my P/S pump after the first of the year because it was whining, fresh fluid and thoroughly cleaned the stock reservoir, sounded like one of those 4th of July Saturn Missile Batteries on startup but perfectly silent after shutdown and restart. Only a matter of time before I'll have to do the rack...
 

EricM

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Check the manual, but typically you just get the front tires off the ground and run the steering system back and forth lock to lock maybe 5 or 6 times. That should purge any air from the rack.
 

JefeAZ

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Sorry for the bump, this look like a leak? Tech said its not leaking but I doubt thats water

U8rp4WX.jpg
 

EricM

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Looks like a leak to me. Same as mine. Wiped it off and it came back.
 

B-C

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