Technical Stilo steering rack compatibility

[SchumacherM]

Hi all, my 1.8 3 door Stilo has a duff steering rack and I've been looking at used ones like any other chap on a budget. Trouble is that according to ePER, only the 1.8 and 2.4 have identical racks and there are none avaliable secondhand over here. There are loads of JTD and 1.6 racks, but how to know if it fits?

As far as I know, the 1.8 and 2.4 have larger turning circles, so could it be that the racks are all identical and only the inner tie rods are varied in lenght? (pic below) So i planned to get a JTD rack, fit new 1.8 tie rods and track rod ends and be on my way.



I find it hard to believe that the italians would fit so many different ones. What's the catch?

 

[Davren]

As far as I know, the 1.8 and 2.4 have larger turning circles, so could it be that the racks are all identical and only the inner tie rods are varied in lenght? So i planned to get a JTD rack, fit new 1.8 tie rods and track rod ends and be on my way.

You are correct that the 1.8 and 2.4 racks have a larger turning circle, but I don't see how just changing the length of the tie rods would accomplish that. I think it's more likely to be a different ratio rack and pinion, with different pitch teeth.

If you get a second hand rack, bear in mind that there are two different size fixings for early and later cars.
.

 

[SchumacherM]

Weird how noone I ask has a definitive answer So lets just say I get a JTD rack from 2002; same year as my car; and fit 1.8 tie rods. From what I gather that should work.

 

[Davren]

Weird how noone I ask has a definitive answer

Stilo steering racks don't often fail. I guess anyone that does need one, just gets the correct replacement rack.
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[SchumacherM]

Mine has developed an audible and physical clunk as I turn the wheel. Start in the centre and whilst going full left or right it clunks. Also, had the car up on a ramp and you can actually jiggle the inner tie rod around at its junction with the rack. This also produces an annoying rattle going over rough surfaces.

I did research the problem a lot, not many suffered this and found this "cure", new end bushes. But I have a feeling that these wouldn't cure the problem completely.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/STEERING-RACK-END-BUSH-FIAT-BRAVO-STILO-/281775220345

 

[Davren]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/STEERING-RACK-END-BUSH-FIAT-BRAVO-STILO-/281775220345

The part for sale in the eBay listing appears to be the rack bush (item 2 in the diagram). A clunk or rattle noise is more likely to be caused by one of the tie rod inner swivel joints, which they don't supply separately.
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[SchumacherM]

I planned on replacing just those, but one the car was raised and the rubber cover removed, you can see that the rack itself jiggles where it exits the housing.

When all said and done, the cheapest option could be the 250€ one to get a refurbished 1.8 rack.