Picked up a steering rack from an xjs for my upcoming xjc project. How do I tell from the identification plate what it is? i.e sports rack etc.

Can't find anything by searching sites or google.

 

AFAIK, there were only two racks used. The original supplier ADWESt, which were later replaced by the ZF rack (on the facelifts I think, but am not certain). The ZF rack has the name and ID plate on it.

For production cars, I do not think there were any other racks offered, such as quick racks etc. The ADWEST rack is a little lower geared than the ZF from memory, and more assisted. When my ADWEST rack started leaking, I replaced it with a ZF.

Greg

 

I was going by the info on RackPinionHeads

Trouble is there's no mention of labelling.

My 1992 xjs has the sports pack option but the lables fallen off the rack!

 

I am pretty sure that the sports pack did not involve a different rack, just springs and shocks. I also think that by 1992 you had the ZF rack as standard.

If you can take a photo, I can compare it with my ZF (on car) and my Adwest on the spare front subframe I have.

Greg

 

Thanks I will as soon as I can.
AFAIK there was definitely a sports rack for the xjs (and another one for the the xjrs), as far as I can gather from the link above it was an internal difference in the torsion bar thickness.
I don't really want to dismantle it to measure it but may have to at some stage. I suppose it might be a good idea to replace some seals as well.

 

Could be anything on an XJR-S! There was a difference between the saloon rack and the XJS rack, I believe both gearing and assistance, and the XJ Coupé would have had a saloon rack, maybe this difference is what you are picking up?

I still believe that if you ordered the sports pack on a factory spec XJS, you got the same rack as a standard spec car.

I'll look out for the photo.

Greg

 

Different part numbers are shown with/without sports pack. Not sure what or how significant the differences are, though.

Didn't the sport pack racks have spacers at the ends to restrict full-lock wheel movement....so the 235/60 tires wouldn't rub the body? Something like that?

Not sure if this will work but, if it does, you can drill down and see the various part numbers

Steering Rack and Pinion-5.3 Litre - Parts for XJS from (V)139052 to (V)179736 | Jaguar Classic Parts UK

Cheers
DD

 

Thanks Doug that was a useful link.
I have a CBC4648N rack which is, according to that site, a standard rack as fitted to a 3.6 xjs.
So unlikely to be a sports rack. Still looks in very good condition.

 

It's "normal" for manufacturers on their sports models to change the relief valve spring on the rack to offer less assist. I would bet that was the only change to the sports racks.
Also, the most common way manufacturers change steering "quickness" on cars with rack and pinion is to slightly shorten the steering arms on the hub.

 

According to RackPinionHeads Jaguar were not normal!!
Ther were a confusing number of racks with different pinons and torsion bars depending on the model and type of car. Ideally I was looking for the sportsrack with the .235 torsion bar, but may have to use the 8 tooth one I've got now.