88 festiva steering rack swap to 90-94 steering rack.

[Battlewagon]

Hey! I’ve got an 88 festiva and the steering rack is about shot. I’m wanting to get a rebuilt one from the festiva store. What all do I need to do the swap? I’ve heard the steering rack brackets are different also I need inner tie rod ends form a 90-94. Can I use my 88 outer tie rod ends? Anything else I’ll need to replace or any parts I need to buy along with the steering rack?

[skeeters_keeper]

You pretty much nailed it - the rubber mounts that go from the steering rack to the body are different (ask Ben when you order, he may have some extras) and the inner rod ends are different.
The outer rod ends are the same, and everything else should be fine.

[AlaskaFestivaGuy]

SK-

So, please confirm that this is what you're saying:

1. Rebuilt 88-89 racks are not available.
2. 90-93 racks are available, and are suitable drop-in replacements for 88-89 racks, provided one has good-condition 90-93 bushings to go with them.
3. There are no known sources for new bushings, not even for 90-93 racks.

Is there any reason I should NOT "upgrade" the racks in all of my 88/89 LXs (of which have a total of four -- I like LXs) to 90-93 racks, provided I have good-condition 90-93 bushings to go with them?

If all of the above is true, has anybody looked into getting 90-93 rack bushings manufactured, or a suitable good-fit alternative for them? How about Kia Rio rack bushings? I've had good luck with substituting 2002 Rio rubber parts onto Festies, particularly the rubber "spring cushions" that sit on top of the coil springs. In fact, I recently bought all of Kia's remaining spring cushion parts nationwide -- about 10 of them.

I think I will the rack from one of my GL parts cars to the local Kia dealer on Monday to see what's available in the way of new bushings that fit them.

[AlaskaFestivaGuy]

I just realized that I posted above to the wrong thread -- I thought SK was replying to the similar thread I had started!