Power steering rack rebuilt?

[Ilovemymr2]

My power steering rack is leaking on the drivers side, and i am thinking its the seals. How hard is it the replace them. And are these http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,c...44,partGroup,26 the seals that i need, or are these http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,c...96,partGroup,26 the ones that i need.

[tHa kNiGHt FaLL]

its not hard aslong as you mechanically inclined.

those seals.... are seals.... and the other is the whole kit.

now i suggest since your gonna be down there to replace both seals.... on the other ends of each side of the rack... and replace the bellows boots.

to answer your question... no it is not hard to change those seals. but since there isn't power steering on the car the system is sealed with fluid. so whatever is lost you must replace.

[hgroeger]

I tried to rebuild mine, but was unsuccessful, and I'll tell you why.

My rack leaked pretty good out the drivers side seals like yours does. So I took the whole rack out per the BGB. I then proceeded to dismantle the rack and discovered rather significate pits in the steal bar (the rack itself). Appearently water or something else got into the system and corroded the bottem end of the bar. As the bar slid past the seals, the seals wear out.

So I took my bar to a machine shop and had them microsand about 3-4 thousandth of an inch off to at least smooth out the pits hoping that the fresh seals would take up this difference. Unfortunately it didn't and was wurse than before.

I must have called at least 20 different rebuilders (via Google) until I found one that had a rebuilt rack. When I asked why there are so few of them around, they said that the cores they have been getting bad are no good (probably do the corrosion issue).

Your best bet would be the same. I had already bought all the seal replacement parts, which is why I went ahead and tried it anyway. Just start Googleing rebuilt power steering racks and go through the list and make the calls. Mine cost around $320 which included shipping and my core. They also come with new inner tie rods, fresh boots. If you end up doing it, just follow the BGB and you should be fine.

[meoggi]

just break down and get a new one. man it would be easier and probably safer.