hi there my 87 245. the steering is very hard to turn the wheel i just installed new ball joints, inner and outer tie rods, and flushed the fluid good.the steering is hard still. almost like it is power steering every other second. it looks like it was messed with by previous owner there were two different inner tie rods on it when i bought the car. and the steering u joints seem to line up like on my other bricks.i mean like the driveshaft u joints line up. so i figure it needs a rack. found one at junkyard it looks almost new compared to the rest of the oil covered parts.but is is a zf and i have a cam brand. will they interchange? or should i keep looking? i am not in a real big hurry the car isnt registered yet.

thanks for any advice.

85 244, 163,000
86 244, 110,000
87 245, broken odo at 129,000
70 ford f-100 73,000 2nd owner.

I would try lubing the steering shaft u-jounts before replacing the rack.Mine had this problem and after lubing both upper and lower the problem is gone(for now).
--
philvo '86 245 215k,'90 240 196k,'87 SAAB 900 SPG 213k

thanks for the information.

If you pull a unit from a salvage yard, be sure to get the spacers that fit under or over the rack at the U-bolts at the same time.

I got a used rack at the yard and had to go back and get the spacers since the two racks were not of the same manufacturer.

Duane

You can interchange them, but I'd concentrate on your steering column u-joints. My 91 is a bit stiff now, and I know it needs u-joints. I'll probably replace the whole column from u-joint to u-joint. They're kind of expensive new. Had to replace the lower one in my 87. Not fun but you can do it with normal hand tools. If you get the junkyard rack, try to get the whole steering shaft up to the upper joint with it.
The racks will interchange, but the inner tie rods and boots are obviously different. Outers are the same and the column is the same.
--
Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: '87 244DL/M47- 225K, 88 744GLE- 209K, 91 244 183K. Also responsible for the care and feeding of: 88 745GLE, 229K, 88 244GL, 146K, 87 244DL, 235K, 88 245DL, 236K