bridorf Posted April 14, 2007 Share Posted April 14, 2007 I am pretty sure my 1993 Legacy AWD Wagon steering rack is bad - there is a leak coming from, I believe, where the column goes into the valve body portion, but the driving symptom that has recently occured is a shimmy in the steering wheel from about 30 - 50 mph - and a notchy feel at times when coming back to the center positon after a slow speed turn. I have swapped rims front to back - and a second set of wheels with no change - Basically I am wondering if anyone can say, to make my decision easier, that it definately sounds like a worn out steering rack. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted April 14, 2007 Share Posted April 14, 2007 well the leak already condems the rack if it is a shaft seal. The notchiness can be the universal joint in the column freezing up, thats a common thing. The wobble can be a bad wheel bearing, tie rod end or ball joint (since you ruled out tires I wont mention them) nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridorf Posted April 18, 2007 Author Share Posted April 18, 2007 Does anyone have a rec. on a place online to purchase a steering rack - reman. or new? I have priced some used ones around the area and it seems wreckers nearby want just a bit less than the cost of some reman. racks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnceggleston Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 Does anyone have a rec. on a place online to purchase a steering rack - reman. or new? I have priced some used ones around the area and it seems wreckers nearby want just a bit less than the cost of some reman. racks. i bought one last year for my avalon off ebay. they arew rebuilders and do all kinds. look there. i don't remember price, but if i got it online instead of local i must have saved. after i installed it i took it to a front end shop for alignment and they went on and on about how it may not align right since it was a reman unit, but i've had no problems with it. good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 hey nip, why does the leak condemn the rack? that seal isn't replaceable? i have one too that leaks out of the boot some. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 hey nip, why does the leak condemn the rack? that seal isn't replaceable? i have one too that leaks out of the boot some. If you can live with the leak, then it wont hurt anything. Racks are NOT easy to service, and are a real PITA to rebuild. They are like chineese puzzles, where you cant just replace one seal. Last time i looked you cant even get the seals most the time, and rebuild kits are almost non existant. This is the only compnent on the car where everyone (on the web and parts houses) say just replace the unit and leave it to the pros. Unlike older steering boxes, you have bushings with tight tolerances on finishes and gaps that most people dop not have the tools to measure or to service. Bushings are either press fit or a temperiture fit. Finish is extreemly important. You cant just replace one seal in a rack, due to the way a rack is assembled, upon dissasembly you ruin alot of the seals. One day ill take one apart again (havent done it ages), but these thinghs really arent meant to be serviced in a shop. It takes hours to rebuild one, even if you could find the parts. There are no rebuild kits for these things. Also there is zero room for error in a rack, if the rack binds you loose steering. http://www.forparts.com/ICpowersteeringleakt5.05.htm nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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