Rebuilt steering rack source??
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,323
Likes: 142
From: Green Valley Arizona
Rebuilt steering rack source??
Anyone have good results with a non-GM rebuilt steering rack? Rock auto tells me that the GM unit is no longer available.....so whom else makes a quality rebuilt steering rack?
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 92
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EBAYMotors
I actually baught mine on Ebay. There was a core charge, but that gets returned when you send back your old rack. I haven't really driven the car much yet ( down the street for a test ride), due to other work that needs to be done, but after installation and new tie rod ends, it worked fine. My old one was shot, really didn't want to turn right.
Just do a search on ebay motors and you should see lots of adds.
Just do a search on ebay motors and you should see lots of adds.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
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St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
These things are now standard. Go to your local auto parts and get it ordered. I bought mine from Pep Boys, when I opened the box, it was rebuilt by GM. 
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 8
You want to make sure you get the correct rack. There are two different ones. One is regular steering, and the other is a quick ratio steering.
I've also read of bench testing these to make sure both sides are even. As I guess some guys have gotten a rack where one side turned more than the other. And it would also be a good time to check to make sure you have gotten the correct steering ratio.
I've also read of bench testing these to make sure both sides are even. As I guess some guys have gotten a rack where one side turned more than the other. And it would also be a good time to check to make sure you have gotten the correct steering ratio.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,323
Likes: 142
From: Green Valley Arizona
There sure is a wide range of prices for the "exact" same item.
All say the samething about being remanufactured as far as what was done....nothing to really separate any of them, except for price.
Did find one that comes with a UPS return prepaid label for the core which is built into the price.
Pep Boys, AutoZone, etc.....everyone is about the same. Just wondering who actually does the rebuilding.
Actually mine is not leaking or hard turning...I have about ±2 inches of play in the steering wheel before the wheels begin to move. So I was thinking the rack is worn...perhaps it is the inner tie rod ends. I have never replaced inner tie rod ends....do these wear out? Looks like they are easy to change-out....are they?
All say the samething about being remanufactured as far as what was done....nothing to really separate any of them, except for price.
Did find one that comes with a UPS return prepaid label for the core which is built into the price.
Pep Boys, AutoZone, etc.....everyone is about the same. Just wondering who actually does the rebuilding.
Actually mine is not leaking or hard turning...I have about ±2 inches of play in the steering wheel before the wheels begin to move. So I was thinking the rack is worn...perhaps it is the inner tie rod ends. I have never replaced inner tie rod ends....do these wear out? Looks like they are easy to change-out....are they?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 771
Likes: 0
From: Washington District of Columbia
I actually baught mine on Ebay. There was a core charge, but that gets returned when you send back your old rack. I haven't really driven the car much yet ( down the street for a test ride), due to other work that needs to be done, but after installation and new tie rod ends, it worked fine. My old one was shot, really didn't want to turn right.
Just do a search on ebay motors and you should see lots of adds.
Just do a search on ebay motors and you should see lots of adds.
And they kept the core! My Bad!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Life is just one big track event. Everything before and after is prep and warm-up and cool-down laps
Cruise-In III Veteran
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St. Jude Donor '12
I was looking at the Turnone site cause I need a better power steering pump for the track - they listed a rebuilt rack on there as well.
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Race Director
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 14,924
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From: Merritt Ils Fl
FYI, the Z51 rack is 2 turns lock to lock. The standard rack is 2 1/2 turns lock to lock. I suspect if you order a Z51 rack that is what you will get but if you order a standard you may get either. At least that's what happened to me. I kinda like the 2 after getting used to it.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
Actually mine is not leaking or hard turning...I have about ±2 inches of play in the steering wheel before the wheels begin to move. So I was thinking the rack is worn...perhaps it is the inner tie rod ends. I have never replaced inner tie rod ends....do these wear out? Looks like they are easy to change-out....are they?
[edit] Yes, inner tie rods wear. Just about anything that moves wears.
Last edited by Frizlefrak; Feb 23, 2011 at 02:07 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,323
Likes: 142
From: Green Valley Arizona
Have narrowed down the movement or lack of movement to be in the rack.
I have moved the steering wheel back and forth and confirmed that I had movement to the rack....but no movement to the outer tie rod ends/wheels.
Somewhere within the rack it is worn.
Now the car has 130k on it so I just assumed that the rack was worn, but it is not leaking nor do I have slow returns or hard steering in either direction.
This is what lead me to the inner tie rod ends, but could be the rack and pinion itself.
Inner tie rod ends are a bit cheaper than the entire rack.
I am going to pull the boots back and recheck movement...perhaps this will give me a final answer.
I have moved the steering wheel back and forth and confirmed that I had movement to the rack....but no movement to the outer tie rod ends/wheels.
Somewhere within the rack it is worn.
Now the car has 130k on it so I just assumed that the rack was worn, but it is not leaking nor do I have slow returns or hard steering in either direction.
This is what lead me to the inner tie rod ends, but could be the rack and pinion itself.
Inner tie rod ends are a bit cheaper than the entire rack.
I am going to pull the boots back and recheck movement...perhaps this will give me a final answer.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
If it's the original rack, at 130K it's nearing the end of it's service life anyway. Probably time for a new one. If you're going to the trouble to replace inner tie rod ends, you may as well do the rack too.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 370
Likes: 6
I replaced my rack when I rebuilt the suspension 1 1/2 years ago with a cardone from advance went bad less than a year later and they couldn't get me a replacement. Only one that couldget a replacement was a local dealer and it took six months. It came with a inner tie rod end off of a later year and they tried to get another and could not. Man I wish I would have just kept my original rack
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,323
Likes: 142
From: Green Valley Arizona
I ended-up taking the rack out as I needed room to be able to get a new crank gear on. As soon as I took the outer tie rod ends out of the spindles....I knew I had found the problems...both outer tie rod ends are worn along with one inner. Turns out the someone else has been here before me as this is not the original rack.
So the question is: replaced the rack or just the inner and outer tie rod ends? I would have to get new outers regardless as they do not come with a rack...just the inners.
The rack has no leaks, no problems.
So the question is: replaced the rack or just the inner and outer tie rod ends? I would have to get new outers regardless as they do not come with a rack...just the inners.
The rack has no leaks, no problems.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
Well......a leak IS a problem, and in that scenario, I would replace the rack. Leaks generally get worse, not better, over time. Running out of P/S fluid isn't a good thing.
