Reply to "STEERING RACK BOOTS"

That may be why no parts suppliers familiar with the R 4 that I found on the Renault Forum could identify the rack. One company wanted me to send it to them so that they could find the proper boots!

A very good authority that I respect in the UK told me that the Mangusta rack is superior to the Pantera rack in quality and that a faster gear ratio would require changing the front suspension pick-up points on the chassis, or at least the upper ball joint location, a big job.
According to Renault experts there is no faster interchangeable rack and pinion that will fit the "unknown" housing.

Early in my steering research I was told by a rack and pinion rebuild company that the rack and pinion rarely wear. That leaves ball bearings and bushings. These are easily replaced by any machinist. My rack after 59,000 miles with some fairly hefty tires with much bigger contact patches than the originals was perfect, no play that I could find at all anywhere.

An interesting thing happened when I drove my car out of the driveway for the first time after rebuilding the steering shaft, then totally without any play. As I turned left I suddenly could feel the rear end push in an ever so subtle way as I turned left. I picked it up as it was different than my previous experience.

DICK RUZZIN