1.2 16V steering rack, will it fit 172 steering column?

Hi all,

I´d like to ask for advice. Long story short, during gearbox removal I managed to f.ck up my hydraulic steering rack. So I need another one, but since I got rid of HPAS years ago and I have learned to live with looped rack, I´m thinking about replacing my damaged rack with cheap non hydraulic one from 1.2 or dci clio. It´s not about the money though, weight saving is the reason. I know that the best (quickest) rack to use is the 7700437055, but I can´t find it anywhere for sale at the moment (same with oem 172 one). So I will have to saddle for the slower version for now, then I will sort out some quick rack over the winter time. I have read a many similar threads but can´t find the answer to my question: I understand that the non hydraulic rack from the 1.2 or dci will fit to the subframe no problem, but will it also fit to my 172 steering column? People who go EPAS usually change their rack together with the column, but I don´t need EPAS, so I would not need to change the column, if it fits one to another. So if anyone knows, I´ll be grateful for advice, thanks.

1.2 rack goes straight on. Use the 172 tie rods on it.

Thanks, it really was straight fit. For those who may be interested, with allready looped rack and 182 manifold it´s not that difficult job, just wheels off, airbox and battery out and had to move aside the ECU bracket to get access to the column bolt. The unbolted rack with a little fiddling and turning goes out from the drivers side, well, not easily, but it is possible. Subframe, manifold and everything else was not touched. Then the slim mechanical rack goes in easily. From very start to finish even with string aligning front wheels it took like 5 hours of not very intense work. I used probably remanufactured rack from Elstock, ELT 14-0865. In the description was 3,3 turns, but to my surprise when I checked it, it was only 2,75 turns. So it looks like nobody knows what´s what anymore when it comes to Renault steering racks. For the weight hunters, the bare 172 hydraulic rack without tie rods is 6,5 kgs, the mechanical one again without the tie rods is 4,4 kgs. So 2,1 kgs saving. With the rack being 2,75 turns just like the hydraulic one, the steering feels pretty much the same, maybe a bit heavier due all the parts being new and stiff. Also I noticed a sense of vibration in the steering wheel when idling, but it´s not surprising since this rack is bolted directly to the subframe without any bushings. So everything works fine and the car is another 2,1 kg lighter, so I´m satisfied with this mod. And when one day I will be old and weak, the car is half ready for the EPAS.

Ive changed a rack in situ without dropping subframe, not too bad.

The solid mounted dci rack is loads better than oem in my opinion. Never been a fan of the bushes on the mounting points on oem.