Hey guys,

I've got a 2007 F150 King Ranch 4x4 and I hit a pothole last week and busted a power steering line and somehow damaged my rack & pinion.

So here is my issue...

My mechanic tells me that theres a metal plate that sits on top of my rack & pinion that everything hooks into.

All of the aftermarket R&P units I have seen do not have this metal plate.

So I called Ford and asked their parts people about this metal plate and the first guy said he had never heard of it, and assumed it may have been a heat shield. He asked me to get my VIN and call him back. So I called back with my VIN # and a different guy answered and took my VIN # and said, yeah- your truck has a metal plate that sits on top of the rack & pinion. So I asked him how come none of the aftermarket ones has the same metal plate? He said that they cannot guarantee that the aftermarket units will be identical to theirs, not could he guarantee that it will even work. He gave me the Ford part #(8L3Z3504BRM) but I cannot find anything online about this rack & pinion with a metal plate on top.

So my question is, will the aftermarket r&p setup work on my truck, even if the hoses attach in a different spot? or has anyone else ran into this?

I'm looking at a Ford cost of upwards of $700, compared to an online aftermarket unit of $300.

Any help is appreciated!

 

http://www.tascaparts.com/oe-ford/8l3z3504brm

$396.46 for OEM from Tasca.

 

Thanks glc. I typed in "ford + part #" and then all the numbers and it wasn't coming up with anything. But with the dashes in between, its actually showing results.

Its a lot more expensive that the other aftermarket rack and pinion setups. I don't necessarily care to pay the extra to get this one, but if the cheaper aftermarket one fits and works, am I able to go that route? (Got our 2nd child due in less than 2 months and trying to save as much as we can.)

In all honesty- I am planning on trading it in as soon as I get it back for the wife a newer SUV. Its not that I want to put the wrong part on and screw someone.. I'm simply asking if the cheaper ones will work and function properly?

NAPA gave me a part number of 22-279.

 

$396.76 is a lot better than $700.

I also see remans online for $250 with that part number.

Type that part number into Google with no dashes, then click the Shopping link.

 

So, heres a quick update- I called an online auto parts place and they guaranteed the rack and pinion I was ordering would fit on my truck. So I ordered it.

It comes in, and I take it to my mechanic, and he tells me it wont fit because the lines did not come attached to it. (B/c FORD told him that the lines I need are attached to the rack and pinion already.)

So, long story short, all I have needed all this time is a return line from my rack and pinion. Yes, we have considered a makeshift return line, but what my mechanic is saying, is that I only have about 1/2 inch of line sticking out of the rack and its not enough for him to attach to.

So when we call Ford- they tell us I need a whole new rack and pinion because they do not sell the return lines separately and that they are "attached" from factory. Even though they can be removed. So I called Ford again this morning and the guy explains it better and says that there are 2 return lines. 1 of them goes to the reservoir, which can be replaced. The other goes to the gear, and cannot be replaced and I have to order the entire rack.

Guess I gotta bite the bullet and order it, but I don't understand why Ford would make a setup where you cannot replace a return line.

Anyone else ever run into this?

 

Ok- So I called a different FORD dealership and actually spoke to a very knowledgeable parts guy. He was familiar with my rack and pinion and explained everything I needed to know. Come to find out, the line I needed was in fact a return line, and was able to be ordered by Ford, but he suggested I get it from Napa bc I could get it quicker. Ford wanted $72 for it, and Napa had it in stock for $29. I guess I lucked out on talking to someone who was familiar with this rack and pinion and was actually willing to explain and describe what I needed. Now I'm sending back my new rack and pinion and savin some $ hopefully.

Thanks for the input glc.