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If it has an air bag, yes. I don't remember if my '93 had one but I think in '94 they did. I replaced mine and I don't remember it being too bad. Then again, we're talking 15-20 years ago. If I remember correctly, there was just a pinch bolt holding the steering column to the rack. A couple of hydraulic lines, the tie rod ends and two big honkin' bolts on the main mount. I've had back issues for years but I don't remember it being that bad to do.
Yeah, it looks pretty simple. Just need flare wrenches and/or crow's foot for the hydraulic lines. I know mine secures the rack to the column via roll pin and honestly I'm thinking that's gonna be a pain. Just getting to it will be a headache. My dye comes today. I thought I had dye and I do but it is for the AC with those goofy nozzles on them. I guess I want to see if it is leaking from one of the fittings. I can't tighten them any more because it needs a crow's foot and I don't have those. Thinking they were tightened best I could with a flare wrench a few years ago when I replaced my power steering pump. That might have been inadequate over the long haul.
Yeah, it looks pretty simple. Just need flare wrenches and/or crow's foot for the hydraulic lines. I know mine secures the rack to the column via roll pin and honestly I'm thinking that's gonna be a pain. Just getting to it will be a headache. My dye comes today. I thought I had dye and I do but it is for the AC with those goofy nozzles on them. I guess I want to see if it is leaking from one of the fittings. I can't tighten them any more because it needs a crow's foot and I don't have those. Thinking they were tightened best I could with a flare wrench a few years ago when I replaced my power steering pump. That might have been inadequate over the long haul.
I got to thinking. (Now my head hurts!) I found the factory manual for my '93. I looked up rack re[placement. There is a clamp in the end of the steering shaft that holds the shaft to the rack.to the shaft. A bolt slides through the clamp to pinch the column to the rack. You just undo the bolt that slides through the notch in the column and pinches the clamp. Take the bolt out, separate the clamp with something like a small screwdriver then pry the column up a bit. Undo the two hydraulic lines and let them drain. Undo the tie rod ends then remove the two big bolts holding it on. The biggest task that I can remember is swapping the tie rod ends over and getting them close enough to drive to the alignment shop.
Head over to Youtube and I'm sure you can find a decent video on it. I do that on things I either have never done or haven't done in a while.
I got to thinking. (Now my head hurts!) I found the factory manual for my '93. I looked up rack re[placement. There is a clamp in the end of the steering shaft that holds the shaft to the rack.to the shaft. A bolt slides through the clamp to pinch the column to the rack. You just undo the bolt that slides through the notch in the column and pinches the clamp. Take the bolt out, separate the clamp with something like a small screwdriver then pry the column up a bit. Undo the two hydraulic lines and let them drain. Undo the tie rod ends then remove the two big bolts holding it on. The biggest task that I can remember is swapping the tie rod ends over and getting them close enough to drive to the alignment shop.
Head over to Youtube and I'm sure you can find a decent video on it. I do that on things I either have never done or haven't done in a while.
Hmmm, I'm gonna have to revisit my '93 FSM because I swear it showed a roll pin connecting the rack with the column. Maybe I'm not reading it right. Hope you're right.
So I revisited my FSM. It shows a "Spring Pin" or a "Shaft Roll Pin" (depending on if you read the text or look at the picture) in the coupler (that couples the gear to the steering shaft) that has to come out at the steering gear. Looking down there I see little/no way I can even get at that pin. Not from above or me rolling around the floor. I still can't see that pin because from above it is blocked by that u-joint just above it. From below there's a bunch of crap in the way tho I'd like to get my full body under there and give it another look from below. That pin is the only daunting task on this job. I'm wondering if I could remove that pinch bolt and keep the lower shaft attached to the rack when I pull it out. Getting to that pin would be a lot easier working on the bench than on the truck. Thoughts?
So I revisited my FSM. It shows a "Spring Pin" or a "Shaft Roll Pin" (depending on if you read the text or look at the picture) in the coupler (that couples the gear to the steering shaft) that has to come out at the steering gear. Looking down there I see little/no way I can even get at that pin. Not from above or me rolling around the floor. I still can't see that pin because from above it is blocked by that u-joint just above it. From below there's a bunch of crap in the way tho I'd like to get my full body under there and give it another look from below. That pin is the only daunting task on this job. I'm wondering if I could remove that pinch bolt and keep the lower shaft attached to the rack when I pull it out. Getting to that pin would be a lot easier working on the bench than on the truck. Thoughts?
Wet over to the U of Y (Youtube) to refresh my memory. This video is pretty complete and shows you the basics.
That's pretty well what I remember from 20+ years ago.
I watched that video a few years back. Yeah, that's a different design than mine. He has that clamp thingy around the bottom of the steering shaft. You're supposed to be able to loosen that and slide the drive shaft up. He said he got it to slide an inch or less. I have that same clamp thingy on mine but its way above the rack (about 8 - 10"). I read somewhere that this roll pin design I have was around for only a couple years or something and I'm not sure if it was all models. They probably figured out what we did that it was a dopey design and went back to the previous version. I just happened to fall in that 2 year window. I just threw 1/2 oz of dye in the power steering reservoir and drove it around 10 miles. I'll take a look in the morning to see if I can pinpoint the leak. With any luck it will be a loose fitting or hose. Thanks, Grouch. I appreciate your insight.
I watched that video a few years back. Yeah, that's a different design than mine. He has that clamp thingy around the bottom of the steering shaft. You're supposed to be able to loosen that and slide the drive shaft up. He said he got it to slide an inch or less. I have that same clamp thingy on mine but its way above the rack (about 8 - 10"). I read somewhere that this roll pin design I have was around for only a couple years or something and I'm not sure if it was all models. They probably figured out what we did that it was a dopey design and went back to the previous version. I just happened to fall in that 2 year window. I just threw 1/2 oz of dye in the power steering reservoir and drove it around 10 miles. I'll take a look in the morning to see if I can pinpoint the leak. With any luck it will be a loose fitting or hose. Thanks, Grouch. I appreciate your insight.
That sounds like my luck. I bought a 1979 Chevrolet Impala once. I figured to get something really common so parts would be easy to get. I turned out to be part of an order of 200 originally meant to ship to Iran. The sale was cancelled because of the revolution. The transmission modulator went out and because it was for export, in dusty/sandy conditions, the part was hard to get and three times the normal price.
That sounds like my luck. I bought a 1979 Chevrolet Impala once. I figured to get something really common so parts would be easy to get. I turned out to be part of an order of 200 originally meant to ship to Iran. The sale was cancelled because of the revolution. The transmission modulator went out and because it was for export, in dusty/sandy conditions, the part was hard to get and three times the normal price.
For the first good news, I found where the leak is. The bad news, it isn't just a loose fitting. It is the rack itself leaking at the top where it meets the steering column (see arrow in screenshot below). The second good news, the leak seems to be slowing considerably. Perhaps as I get more of that Lucas Stop Leak circulating it is doing its job. I have, at the very most, 12 oz of that Lucas in there. Probably 8 - 10 is realistic. The instructions say it will need 12 - 24 oz. I don't believe in snake oil remedies but I researched that Lucas Stop Leak extensively. I read reviews and watched a bunch of You Tube vids and, to my surprise, it received pretty good marks. So i think I will give that Lucas more time to do its thing. Maybe I'll suck out the fluid from the reservoir and refill with the Lucas instead of just waiting for it to drip out.
