You can find the type of steering that was originally installed
from the information on the service plate.
The service plate is located on either the Trunk frame or the Door pillar.
Look for "Steering Gear".
To the right you will see a number.
2, 4, or 5 means a Cam steering Rack was used.
3 means a ZF steering Rack was used.

Hy eyyu,

You're in Manchester, MO? Heck, I'm like a 15-minute drive from you. If you ever need help ....

You have not very much choice for quality import auto parts in the greater St Loogey, Misery metroplex region. If they do offer Euro imports, you pay an arm and a leg. That includes West County and Dean Team Brentwood Volvo Stealerships.

At any rate, as jwalker says. Here are the steering component offerings at iPd USA in Portland, OR. Note both the set of inner tie rods and outer tie rods for all Volvo 740. (Copy and Paste the URL)

https://www.ipdusa.com/prodtype.asp?CAT_ID=1060&numRecordPosition=0&categorycrumbs=987

Here are the offerings at FCP Euro in Groton, CT.

https://www.fcpeuro.com/Volvo-parts/740/Tie-Rods?year=1988&e=914&m=207&page=1

Your CAM rack is made by TRW (I'll guess).

Best place for a complete rack:
http://www.jorgenauto.com/rack-pinion/volvo.html

Tasca Parts in Cranston, RI.

http://www.tascaparts.com/auto-parts/volvo

With parts identified and part numbers in hand, you can call around to the NAPA in Manchester and other stores to see what you can find.

Though the Pick N Pull at 7557 Hall St, St. Louis, MO 63147 and the Speedway Auto Salvage on the east side may help.

You can see Pick and Pull inventory through the vehicle search by zip code and choose the auto make as Volvo (with no other winnowing choice) so you can see all Volvos by a radius from your zip code.

http://row52.com/

I'd be wary of brands like MTC, URO, APA, and maybe Karlyn. Maybe they are better now.

TRW, Dayna / Spicer (made in China, anyhoo), Lemforder, and the like are I guess still considered okay.

Use red thread locker on clean threads. And use a punch to distort the metal near or at the seam on the tie rod side to better secure the tie rods to the rack and to each other.

As you have both inner tie rod rack boots off, clean off the old crease by moving the rack back and forth. Apply a new NLGI-1 (softer grease to the rack and work the rack back and forth. You want enough grease to lube the rack, yet not so much grease as to obstruct air exchange as you steering left and right as air travels inside the rack as one boot collapses, the other expands.

You know this stuff, yet I seem to want to mention it again.

Questions?

Hope that helps. Happy Friday!

Garlic MacDuff.
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