Hi all I recently purchased a 98 el fairmont ghia. Being the el ghia it was fitted with the speed sensitive rack. When I picked it up it was all working well until a mate took it for a drive and he came back with the steering being stupidly stiff (pretty sure he may have guttered it).

Jacked car up made sure all was well and that nothing was bent (all was good) but when turning wheel was really hard and especially in certain spots. Dropped the rack and and made sure everything was moving freely and once again checked for anything bent etc which it wasn't.

The rack I pull out was stupidly hard to move compared to another rack
I picked up today.

Ended up getting a rack to replace it from a el fairmont (non speed sensitive)

I was under the impression that you could use the non speed sensitive rack in an el ghia but you just wouldn't get the speed sensitive option.

After installing the new non speed sensitive rack in the car the car seems to have no power steering at all? No assistance at all.

Was I wrong when I was under the impression you can use a non speed sensitive rack in an el ghia with the speed sensitive option not commect it up and everything will work fine (apart from speed sensitive option which is no loner hooked up) or am I quite wrong and this is why there is no power steering now?

Cheers

sure its not the pump ?

I was thinking it could be that but because the car had been guttered (most likely) I was thinking rack.

Was waiting for someone to confirm either way if the non sensitive rack is suitable to use in speed sensitve el ghia or not before going any further with p/s pump

Wouldn't matter what rack was in it, it should work.....sounds like something is wrong with the pump....wonder if it popped the big circlip out ?????

Rack should still work, SSPS or not. Check your pump.

Cheers for replies guys that was the impression I was under but didn't wanna go grab a pump if I didn't have to (ran out of spares here)

I will let you guys know

Cheers

I put a normal rack in my Wagon (which had full NL gear in it) after the SSPS rack karked it.

steering was noticably heavier compared to SSPS, but still worked perfect.
just ensure the intermediate shaft isnt binding on the firewall.