Rack and Pinion Estimate - yikes

[Frontier719]

I've been noticing some squeaking coming from the rack and pinion and some slight play in the steering (nothing horrible), so I had a mechanic look at it.

I originally wanted to just replace the bushings but the mechanic said there was inner play in the rack and suggested replacing the whole assembly.

My dilemma:
Quote to replace just the bushings - $677 (wtf?)
Quote to replace the whole assembly with alignment - $1150

Should I wait until the power steering fails, or with the "inner play" is this a critical repair that I should get fixed before it fails?

 

[jeremyc74]

I would be willing to bet this "inner play" he's talking about is nothing more than the inner tie rod ends, and you don't have to replace the whole rack for that.

There can be some play between the rack and the steering wheel (which is attached to the pinion gear) but the rack itself is a solid bar with threads on each end where the inner tie rods are attached. It can't have play in it.

Sounds to me like he's trying to take you for a ride either way. As far as the bushings go, those shouldn't take a shop more than two hours to change, and that's accounting for the aggravation of getting them in and out.

I'd seek another opinion.

 

[Dephcon]

I did the rack bushings in my driveway with jack stands and a bottle jack. Bushings cost $20, but it did take me all day. Old ones came out fairly easily, but putting the new ones in and lining up all the wholes was a PITA. No way should it cost $677 for just the bushings though.

 

[4Runner4TW]

I too am having steering issues on my 99 with 192K miles. Twice last week on cold mornings my steering completely binded. I replaced the rack guide with no resolve, should I replace the entire rack? I found some online for $250-300. Seems pretty straight forward.


**Sorry to hi jack, I came on here to post about this might as well keep this thread going vs start a new one.

 

[StreetCreeper]

I would buy a set of Energy Suspension bushings and install those first to see if the problem persist (very inexpensive...but PITA like others have mentioned). If it is still an issue, consider loosening the outer tie rods from the steering knuckles and checking the inner tie rods for sloppyness. Change out what is needed.

Also see if the rack bar itself moves around inside the rack while the outers are off the knuckles. If so, perhaps the rack guide needs replacement. I think you can get the guide for around $65.

Also, how do you know the squeaking is coming from the rack? Could it possibly be your sway bar bushings or something else squeaking when you turn?

No way would I replace the whole rack because of a squeek and and a little bit of play.

Is your rack leaking at all?

 

[Mynameistommy510]

Bad bushings can be diagnosed easily by turning the steering wheel back and forth quickly and having a friend watch the rack for movement.
I had loose steering after replacing the rack guide until I was able to dial in the perfect torque on the guide. Try driving with it torqued down all the way just snug, then gradually back it off until the steering is comfortable but still firm.
Lift the front of the truck up and wiggle the wheel (wheel and tire not steering wheel) left and right holding on to the sides of the wheel to check for play in the tie rods. Outer rods are more likely to have play. But the inners can be replaced and are located under the boots.
Replacing the whole rack would only be necessary if fluid is leaking past and out of the sides of the rack.

 

[gamefreakgc]

Quote to replace just the bushings - $677 (wtf?)
Quote to replace the whole assembly with alignment - $1150

That's all labor cost to do the bushings. There's no real good way to do it, it just takes time to press the old ones out and put the new ones in.

If you're not in the position to do it yourself, a new rack with new bushings will make a difference even if they are not from Energy Suspension. Or, you could order the part yourself and put in the bushings before you take it in, but not all shops will put on parts that you supply.

Get a second quote from another shop for just a steering rack replacement and I bet it'd be cheaper.

Driving with a failing rack is not a big deal though. Mine is also failing but I've changed enough parts to firm it up enough that I feel good about it. It's not like it's going to just blow up and you'll loose the steering or something, it just get sloppy.

 

[nevada]

I've been noticing some squeaking coming from the rack and pinion and some slight play in the steering (nothing horrible), so I had a mechanic look at it.

I originally wanted to just replace the bushings but the mechanic said there was inner play in the rack and suggested replacing the whole assembly.

My dilemma:
Quote to replace just the bushings - $677 (wtf?)
Quote to replace the whole assembly with alignment - $1150

Should I wait until the power steering fails, or with the "inner play" is this a critical repair that I should get fixed before it fails?

I would double check where the squeaking is coming from.

typically it will be OTR, or balljoints that squeak. but it can sometimes be hard to locate the exact source.

 

[jeremyc74]

That's all labor cost to do the bushings. There's no real good way to do it, it just takes time to press the old ones out and put the new ones in.
.

That's still a crazy amount for just the bushings. Even laying on my back with the truck on jackstands I was able to do them in less than 3 hours. A shop shouldn't be billing anywhere near 6 hours labor for that job.