Because I was having issues with the steering rack from my 1986 XJ6 I purchased another rack from a salvage yard that was parting out a 1986 XJ6 vanden plas. They said the rack didnt leak so I bought it sight unseen.
Just got the rack tonight (late UPS delivery!) and when I unpacked the rack I immediately knew it looked different, but it did have the familiar 3 bolt mounting points. I took it out to the garage to compare to the adwest rack and this is a ZF rack with what looks to be all of the same mounting points and overall dimensions.
Is this possible? Is this an XJ40 rack that will also fit the earlier models? It looks to be in great condition so I am hoping for the best with it.

 

Its a late xjs rack. The xjs used zf racks from 1993 to 1996 and its a much better design. You got lucky! Better feel, lower weight and a much more robust design.

It will fit and operate just fine. Plus it offer a improved and modern but jaguar like feel.

The fluid fittings are in a slighly diffrent location but some hand bending of the existing lines will make it work.

 

Please define "better feel."
Does that mean the steering is stiffer or lighter?
(';')

 

Yeah, so subjective. It is the ratio of driver gear teeth to the rack teeth.
One driver turn = how much rack travel?


Quick but requiring more muscle or easier but more twist of the wheel required.


Flick of the wrist vs spin the wheel ala steersman on a boat!!!


Good info for the archives.


Carl

 

The ZF racks have a better feel because of the design and tighter tolerances in the spool valve. ZF racks are known for this characteristic. Its not necessarilary a stiffer or lighter thing. Its about internal friction, spool valve tolerances, and the precice operation of the torsion bar in the rack that embodies feel. A well designed rack can be light, precise and have good feel. For its day in late 1969 the adwest rack was revolutionary but the design was basically the same until 1993 when jag switched to a moden ZF rack in the xjs. One can only assume the jag engeneers felt the difference and specified the switch.

 

Excellent, so for future reference I should look for 1993-1996 XJS's in the junkyard for the steering racks. Good to know!

 

Aside the ZF, which other car's rack will/can fit 1985 model XJ6?