I've been in contact with Turn One in the past and the price is usually at a starting point of $500 due to a bore and re-sleeve process that is unique to 84-85 racks, and probably a few other early years. I notice Autozone offers a replacement as long as you have a core, it's pretty reasonable around $160 or so. I have heard these come with lifetime warranties. If I go this route, do the replacement racks come with lines installed? If not, can I use AN fittings and flexible lines in their place or do they need the steel hard lines? Best way to bleed the power steering system once I have the rack of choice?

 

I've had an AutoZone reman in my '86L for a few years now. It came with the little steel
hard lines already on it. Bleeding it is easy. With the wheels off the ground, before you
start it turn the wheels lock to lock. Check your level and start it up. Turn it lock to lock
and recheck your level.

 

Thanks, Benny, that makes all that much easier to go the parts store rack route. Another question I should ask is do I get the regular rack or the "sport" rack, which I'm assuming is the Z51 option. They actually asked me which one I wanted but something tells me they end up being the same. Car originally was a non Z51 option but there's not a lot left of it that is factory anyway.

 

Autozone Lifetime Warranty = Replacing the part for a lifetime without having to pay for it again...

I don't have any experience with Turn 1, but I wouldn't get the Autozone unit. Their rebuild tolerances aren't exactly what the factory was and though you may get lucky and get one that is good, if you have to pull it out and go swap it, the Turn 1 would have paid for itself.

 

I used the Auto Zone "sport" or Z51 rack on my 1984 C4 for over 80K miles and had no problems with it. The factory rack had morning sickness and died from long storage and low use. The replacement lasted until I sold the car, which was a daily driver. I would go with a Z51 unit if I had to replace one now... the faster ratio is nice.

 

You might have a problem getting the core refund back as it will not be the same part number. Althought they might not notice it when you return it to AutoZone. It might get bumped back when it make it to the rebuilder.

 

The only problem I had with Turn 1 is that you have to ship your rack to them. They will not supply a box (I asked) and you have to come with something on your own.

 

This. If the rack is really dirty and greasy, you may be able to get away with a non-Z51 core. It's going to depend on the store worker who checks out your core when you bring it back.

But I would suggest checking with other stores like NAPA, CarQuest or even RockAuto. Most likely they will be a better remanufactured quality piece. Sometimes the chain stores like AutoZone, O'Reilly's, Pep Boys don't carry quality replacement parts like racks, water pumps, alternators, starters, etc.

 

When these companys say Lifetime Warranty ,that only means they will replace it ONE TIME if it goes bad...Not unlimited replacements for a lifetime......You need to read the fine print......WW

 

Not true. Back years ago, I had a brand new Olds 98 that got a muffler punture from road debris when it was only a few days old. Took it to Midas for a lifetimer. Kept the car for 19 years and during the course, had 4 free muffler replacements. Presently, non automotive wise, I am on my 3rd water heater from first buying a 10 year quaranteed one.

 

What I mentioned above, I know is true for Advance Auto and Auto zone...I don't know about Midas muffler or a hot water heater , I thought we were talking auto parts stores , I worked At Advance auto when I first retired,and this is their policy...When you take that first defective part back to exchange, the replacement part only has a 90 day warranty,then it's all over.....Call and check, or go to their site if you don't believe what I say...WW

 

My experience is contrary to your post. I have replaced my alternator on my old truck about 4 times now, having purchased it only once. Each time it has lasted about 1/4 of the original unit.

 

All I can tell you is do a search on lifetime parts warrantys for the 2 stores I mention above and you will find what I'm saying is true..Advance auto will give you (1 ) replacement , the replacement they give you will then have a 90 day warranty, not a lifetime warranty..This is on hard parts like alternators , water pumps, etc..If that part dies within those 90 days , then your covered,, after those 90 days if the part goes bad it's no longer covered under warranty...Call them and this is what they will tell you...Do a search and there are people bitching all over the net about lifetime warrantys from auto parts stores being a scam? I would post a few examples, but since my computer has died I'm limited to a tablet and can't figure out how to copy and paste anything... ..WW

 

Autozone USED to be lifetime = forever replacements.

Now its 1 time replacement.

Some stores will replace over and over but the official policy now which most go by now too is one time replacement.

So TECHNICALLY the part is lifetime replacement but its the lifetime of the part you buy not lifetime of the replacement.

 

Some stores say that, and others say it's unlimited for original purchaser no matter how many times they swap out a defective part that has a lifetime warranty.

What you can do is first "buy" the replacement part. Then return the "defective" part for refund and explain you already bought the replacement part. That way since you "bought" the replacement part, it has a whole new warranty.

But generally lifetime warranty is unlimited replacements for the original purchaser. They do this because people buy/sell cars often enough that the "lifetime warranty" part fails on the 2nd owner and thus has no warranty.

 

I was curious to see what is said not thinking anyone was wrong.

This is what I found.

http://www.autozone.com/termsandcond...itedWarranties
The way I understand this
If a part has a lifetime warranty, that means when ever you replace the part lifetime is longer then 90 days so you keep the lifetime warranty.

 

These 3 Complaints about Advance Autos "Lifetime warranty" show what I said above to be true..There are many more online saying the exact same thing....If you don't believe me after reading these ..Well, I give up...WW

From an Advance Auto customer...
What a scam. I purchased an alternator for my towing vehicle last year in February with a lifetime warranty, as verbally presented. The alternator went bad so I just went down to exchange it. No problems, brought out the new one, did the paper work, then the guy tells me as I'm walking away that the new alternator I just recieved for the exchange has only a 90 day warranty. I stopped dead in my tracks, turned around , and asked him what kind of lifetime warrany that was. His response: "A limited lifetime warranty, check your reciept". He was right, the reciept says limited lifetime warranty. When I hear "limited" lifetime warranty, I generally think of the terms of failure as the limitation, such as abuse, not 1 exchange and the lifetime warranty is over. The part that really burns me is that I was always buying the cheap alternators with a 1 year warrany and they would go bad in 18 months. This tine I decided to spent the extra $30 to get the one with a lifetime warranty. What a mistake that was. Well, they just seen the last of my business until they change their warranty policies and stop taking advantage of unsuspecting customers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Another stating "Advance Auto" policy

Post subject: FYI Advance Auto "Lifetime Warranty"Posted:
Posts: 129
Location: NW Georgia
Just a FYI to all the folks here that make purchase decisions at auto parts stores primarily on the lifetime warranty claim:

I installed a reman "lifetime warranty" alternator on my vehicle , 30,000 miles later it failed due to a rear bearing problem.

No problem, swapped it at Advance for another reman alternator.....

The same thing happened today, after 2 years and 30,000 miles. Rear bearing failure.....seems the remanufacturer has some bearing QC issues.

Not that big of a deal, removed unit and headed off to Advance Auto for an exchange....getting used to this


The manager was professional and in the end I left the store with a "new" reman alternator but he showed me in writing Advance Auto's "Lifetime Warranty" does not mean "lifetime" as they are being represented to the public....

In a nutshell, their policy states they will exchange a lifetime warranted automotive item 1 (one) time only, and then only provide a 90 day warranty on that item recieved in the warranty claim. That is their policy of liability/remedy on all their "lifetime warranty" automotive merchandise.

Am assuming Advance Auto does not bank on folks keeping the same vehicle 10+ years like I do, and their decision with reguards to "lifetime warranty" is catching up to them.

This guy bent the rules for me,(probably because I was civil) and I will continue shopping at his store but I couldn't help feeling a bit misled on the way Advance Auto purposely misrepresents "lifetime warranty" on their merchandise to get folks in the door.

Not sure if the other auto parts supermarkets have similar policies.

For what it's worth:

This last one is from an Advance Auto store employee...

#2 UPDATE Employee

sorry about your luck
AUTHOR: f67brd - (United States of America)
SUBMITTED: Wednesday, December 30, 2009

POSTED: Wednesday, December 30, 2009
I'll start off by saying I work for Advance, not this store. Three things to note about your "scam".
The first is always file the receipt in the house for the car. I put them in a plastic bag with a label. It is not our responsibility to keep your information.


The second is ask for a copy of the warranty information. We will warranty a lifetime item once, then the second is warranted for 90 days. It is a little misguided and some stores do not abide by it but it is there in writing.


The last part is all of our lifetime alternators after 2004-2005 say Remy, Worldwide, or Palladium. So judging by the picture and the date you said you bought it, that one is our one year alternator.


Sorry about your luck and have a nice day!

 

Advance Auto uses the same conditions as Autozone.

If they tell you your warranty replacement is only covered for 90 days, and wont replace it then they are violating the terms of their warranty.

That is potential for a lawsuit. Any business with a brain would try to avoid.