Steering Rack & Pinion, done
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 686
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
Steering Rack & Pinion, done
I recently completed an installation on a new steering gear and pump in my '93, no leaks and its a dream to drive compared to before.
I had to remove the alternator, a/c compressor, hydraulic pump and the large bracket they mount on, to gain access to the hexheads of the hydraulic lines where they enter the pinion housing. Nothing worked to remove them and once the unit was off the vehicle, they were still fairly hard to get out even using a 24" pipewrench, so if you're doing this job the first time on an older car, I suggest to forget about being careful on those nuts - cut the lines instead, early on in the process. Get that stabilizer (sway) bar off the vehicle early on. When measuring for distances of outer tie rod ends on old unit and installng them on the new one, think about making sure that the pinion shaft is oriented the same for each. The only damage I did was bust the connector that plugs into the alternator, durn it but somehow shoved it all together, no codes, but I need a new one.
Costs
steering gear (Delco) $243
pwr str pump (Delco $125
1 qt fluid $ 6
two new hoses $ 45
18mm line wrench (MAC) $50
I had to remove the alternator, a/c compressor, hydraulic pump and the large bracket they mount on, to gain access to the hexheads of the hydraulic lines where they enter the pinion housing. Nothing worked to remove them and once the unit was off the vehicle, they were still fairly hard to get out even using a 24" pipewrench, so if you're doing this job the first time on an older car, I suggest to forget about being careful on those nuts - cut the lines instead, early on in the process. Get that stabilizer (sway) bar off the vehicle early on. When measuring for distances of outer tie rod ends on old unit and installng them on the new one, think about making sure that the pinion shaft is oriented the same for each. The only damage I did was bust the connector that plugs into the alternator, durn it but somehow shoved it all together, no codes, but I need a new one.
Costs
steering gear (Delco) $243
pwr str pump (Delco $125
1 qt fluid $ 6
two new hoses $ 45
18mm line wrench (MAC) $50
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 686
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
When turning the wheel either left or right, I'd hear a sound akin to that of a bad ball joint or tie rod end, a clunk sound. Steering effort was high in the sense that you'd be driving along at highway speed and it would suddenly jerk an inch or two, or track a line in the road. Not much play noticeable in the wheel. It may have been just a bad inner tie rod end but after 19 years it was probably good to change the pump and the rack. Dang, it rides like a dream now; I took a local sharp bend in the road at a relatively high speed for that turn with ease.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,772
Likes: 64
From: Mystic CT
When turning the wheel either left or right, I'd hear a sound akin to that of a bad ball joint or tie rod end, a clunk sound. Steering effort was high in the sense that you'd be driving along at highway speed and it would suddenly jerk an inch or two, or track a line in the road. Not much play noticeable in the wheel. It may have been just a bad inner tie rod end but after 19 years it was probably good to change the pump and the rack. Dang, it rides like a dream now; I took a local sharp bend in the road at a relatively high speed for that turn with ease.
