Found out the Rack & Pinion on my truck is bad and i am looking at getting it fixed. I am wondering a few things... 1) What is the difficulty of fixing this issue on my own. 2) What am i looking at for a price if i take it to a shop? 3) If I take it to a shop what about would the cost be if i bought all the parts needed to fix the problem?

If you have any idea pls let me know!

-Dak97

 

You haven't said what kind of truck you have. On my 2000 4x4 the rack is pretty easy.
Disconnect power steering lines
Remove steering shaft
Take off tie rod ends
Should be 2 bolts that hold the rack on .

If you took it to a shop I could only image what it would cost.

 

a lil backyard fix if ya wanna try it, these racks get what has been termed to me as 'morning sickness', i had my wife's 99 flushed and it was terrible, stiff and then freeing up actin all goofy,until it warmed up.I removed about a pint of power steering fluid put in some lucas and its been fine ever since..over a yr ago, what happens is the pistons in the rack get wear marks and the pistons catch in them and regular power steering fluid doesn't lubricate as well, and well we all know lucas brands work like magic

 

mmguy18- I have a 97 Dakota with 180k miles on it. Doesnt look like the previous owner took to much time out of his hands to take care of this little monster.

EricBing- Yeah i just put some new Power-steering fluid in last night because it was bone dry from leaking. I wouldnt mind getting the lucas oil but how much exactly do i put in there since i just recently filled it up with power steering.

 

get your wife's turkey baster put a hose on end of it, suck it out, remember to get her a new one LOL krogers $2 ,and remove bout a pint or so pour in the lucas power steering fluid and work it in, by jackin up front of truck and turnin wheels back and forth slowly

 

rack is so much easier than i thought it would be. before you pull the tie rod ends off measure the exposed threads and write that measurement down. it will get you real close to the correct aliognment. then you can drive it to a shop and use the money you saved to pay for the alignment

 

97? Isn't everything up to 2000 steering box?

 

The change was in '00. Before that only 2wd had rack and pinion. In 2000, the 4x4 got rack and pinion.

 

Well this is good to hear! I think i wanna get a quote still on how much they would charge me. I swear you pay hand over foot for labor. I guess ill give it a shot. I know there are a fair amount of good videos on youtube when it comes to re-assembling the rack & pinion. Thanks so much for all the help guys!

-Dak97

 

Let us know the cost for a garage to have it done.