Hi all

Hoping for some parts details from the hive mind! 

Anyone know if steering racks are interchangeable between petrol/diesel? 

Visually they look identical but part numbers seem to differ

I have a feeling the rack in my MK2 prefacelift 2008 1.6 petrol 100hp is not long for this world anymore as it feels stiff and knocks when turning from dead straight when cold. 

I've seen a couple on eBay for less than £30 delivered but they seen to have come out of a 1.6 TDCi and another from a 1.8TDCi

I'm well aware a second hand rack has the risk of not being much better but it's a chance I'm willing to take given the saving.

If anyone has managed to previously interchange them then please do let me know! 

Thanks in advance

Your 1.6 Duratec Petrol engine (and also the 1.4 Duratec Petrol engine) has a mechanical engine driven power steering system.

All other Petrol and Diesel engine types have the EHPAS (Electro Hydraulic Power Assisted Steering) system.

Steering racks are not interchangeable between these differten systems.

6 hours ago, JW1982 said:

Your 1.6 Duratec Petrol engine (and also the 1.4 Duratec Petrol engine) has a mechanical engine driven power steering system.

All other Petrol and Diesel engine types have the EHPAS (Electro Hydraulic Power Assisted Steering) system.

Steering racks are not interchangeable between these differten systems.

I didn't realize the 1.6HDi had an electronic pump, but that does sound perfectly logical and has saved me wasting time with those diesel racks!

Thank you, that clears things up, just got to find the part number for the 1.6 petrol rack if anyone knows a website for me to find that out so I can find a cheap second hand one without having to go under the car to look on the existing rack!

I’m not trying to say anything that has been said is wrong.  Petrol uses a mechanical belt driven pump to supply fluid under pressure to the rack.  Diesel uses an electric pump to supply fluid under pressure to the rack.  That in itself does not explain why the rack is different.  It might be different inside due to different amount of pressure from the different pumps .  I don’t know the answer. 

5 hours ago, isetta said:

I’m not trying to say anything that has been said is wrong.  Petrol uses a mechanical belt driven pump to supply fluid under pressure to the rack.  Diesel uses an electric pump to supply fluid under pressure to the rack.  That in itself does not explain why the rack is different.  It might be different inside due to different amount of pressure from the different pumps .  I don’t know the answer. 

That's a fair point, I expect the shape of the rack and mounting points to be the same, however the EHPAS models would have different pipes/hoses so the inlet and outlet hydraulic ports may be different