Power Steering rack replacement.... info needed!

nobb said:
I haven't done mine, but it would seem the hard part is to get the power steering lines off. There's not much room in there for a wrench on the lines.
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un bolt the rack first and start to remove it, the lines have some play to them, once you have everything lose and "free" you can slide the rack back a few inches and gain some room to work -ask me how i know... having had to take my rack in and out several times over the course of my front end overhaul i became rather good at this... this trick was advice given to my by my father inlaw who walked me through it the first time, and he has been doing this for years on these trucks.
 
Ive changed my rack as well fightman. I believe it took me around 4 hours. I then had it changed a second time as the remanufactured rack I bought was junk. I got the second rack from the same company, and it was also junk. Don't ever buy a remanufactured rack for these vehicles! So after driving on two garbage remanufactured racks for the past 50k miles, I decided to order a rack from Safari LTD a few days ago, along with upper ball joints and rod ends. Specifically they say that the inner bushings in their rack are the difference. I believe they are brass, whereas the bushings in the oem rack are probably a polycarbonate. Someone can correct me if Im wrong. But I know that that's why Safari claims the rack they sell is stronger than the oem rack. Collin in the service guy I talked to at Safari. Tell him youre a member of the forum and Im sure he'll give you a discount.
 
1985taylor1925 said:
Ive changed my rack as well fightman. I believe it took me around 4 hours. I then had it changed a second time as the remanufactured rack I bought was junk. I got the second rack from the same company, and it was also junk. Don't ever buy a remanufactured rack for these vehicles! So after driving on two garbage remanufactured racks for the past 50k miles, I decided to order a rack from Safari LTD a few days ago, along with upper ball joints and rod ends. Specifically they say that the inner bushings in their rack are the difference. I believe they are brass, whereas the bushings in the oem rack are probably a polycarbonate. Someone can correct me if Im wrong. But I know that that's why Safari claims the rack they sell is stronger than the oem rack. Collin in the service guy I talked to at Safari. Tell him youre a member of the forum and Im sure he'll give you a discount.
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nylon bushings in the OE racks, but yeah... -im not sure if thats the same thing as polycarbonate.

and while your at it fightman, deffinantly get the polyurethane rack bushings, you will be glad you did.
 
So the safari rack is not a reman product? I'm having issues with my reman cardone rack recently installed. Have been thinking of going back to an oem rack and avoiding reman.
 
txbonds said:
So the safari rack is not a reman product? I'm having issues with my reman cardone rack recently installed. Have been thinking of going back to an oem rack and avoiding reman.
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Yeah like I mentioned to fightman, Ive gone through two reman racks and they are junk for 3rd gens. The Safari rack is all new. I craftily tried to get the service guy at Safari to tell me where they get the racks, but he didn't name the company. He did however assure me that they are new, and not remanufactured. Though I wonder if the company that builds them takes an aftermarket new rack and then just installs the inner bushings
 
the kid said:
nylon bushings in the OE racks, but yeah... -im not sure if thats the same thing as polycarbonate.

and while your at it fightman, deffinantly get the polyurethane rack bushings, you will be glad you did.
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Yeah basically the same thing. Nylon, polycarbonate, both forms of thermoplastic. Fightman, like the kid said I would get the poly bushing, which you can also get from Safari. I believe they were around 25-30 extra when I ordered
 
1985taylor1925 said:
Yeah basically the same thing. Nylon, polycarbonate, both forms of thermoplastic. Fightman, like the kid said I would get the poly bushing, which you can also get from Safari. I believe they were around 25-30 extra when I ordered
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I'll be in there on Tuesday and I'll see if I can get them to let the cat out of the bag.
 
Thanks for all the replies folks! I just got in from being away from work for a week.... was nice to see all this info here! :)

I emailed Colin, and he gave me a quote of $595.00 + $100 - $120 for shipping.... I'm looking at a little less for the remanufactured rack that NAPA ordered me.

I'm gonna most likely go with the Safari rack.... since you guys all seem to have such a good opinion about them. :)

I was told by a mechanic that my rack was leaking.... and it has to be replaced. Since then, the steering has gotten worse.... so I'm pretty sure it's due.
 
fightman80 said:
Thanks for all the replies folks! I just got in from being away from work for a week.... was nice to see all this info here! :)

I emailed Colin, and he gave me a quote of $595.00 + $100 - $120 for shipping.... I'm looking at a little less for the remanufactured rack that NAPA ordered me.

I'm gonna most likely go with the Safari rack.... since you guys all seem to have such a good opinion about them. :)

I was told by a mechanic that my rack was leaking.... and it has to be replaced. Since then, the steering has gotten worse.... so I'm pretty sure it's due.
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Did he mention if that came with new bushings?
 
fightman80 said:
Thanks for all the replies folks! I just got in from being away from work for a week.... was nice to see all this info here! :)

I emailed Colin, and he gave me a quote of $595.00 + $100 - $120 for shipping.... I'm looking at a little less for the remanufactured rack that NAPA ordered me.

I'm gonna most likely go with the Safari rack.... since you guys all seem to have such a good opinion about them. :)

I was told by a mechanic that my rack was leaking.... and it has to be replaced. Since then, the steering has gotten worse.... so I'm pretty sure it's due.
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Wait, $595? That should be $495. And tell him you're a member of the forum and ask for a discount. I think if you ask youll get it.
 
txbonds said:
Why pull the tires? I didn't pull them on mine. Safer working under truck with tires still on anyway. Just remove rack as indicated and put new rack on. Leaving tires in same spot will even help you get tie rod ends back to same position. Once installed then lift so you can turn back and forth to get air out of lines.
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because it was 6ft in the air on a lift at work, just easier to move around with them off.
 
1985taylor1925 said:
Did you find anything out about this?
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I did not. Didn't make it in until today and only the owner was in the shop. I knew he wouldn't let it out. I will try again soon. I am thinking my rack will need to be replaced this fall, but no leaks yet. Price seems fair. I also know they have poly bushings for about $30.
 
shootmymime said:
because it was 6ft in the air on a lift at work, just easier to move around with them off.
Click to expand...

Yeah that makes a big difference. :)


Wish I had a lift in my home garage. Would make work on vehicles a lot easier and many projects a lot safer but can't fit one due to height and price and whatnot. LOL
 
Well.... I ended up picking up the Napa rack today. It's a lifetime Warranty unit, and they'll even cover a portion of the labor to install another if I have any issues with this one.

I'm thinking of bringing it to their shop, and having them install it. I'm looking at around $200.00 for the install..... and again... it would be warrantied for the life of my truck.

What do you all think? If you had the funds to pay for the install, would you do bring it in.... or do it yourself?
 
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