steering rack

[DANNY8]

Just wondering if the VN and VP steering racks are the same?

[Jxw]

i think they are, if not there won't be much difference, vl, vn, vp, vq use the same inner and outer tie rod ends, never actually sat the rack side by side to compare but they should all be interchangeable

[DANNY8]

I know the VN has a slightly narrower track width then the VP. A mate's VP needs another rack and I found a VN one just need to know if they are identical....don't want to buy it if it aint gonna fit lol.

[Jxw]

maybe someone can confirm this but i imagine the track width difference would be taken into account with the tie rod threads and wheel alignment adjustments....

can you see a model number on the rack or brand etc? i have an 88 and a 91 vn here i can crawl under n compare the numbers

[VPRob]

In my experience they are NOT the same and are not readily interchangeable. I have a working VN rack that I intended to put into my VP but found it had a different fitting where it attached to the bottom end of the steering rod. Showed it to Selby suspension in Nowra, he looked at his books and said he couldn't modify it either as the seal for the VP fitting wouldn't fit the outside flange as that was a different dimension also. Mind you he could have sold me a reco.d rack but I think he was absolutely on the level. It MAY be possible to put in a different steering arm but that a different story and I haven't done that. I also can't tell you whether the changes apply to all VNs and VPs or exactly where in the production the changes occurred.
Between you and me I got a new rack from Repco at a great price ($175, I think) cos they were clearing old stock. that was about May, 2011. Less than half the price anywhere else so good luck with that.
I still have the VN rack that Selby checked out, adjusted and installed some new seals in that I intended to use in my car. It's for sale for $80 which is what it cost me but it won't help you cos it's won't fit your mate's VP either. Maybe I am allowed to use the for sale on this site by now? From memory the VP has a machined flat that will only go onto the steering arm in 1 position.
The VN has a burred fitting that could go onto the steering arm in many different positions cheers Rob

[wortus]

I'm pretty sure that VN's and VP's have the same front wheel track and the track increased with the introduction of the VR. You may be able to use the VN rack but you'd probably have to change the steering shaft with the flex couplings to match assuming the VN shaft will fit inot the VP column at the top end which I don't know.
What's wrong with your current rack? Is it leaking seals or just worn rack ends?

[DANNY8]

Thx for the info guys, will just be easier finding a VP rack I'd say lol.

[Jxw]

thanks wortus, i thought they were the same also.

will upload more pics but here's the first lot, 86 vl (due to size i've added them as clickable thumbnails)
18.5mm input shaft





I know the 91 vn has a different looking input shaft, it has a flat spot to line the bolt up so it can only go in 1 way give or take a spline each side unlike the vl which you can pretty much put the bolt through anywhere with the grove around the outside.

88 vn calais




91 vn



same part numbers on the joiner for the 86 vl and 91 vn, clean the vp one up and check for pn 92027316, if it's the same then a vn rack will fit, couldn't hurt to ring around any steering places in your area though to double check or even somewhere like repco/autobarn/pedders and see if they have the same part number listing for the rack across different models
i know the vl psteering rack has 2.68 lock to lock ratio and it chased by speedway drivers, gregorys list the vn as the same, unsure about vp, 2.85 for a vr
my 88 vn seems lighter on the steering almost the same as the vl compared to my 91 vn which is heavier (might be that it has brand new inner & outer tie rods though)
from a bit of quick research it seems the calais and stato racks are different to standard vp's but it's the net so how good that info is i don't know.

as asked earlier, what exactly is the problem with the current rack? if it's not leaking and just excessive play in the tie rods then something like
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Holden-Co...item336c4eb004
may be the cheaper option, those ones are made in taiwan and so far after 800km's in my car they're holding up quite well, another mechanic i know into speedway racing also uses them and confirms they're quite reliable.

[wortus]

My VN developed a very slight amount of play and it turned out to be the coupling to the steering shaft you have shown. The "lock" nuts lost their lock and one had come slightly loose over time. The nuts are NLA from Holden so you might have to get some nylock nuts or use thread locker?