Reply to "Steering rack questoion"

Photos are in the "Pantera Service Highlights" manual, still the ONLY place where Ford/DeTomaso talks about rebuilding the steering rack (available from PIM, POCA and a few POCA Chapter Stores). All other pub's say to 'take the rack to an authorized service shop'. This manual is also the only one that shows how to rebuild the rear wheel bearings, the rear caliper and how to pull a dash (early type only).
It's possible during inexpert rack rebuild to shuffle the pinion shims so the rack-gear and pinion are no longer aligned. Its also possible to NOT drill the necessary detent-hole in the new bushing for the tiny self-tapping screw. This screw is the ONLY thing that retains the bushing in the rack case, beyond a very light press fit. If the bushing begins to slip back & forth in the rack housing, it may cause heavy steering or even lock up the steering in certain turns. Finally, axle grease that some advocate is specifically rejected for this steering rack; use ONLY 80W90 diff-lube! Obviously, old perforated rubber rack-boots will leak....