FYI FORD MustangSteve's Ford Mustang Forum / 1965-70 UNISTEER RACK ---- Any Good?

**Posted by M1Mustang69** 10/16/2024 6:42 PM

I have a solid lead on a used and perfectly working NON POWER Unisteer Rack and Pinion setup....

I am skeptical and nervous for 2 reasons:
Used and Non Power.....

Can any shed any light on the quality and my 2 concerns? It would be going on a 68 302 car.

Regards,
Jeff

**Posted by Alan** 10/16/2024 7:00 PM

I have that rack on my 67 coupe. Has a 5.0 also. I like it going down the road, only troubles are in parking lots going slow. I had a 13-1/2 steering wheel on it, had to go to a 15" wheel. Just too hard to turn with the smaller wheel.

**Posted by M1Mustang69** 10/17/2024 6:11 AM

Alan wrote:
I have that rack on my 67 coupe. Has a 5.0 also. I like it going down the road, only troubles are in parking lots going slow. I had a 13-1/2 steering wheel on it, had to go to a 15" wheel. Just too hard to turn with the smaller wheel.

This was one of my concernes.

These were this words:
"Since it's a manual rack I had no issues turning 275 wide tires while stopped. They are different gears in it to assist"

Seems far fetched to me, that's a wide tire.....now I recently bought that flat Shelby style wheel, can't rmbr if it's 14 or 15", what's stock 67 gt diameter? I know I went smaller than stick so it would be easier to get in and out of.

So Alan, Since you went 15", how is it, still unpleasant or not bad?

**Posted by BobE** 10/17/2024 7:48 AM

I would verify that this rack will fit your car. Unisteer makes different racks to fit different cars. I believe the tie-rod lengths are the difference, but check with Unisteer.
I have a Unisteer PS rack along with the MII front end since 2010 and am happy with it. It did start to leak at the tie-rod end a couple of years ago, Unisteer rebuild it for the cost of shipping.

**Posted by rpm** 10/17/2024 7:55 AM

M1Mustang69 wrote:
I have a solid lead on a used and perfectly working NON POWER Unisteer Rack and Pinion setup....

Regards,
Jeff

Hey Jeff,
If you decide to not get the rack, will you please get in touch with me as I'm interested.

Bob

**Posted by M1Mustang69** 10/17/2024 12:39 PM

For sure Bob, but we're in Canada just to be clear.

Also, this is a NON POWER RACK.

Bobe, the car came out of a 68 Mustang, so same car.

I just don't want to go from a soft sloppy factory ford system that leaks a touch to a system that sucks to drive with and is poor quality......does Unisteer make quality products?

**Posted by Alan** 10/17/2024 4:17 PM

M1
it is not too hard to handle with the 15" I have. Got 235/45/17" tires on the car. They are a full 9" wide, so there is plenty to turn. Backing out of a parking spot is about the hardest thing. i have had the rack on the car for 11-12 years and no problems. There is no slop going down the road. I would ask why it was taken off.

Eventually i would like to add EPAS to what I have.

**Posted by rpm** 10/17/2024 5:44 PM

M1Mustang69 wrote:
For sure Bob, but we're in Canada just to be clear.

Also, this is a NON POWER RACK.

Bobe, the car came out of a 68 Mustang, so same car.

I just don't want to go from a soft sloppy factory ford system that leaks a touch to a system that sucks to drive with and is poor quality......does Unisteer make quality products?

Did you mention Canada because shipping is expen$ive?

We refer to non power steering as Armstrong, which I currently have on my 69.

**Posted by Steve69** 10/18/2024 7:43 AM

I have a powered unisteer rack since 2012. The turning radius isn't great. It makes some noise when its warmed up and slow turning. If I was going to do it again I would of went a different route.

**Posted by Steve69** 10/18/2024 7:45 AM

Alan wrote:
I have that rack on my 67 coupe. Has a 5.0 also. I like it going down the road, only troubles are in parking lots going slow. I had a 13-1/2 steering wheel on it, had to go to a 15" wheel. Just too hard to turn with the smaller wheel.

Do you have any issues when its warm slow turning making some noise? It seems more like a vibration from the wheel turning when moving slow or turning the wheel while the car is stopped. I dont think its the pump. I have a serpentine belt so its tight. Im thinking its the rack. Its seem louder in the car than outside. When I had my son turn the wheel while I was outside it wasn't that loud like in the car. Thanks Steve69

Last edited by Steve69 (10/18/2024 7:47 AM)

**Posted by M1Mustang69** 10/18/2024 9:03 AM

Steve69 wrote:
Alan wrote:
I have that rack on my 67 coupe. Has a 5.0 also. I like it going down the road, only troubles are in parking lots going slow. I had a 13-1/2 steering wheel on it, had to go to a 15" wheel. Just too hard to turn with the smaller wheel.

Do you have any issues when its warm slow turning making some noise? It seems more like a vibration from the wheel turning when moving slow or turning the wheel while the car is stopped. I dont think its the pump. I have a serpentine belt so its tight. Im thinking its the rack. Its seem louder in the car than outside. When I had my son turn the wheel while I was outside it wasn't that loud like in the car. Thanks Steve69

Steve we're talking about non-power unisteer system.

**Posted by John Ha** 10/19/2024 5:04 AM

M1Mustang69 wrote:
I just don't want to go from a soft sloppy factory ford system that leaks a touch

Don't know if you're interested but there's a well-known fellow (Dan at Chockostang) who rebuilds the factory boxes. He has an A+++ reputation for quality and customer service. It might be easier in the long run to get in touch with him and have your box, etc. rebuilt. His phone number and email are on his website (linked above).

He's also very good with power steering stuff and can undoubtedly help you with your touchy leaks.

Last edited by John Ha (10/19/2024 5:31 AM)

**Posted by rpm** 10/19/2024 2:01 PM

John Ha wrote:
M1Mustang69 wrote:
I just don't want to go from a soft sloppy factory ford system that leaks a touch
Don't know if you're interested but there's a well-known fellow (Dan at Chockostang) who rebuilds the factory boxes. He has an A+++ reputation for quality and customer service. It might be easier in the long run to get in touch with him and have your box, etc. rebuilt. His phone number and email are on his website (linked above).

He's also very good with power steering stuff and can undoubtedly help you with your touchy leaks.

Ya butt... don't you dare mention rear disc brakes to him or the brake Nazis will show up.

**Posted by 50vert** 10/19/2024 2:18 PM

rpm wrote:
Ya butt... don't you dare mention rear disc brakes to him or the brake Nazis will show up.

So very true.

**Posted by riwall** 10/21/2024 6:47 PM

I have the POWER Unisteer R&P in my '67 Coupe. I had a lot of initial issues with it - went through 2 or 3 pumps before it got sorted out. They gave me quite a runaround for a month or two at the time. It has been 6 or 7 years now and it has been fine since the initial problems.