What is the easy way to replace the rack with the motor in. I put a new rack in my car while the motor was out with about 200 miles on it it has started to fill up the rubber boots with fluid. I bought it off ebay and the guy is going to warranty it but I need to remove this one and put the new one in any suggestions on how to do it? the worst part of this is there was nothing wrong with my old one but it looked like the original unit and the car has 132,000 miles on it so I thought it would be easier to just replace it while the motor out I should have refered to Murphy's law

 

be sure you clean the areas where the hose ends are to prevent dirt from entering the system, and use baggies and rubber bands to protect the hose ends from dirt.
1. remove the sway bar link bolts first.
2. jack up the front of the car about a foot.
3. remove the sway bar.
4. take out the bolt on the rack rubber mount, then the half moon clamp bolts.
5. Remove the nuts and use a press to remove your tie rods.
6. place a pan under the areas you expect fluid running when you remove the hoses.
7. Slide the lower u-joint cover up, and take out the bolt that goes through the groove in the rack input shaft.
8. undo the hoses. drain the fluid.
9. twist the rack a little, and slide it out the left side, releasing the steering shaft.
10. Count the turns on each tie rod as you remove them from the old rack, and install them on the new rack with the same number of turns.
11.Turn the steering shaft fully one way, and count the turns to the other lock. turn the shaft half the number of turns, get a little white-out, and mark the shaft and the case. It is more difficult with the tie rod on the R.H. end to install. Get an assistant to help you with this.
12. When the rack is in the car, make sure the steering wheel is centered, and the rack is centered on your white line, and the bolt relief in the shaft should line up. Slide the u-joint onto the rack, and insert the bolt, finger tighten the nut, install the rack through bolt and half moon clamp, tighten these three locations.
13. Install the hoses prior to sliding the u joint cover onto the rack, replace o-rings first.
14. Refill the reservoir, and briefly start the engine and shut it off.
15. Refill the reservoir, and restart the engine again. rock the steering wheel
with the car still in the air to bleed, then go lock to lock..
16. Turn off the engine, and refill the reservoir to the cold full line.
check all fittings, and recheck all bolts loosened.
17. Reinstall the sway bar, and lower the car. (make sure there are no leaks before you install the bar)
18. With the wheels on the ground, line up the sway bar links, and insert the bolts.
Get a can of brake kleen, and wash down the areas where the fluid made a mess. clean up the pan and triple check the hoses for leaks.
Let the car warm up, and be sure the fluid comes up to high temp line.
Go for a ride.

 

Sounds like you have done this a couple times thank you for the info

 

The job is not that hard with the engine in the car...just takes a little more time.Since you already did it,and got good avice from the other poster,it shouldnt be much more difficult this time around.

That being said,be sure youre getting the correct rack.I do not know if you have a Z51,Z52 or etc car,so theres some difference in the turning lock to lock in the racks between the two.

Be sure you know your cars suspension code.This is also for others to check if they arent aware of it.

 

There are 2 types listed standard and sport suspension the listing on the auto zone website just says that the sport one takes more effort to turn than the standard. the odd part is the sport suspension one is $50 less than the standard one is. How do I find my suspension code?

 

There should be a white sticker on your console arm rest door before the shifter,and youll see a Z51 or Z52.Do you have that sticker with all the build codes on there under the arm rest door?

The sport or Z51 rack is faster at handling...takes about 2 steering wheel turns,Fulll stop to stop both ways,left and right..to make a compltete cycle..

The Z52 or non sport is like 2-1/4 to 2-1/2 turns stop to stop or around there.Its been a while so I forget.My former 86 had the Z51 suspension,and the steering was super fast,left to right,wasnt harder to turn or anything.

Check the sticker codes and it will tell you,unless the arm rest console door was replaced and the sticker was discarded?

The Z51 also came with stiffer springs,improved shocks,larger sway bars,and engine oil cooler,back up fan in front of the radiator/condensor,and also 16x9.5 rims all around,for the 86 and 87 year I believe.


If im wrong about some info,someone correct me.Its been a while since I had the car.

 

I have the sticker it has a Z6A on it but no Z51 or Z52. I did a search and I think it was VADER that said to get the sport one. Now I am confused I want to order this in the morning but now I don't know wich one I think my car was the bare bones base model car. I talked to the rack doctor the guy I bought the bad rack from and he is going to just do a return on the rack and I will just order one from Autozone they can have it here in a couple days. If I send it back to the rack doctor it will probably be 2-3 weeks. But wich one do I order?

 

Im suprised your sticker doesnt show...maybe it was a base model.
Do you see a G44 there?
Let me know....can you also remember how many turns it took left to right of the steering wheel before it stopped or locked?

Also,do you have an engine oiler cooler?Its above the oil filter...would have 2 rubber hoses coming off it...if no cooler and the oil filter is right there at the block adaptor,it wont be a Z51 car.The Z51 cars have the oil cooler between the block and oil filter with 2 coolant hoses coming off it.

Btw,Is there a fan in front of your a/c condensor?Look under the nose/front bumper of the car and see if there is single fan there where the condensor and radiator would be.The Z51's got the back up fan,but I do not know of other cars got it.Just wanted you to check anyways.Just curious.

 

no G44 either no oil cooler or backup fan either and 2 1/2 turnes lock to lock

 

Ok,you may have the base model coupe.

I also screwed up some...I didnt know the Z52 models in 87 got some of the Z51 stuff.

Go here to see the build sheet.

http://www.vettefacts.com/C4/1987.aspx

 

I did not see anything telling me what suspension package I have but with mine taking 2.5 turns I must have the base suspension I will call autozone in the morning and toss it in their laps. if you can think of anything that can help me figure this out I will check in the morning if not I sincerely thank you for the time you spent helping me

 

Youre welcome...sorry I wasnt much more help tonight.I used to have the book of all the build codes into the 90's but I dont have the book anymore.It was a wealth of info.It had every code you could think of.

That being said,if you have the base system,keep it that way.Youre used to the car driving a certain way.The Z51 and faster rack system wasnt for everyone,it was considered an "off road" suspension package.Can be very twitchy on street roads.

If I remember correctly,we used to have a forum member and Moderator name Craig Marcho,he installed the faster Z51 rack into non Z51 car and did not like it much at all.This was a while ago so I may recall wrong,but pretty positive about what he said about the results.

Im sure others will post tomorrow....good luck with it all.