OK, so who has done this?

Mine's been leaking since I got the car, and the time is drawing near to do something about it. If I didn't have my C3 still in a million pieces, I might be more inclined. It looks like a royal PITA. Local shop has quoted ~$500 pretty much evenly between parts and labor including an alignment afterwards. I know that even if I buy the part thru a vendor to do it myself, its like $200 or so.

What do ya think? Might this be $300 well spent not to have to tackle this?

There is not anyway to rebuild it in place is there?

 

Just to fill you in on my problems with rack replacement...

I bought my car in sept. and it leaked bad so I took it to the dealership and it cost about $800 for them to do it but I got a 1 year warrenty on parts and labor... thank god for that! First of all it took about 2 weeks for the gm parts supplyer to get me the part (bear in mind I have a Z52 with the fast rack, 2 turns lock to lock). The day I got my car back it was leaking again so I took it there and they said the new rack was leaking at a seal and since it was under warrenty they had to fix it all again. (I would have been screwed for labor costs if I would have bought one on my own and had a local shop do it). Then another 2 weeks go by before I get my car back... I get it and immediatly notice I have the slow rack, 2.5 turns lock to lock... Super pissed off!!!

So I take it back again and they bicker with me and then the tech confirms it is the wrong rack for my Z52 car. So another 2 weeks go by... When I finally got my car back again the rep. told me about more problems. They had gotton one rack in and it was the wrong one again, they sent it back and got another... Then that one was correct but broken again, sent it back and finally got the right one that wasn't broke!!!

So it took six weeks to get the right part installed... If I would have bought parts on my own and had the rack installed somewhere else that shop would have likely not warrentied anything so I would have had to pay the labor costs multiple times and the alignment costs multiple times!!!

So even though it took forever and GM sucks at storing and shipping products, I would still recommend spending a little extra and letting the Dealership do it because you will get a year warrenty on parts and labor

 

It takes about 4 hours to remove and replace an 85 steering rack. There is an excellent write up in tech tips. Follow it to the letter. No a rack is not required, jackstands are sufficient. You will need to have the toe in set after you are done. Son and I did mine two weeks ago.Tried too many short cuts that didn't work extending our work time by over two hours.

 

That's a good write-up. 4 hours isnt bad. For some reason I was thinking it came out the top. I think for whatever reason I have the close ratio steering. I've never looked in the drivers side compartment at the label because the PO screwed an amp down that blocks it. Guess its time to move that. Anyone know what the RPOs are for the steering ratios?

 

RPO Z51 and RPO Z52 will have the fast rack. Even if yours doesn't have the fast rack you can still install it on your car, and I highly recommend doing it because it makes driving a little more exciting

 

Fast rack= 2 turns lock to lock
Std rack= 2 1/2 turns lock to lock.
My old rack was Std. Parts house gave me a Z51. Makes driving a little more fun. BTW Car Quest sells both racks under the same part number. That is they make no distinction between the two. Have no clue what you would get if you asked for a Z51 rack.

 

Hmmmm... I never even thought about buying locally, I figured I would have to go thru one of the corvette specialty places, you know, zip or mid america or something. I guess I still might from what was said above, because how would I know if they gave me the fast rack until I installed it?

I think I have the fast rack, and if not, Ill get it, because I love to turn this car on a dime- its got so much rubber under it that it never slides.

 

Here, they sell them from this forum...

http://www.zip-products.com/Corvette...446FE3D52A6CE5

 

How to:

Click HERE

 

Check you local parts supplier. I got a rebuilt quick ratio for $165, from my local supplier.
Toe can be adjusted in the driveway, with a tape measure.

 

Hmm...OK I will.

How can I tell the standard, from the quick ratio, rack? Its something about the length isnt it?

 

The quicker ratio 2 turn rack is listed as "heavy duty". The one listed as "standard" is the 2 1/4 turn rack. The only differece is internal. So either one is a direct bolt on.