Power steering rack differences

Hi guys, haven't posted for a seriously long time (in fact I doubt there's anyone left on here now that I recognize !).
The steering rack on my 850r is bleeding badly from the rack boot so need a new rack but non of my trade contacts can get one anymore.
I noticed that there are two racks listed for 850's (TRW or SMI) with the TRW one being original fitment on the R which is the one I can't get.
From what I've read the main differences between the TRW and the SMI is just the inner rack ends (which shouldn't matter). Anybody fitted an SMI rack in place of the TRW or know if there are any reason they can't be interchangeable (pipe connections etc) as I can probably get a SMI one.

Thanks

Dont know if its any help but when the rack went on my 850R i just fitted a rack off a 2.5na and its been fine ever since couldn't tell you if its a smi or trw rack but it fitted with no issues

I think looking at this thread the answer is no (someone says the pipe angles are different)
http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=79902

You can get rebuild kits for the TRW racks, I got one and rebuilt the one on my blue 850 AWD as it was losing lots of fluid (oddly my green 850 AWD has an SMI one fitted). If you're good with taking things apart then it's not too hard a job (I have a rebuild guide I can send you if you fancy doing it).

This is the kit I got
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-850-...A8G18ismrDrGnQ

Thanks for that Dave, just read through that post and there does seem to be possible issues with compatibility. Have seen the rebuild kits on ebay and don't think fitting one would be a problem. My only issue is that I'm a mechanic by trade and I can get 'ramp' time at work to swap the rack but not enough time to strip and rebuild the old one as well. I think I'm going to have to buy a second hand rack from somewhere, rebuild that one then fit it. (oh, if I do I may well grab your rebuild guide from you thanks )

Sorry bud, I should have remembered you were a mechanic. Should be easy for you then mate :)

As you can imagine it is a bit of a job just to get the thing off the car but the rebuild didn't take long (and I had to clean all the oil/crap off it first).

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Originally Posted by Dangerous Dave

Sorry bud, I should have remembered you were a mechanic. Should be easy for you then mate :)

As you can imagine it is a bit of a job just to get the thing off the car but the rebuild didn't take long (and I had to clean all the oil/crap off it first).

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Never had to rebuild a rack before (never needed to !). Always something new to learn/c*ck up !

When mine went the garage ended up having to get mine reconditioned as the parts suppliers kept sending the wrong one.

Thought I would just post the results of my rack search (may be of use to someone as 850 parts start to dry up !).

I emailed the guys at Norfolk Volvo Spares who have always been helpful to see if I could get the correct rack secondhand so I could rebuild it prior to fitting. They informed me that currently they had none BUT when they had previously sold 850 racks they had been just that, a rack from an 850 and they were unaware that there were different ones and nobody had returned one because it didn't fit !

I had a look on ECP at a rack for a 2.5 petrol 850 and that was a different part number to the one listed for the R. For reference (and please understand I am in no way recommending ECP or their products personally they are just one of several suppliers we use at work) the R (or T5) rack is ECP part number 603660170 (just plug the number into the search box on their website) and completely unavailable from both them and other trade suppliers we use.
The rack I decided to risk (which was special order and non-returnable !) was ECP number 603660140. This rack also ended up being TRW.

I fitted the new rack yesterday and on side by side comparison the main differences were that my old rack was of all alloy construction (including all the mountings and the engine mount). The new rack had an alloy casing for the pinion housing with a steel tube pressed into making up the remained of the rack housing.
The passenger side rack mounting flange and the engine mount were welded steel brackets on the new rack rather than cast alloy like on the old
. Despite the differences everything fitted perfectly including the hydraulic pipe connections and splined UJ clamp, no modifying, bending or forcing was required.

Sorry, bit long winded but I thought it might be useful !

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Originally Posted by nobananas

Thought I would just post the results of my rack search (may be of use to someone as 850 parts start to dry up !).

I emailed the guys at Norfolk Volvo Spares who have always been helpful to see if I could get the correct rack secondhand so I could rebuild it prior to fitting. They informed me that currently they had none BUT when they had previously sold 850 racks they had been just that, a rack from an 850 and they were unaware that there were different ones and nobody had returned one because it didn't fit !

I had a look on ECP at a rack for a 2.5 petrol 850 and that was a different part number to the one listed for the R. For reference (and please understand I am in no way recommending ECP or their products personally they are just one of several suppliers we use at work) the R (or T5) rack is ECP part number 603660170 (just plug the number into the search box on their website) and completely unavailable from both them and other trade suppliers we use.
The rack I decided to risk (which was special order and non-returnable !) was ECP number 603660140. This rack also ended up being TRW.

I fitted the new rack yesterday and on side by side comparison the main differences were that my old rack was of all alloy construction (including all the mountings and the engine mount). The new rack had an alloy casing for the pinion housing with a steel tube pressed into making up the remained of the rack housing.
The passenger side rack mounting flange and the engine mount were welded steel brackets on the new rack rather than cast alloy like on the old
. Despite the differences everything fitted perfectly including the hydraulic pipe connections and splined UJ clamp, no modifying, bending or forcing was required.

Sorry, bit long winded but I thought it might be useful !

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Happy ending then :)

Thanks for the parts info. As you say, parts are getting hard to come by, I had a bit of trouble sourcing a standard M56 gearbox for my V70!

There are many racks using this 2 part construction, it keeps down costs in tooling etc and can allow more than one to be cast at a time, we do the same with meriva and fiat power steering racks at Castalum where I work. The hydraulic pressure is only required in a small area of the steering rack so the aluminium cast area can be reduced considerably and a metal tube construction used for the rest, reducing production costs..... that probably doesn't get passed on to the poor motorist though, if going by some of the prices I've seen....glad you've got it sorted and thanks for the info.

Mines currently being repaired again. Guessing by the difficulties in sourcing a replacement last year it's a trw rack on my 850 t5. Hopefully should be sorted next week

I'm hoping to refurb my racks with a seal kit from ebay or pfs, should be a simple enough job if I'm able to get it apart easily

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Originally Posted by MoleT-5R

I'm hoping to refurb my racks with a seal kit from ebay or pfs, should be a simple enough job if I'm able to get it apart easily

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I found it quite easy, just messy due to all the fluid.

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Originally Posted by Dangerous Dave

I found it quite easy, just messy due to all the fluid.

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lol....I'm expecting that, as I work with hydraulics at work and have had many hydraulic showers, even though I though I'd released all the pressures with in, something still surprises you and makes a mess

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Originally Posted by MoleT-5R

lol....I'm expecting that, as I work with hydraulics at work and have had many hydraulic showers, even though I though I'd released all the pressures with in, something still surprises you and makes a mess

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Indeed, I got a face full of brake fluid before Christmas, was bleeding the clutch slave, the bleed pipe I was using got blocked and as the pressure built up it exploded in my face as I was looking down right above it. Fortunately I was OK after some rinsing

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Originally Posted by Dangerous Dave

Indeed, I got a face full of brake fluid before Christmas, was bleeding the clutch slave, the bleed pipe I was using got blocked and as the pressure built up it exploded in my face as I was looking down right above it. Fortunately I was OK after some rinsing

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where was your P.P.E. safety goggles must be mandatory these days, working on cars or arguing the need for parts with the misses......lol

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Originally Posted by MoleT-5R

... or arguing the need for parts with the misses...

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Originally Posted by Doingitsideways

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That picture reminds me of when my stepson did his basic training with the welsh guards, they had to go and be an angry mob for the riot police to practice on, a though it was great getting paid to chuck rocks and stuff at the police, I know he would of done it for free, if the had asked.