Advice for replacing rack and pinion C6
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,156
Likes: 10
From: Hickory NC
Advice for replacing rack and pinion C6
My rack and pinion has failed with 40000 miles. Pulled the boot back on the rack and found lots of play. Also has lots of pops and clicks when steering. Advice on How To or tips for replacing the rack and pinion in my 05 C6 would be great. Anything I need to do or replace while I'm in there. 
THANKS RAYZZZ MY CORVETTE LIKES MY MONEY
THANKS RAYZZZ MY CORVETTE LIKES MY MONEY
Track Junky
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,075
Likes: 36
From: Orlando Area
Tech Contributor
Look up any cam swap DIY and you will find instructions for the rack removal. lS1tech.com has a good one or run a search on this forum.
I'm not sure about the relearn thing for a new rack, but Turn 1 will rebuild your existing rack for about $250 and they are top notch. I have used them a few times over the years over the years for pumps or racks. I would recommend them to anyone.
I'm not sure about the relearn thing for a new rack, but Turn 1 will rebuild your existing rack for about $250 and they are top notch. I have used them a few times over the years over the years for pumps or racks. I would recommend them to anyone.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,493
Likes: 809
From: West coast CA
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,156
Likes: 10
From: Hickory NC
boot
I've pulled the rack boot back on the drivers side and the gear shaft that runs thur the rack right to left has a lot of play. Has anyone been able to just tighten the adjustment on the rack and make it good. Looks really hard to get to the adjuster with the rack in the car.
THANKS RAYZZZ MY CORVETTE LIKES MY MONEY
THANKS RAYZZZ MY CORVETTE LIKES MY MONEY
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,156
Likes: 10
From: Hickory NC
leak
I received the first Cardon rebuilt rack and it was leaking oil out of a hole that gets a plug in it during assembly. That's not going in my car I said so they ordered a new one and I should see it next week. No other parts house around me could even get one. Waiting on good parts now.
THANKS RAYZZZ MY CORVETTE LIKES MY MONEY
THANKS RAYZZZ MY CORVETTE LIKES MY MONEY
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,843
Likes: 330
From: western NY
I went thru 2 cardone rebuilt racks for a Chevy trailblazer job last year. Both were junk right from the start & returned to NAPA. Ended up getting a re-man from GM that worked good. Also had issues with Cardone p/s pumps in the past & refuse to use their stuff unless absolutely necessary.
Hopefully you'll get a good one this time. The upside is their stuff usually carries a lifetime warranty and costs less vs. the GM 12 month warranty & higher price.
Does the dealer have anything available?
Hopefully you'll get a good one this time. The upside is their stuff usually carries a lifetime warranty and costs less vs. the GM 12 month warranty & higher price.
Does the dealer have anything available?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,156
Likes: 10
From: Hickory NC
More
I went thru 2 cardone rebuilt racks for a Chevy trailblazer job last year. Both were junk right from the start & returned to NAPA. Ended up getting a re-man from GM that worked good. Also had issues with Cardone p/s pumps in the past & refuse to use their stuff unless absolutely necessary.
Hopefully you'll get a good one this time. The upside is their stuff usually carries a lifetime warranty and costs less vs. the GM 12 month warranty & higher price.
Does the dealer have anything available?
Hopefully you'll get a good one this time. The upside is their stuff usually carries a lifetime warranty and costs less vs. the GM 12 month warranty & higher price.
Does the dealer have anything available?
. I did some messing with steering rack preload adjustment on the rack the rack up some this morning. The adjustment is tuff to get to. Remove the four bolts holding the sway bar clamps and pull sway bar down out of the way. Remove the anti lock bracket from the anti lock sway bar and rack and remove. Channel Locks to loosen the lock nut and then used a 7/8 wrench to turn the adjuster in tightening then backed backed off one flat side of bolt end. The rack did seem better but I am yet to finish it up and drive it. I'll turn some tools this evening later.THANKS RAYZZZ MY CORVETTE LIKES MY MONEY
SATURDAY NIGHT
Last edited by Rayzzz; Nov 23, 2013 at 07:09 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,156
Likes: 10
From: Hickory NC
adjust
How to adjust the rack and pionion.
THANKS RAYZZZ MY CORVETTE LIKES MY MONEY
Rack and Pinion Gear Rack Bearing Preload Adjustment - Off Vehicle (MAGNASTEER)
THANKS RAYZZZ MY CORVETTE LIKES MY MONEY
Rack and Pinion Gear Rack Bearing Preload Adjustment - Off Vehicle (MAGNASTEER)
Loosen the adjuster plug lock nut (1).Turn the adjuster plug clockwise until the adjuster plug bottoms in the gear assembly.Turn the adjuster plug back 50 degrees to 70 degrees (approximately one flat).- Install the adjuster plug lock nut (1) to the adjuster plug.
Tighten
Hold the adjuster plug stationary while tightening the adjuster plug lock nut (1) to 68 N·m (50 lb ft).
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,156
Likes: 10
From: Hickory NC
adjusted
I seem to have made a great fix on the rack pinion on the Vette. I used a few tools and grease and looking good. So much tighter in the steering. Miles on the car will tell but lots of rain for now.
THANKS RAYZZZ MY CORVETTE LIKES MY MONEY
TOOLS I USED
Also in the picture below is the anti-lock bracket. It needs to be removed by taking out the two nuts on the anti-lock. One front one rear side. Remove these first and then the two bolts that mount the bracket at the bottom and remove. 13mm I believe is correct. Watch how the bracket comes out. I have a Vortech Supercharger on mine and it would only out and in one way but I think it's tight either way.
Offset Channel Locks to loosen the lock nut on pinion. I had to use the offset Channel Locks back wards to what would make the best grip but I squeezed them hard enough to loosen the lock nut. Good luck.
I use a 7/8 wrench on the adjustment pinion nut to turn it because it was shorter then the metric wrench that fit it I had. Turn till it bottom and then back off one flat side on nut.
I used a punch to tighten the lock on the pinion adjustment.
I turned the rack geared shaft right to left thru the rack putting grease on the groves on the rack shaft each time. Did this about 10 times. Greasing the rack pinion made it much quieter. I hope that holds up.
Slide the boot on and Zip lock on the rack boot and your done. Ride on
1
THANKS RAYZZZ MY CORVETTE LIKES MY MONEY
TOOLS I USED
Also in the picture below is the anti-lock bracket. It needs to be removed by taking out the two nuts on the anti-lock. One front one rear side. Remove these first and then the two bolts that mount the bracket at the bottom and remove. 13mm I believe is correct. Watch how the bracket comes out. I have a Vortech Supercharger on mine and it would only out and in one way but I think it's tight either way.
Offset Channel Locks to loosen the lock nut on pinion. I had to use the offset Channel Locks back wards to what would make the best grip but I squeezed them hard enough to loosen the lock nut. Good luck.
I use a 7/8 wrench on the adjustment pinion nut to turn it because it was shorter then the metric wrench that fit it I had. Turn till it bottom and then back off one flat side on nut.
I used a punch to tighten the lock on the pinion adjustment.
I turned the rack geared shaft right to left thru the rack putting grease on the groves on the rack shaft each time. Did this about 10 times. Greasing the rack pinion made it much quieter. I hope that holds up.
Slide the boot on and Zip lock on the rack boot and your done. Ride on
1