Steering rack

[Funnygas]

so mine started leaking.. er.. pissing fluid. like over 1L per day.
so. i either need a new rack.. OR
can i replace the seal that is leaking? without removing the rack?
how hard is the rack to remove?

[mcfly]

You need to pull the rack completely apart. This was the reason I opted to just get a different one.

[M13]

how hard is it to replace it?

[Funnygas]

i figured you had to pull the rack to rebuild... boo-urns...
how hard is it to replace?

[mcfly]

You need to pull the tie rod ends out of the knuckle/hub
mark and remove steering column knuckle
remove the two hardlines running into/out of valve body

undo the mounts and slide rack out.

It's not hard just time consuming and awkward.



Once it is all out you need to swap the tie rods over, if you plan on reusing yours/keeping semi aligned for trip to alignment rack. There are locks on the inner tie rods you either need to grind out and replace or just grind out. If you don't replace them you can rotate the 90 degrees and make a new center punch/lock out of the unused side.

[j-ran]

make sure when it goes back together that your steering wheel is straight when the wheels are straight lol

[mcfly]

That's the main reason for marking the steering column position ;)

[rb-racer]

Are you going to attempt a rebuild on the current rack? I think i have the same problem as all my power steering fluid dumped out one cold day.

[Funnygas]

well my rack came complete with tie rods and tie rod ends.
so ill just have to swap and adjust :D

[mcfly]

want to give me the old one to try and rebuild haha. I'm pretty sure going by the puddle under the gtst's parking spot it blew the rack i put in.

[M13]

These racks seem to blow all the time with not much options/replacements.

Couldn't a shop rebuild them?

[R32GT-R]

what about a non power replacement

[Rapier46]

you'll want to mark the rack, and if you have to unbolt it, the cradle. either of those shift=problems

[Zacho]

You always have the choice of what the S-chassis guys do. De-power the rack and remove the seals. You will have to grease it occasionally, or you have the option of looping the lines for the rack (damien did I not see this on your car?)

Here is a guide I found way back when from the miata guys. I imagine it isn't much different than this.
http://flyinmiata.com/tech/depower.php?x=1

[mcfly]

yup the gtr has a loop and full of fluid. wouldn't work with seals gone and is not overly friendly with 295's. I am looking into an electric pump I can mount on the frame rail for a bit of assistance.

[R32GT-R]

so loop the line, remove pump and leave fluid in their to lubricate