I have an 1989 cavalier z24 that i have put a lot of time and money into fixing repairs. My latest problem is the power steering rack. Lately the reservoir drains all the way down and I get this loud whining noise when the rack has no fluid. It has progressed to the point that it leaks out of the fittings on the rack and the around the cap. If i put some fluid in it will drain right out.
So I need a new rack. I talked to a couple guys and they said that I shouldn't attempt this without the right tools (cherry picker etc...). They quoted about $700 installed. Is it any easier to install a manual steering rack into this car? Is that something that I can do myself? Does a manual steering rack cost more than a powered one?
Anything else i should look into? Thanks for the help.
Ok, I checked back because I thought I saw 1 and I was right. If you really want to get rid of your power steering Jbodyperformance in Canada had a power steering delete kit, but it's $357.23 and I'm only telling you that they have it. NOT endorsing the product because I don't have one and they could be the biggest pieces of crap in the world and I wouldn't know. But they seem to know what they're doing, lots of performance parts, crate engines, and judging from their list of customer cars, they must be doing something. Anyway, you should free up a little extra power with the manual steering, and no whining sound or ps pump. Hope this helps
Jbodyperformance
Sorry, it's hard to find, have to go to 2nd Gen products, then Machine Shop, then under custom products
the steering rack can be changed without pulling the motor or any special tools.. just remove the tie rods, undo the lines, pull the rack ouf othe passenger side through the opening where the tie rod goes. whoever told you $700 or whatever is smoking crack.
you can get remanufactured racks at any parts store for under $100.
Biggest pieces of crap in the world I don't think so. That product is top notch, here are a couple of pictures, the first one is off the pulley/bracket, This was an old pulley that I had off a certain GM vehicle which came with no p/s and is the same diameter, etc, I have a new pulley on there now just for looks only.
Yeah the rack is easy to do, as said above. You unbolt the master cylinder and brake booster and take the bracke booster out of the way and then you've got lots of room. Then unbolt the bolt for the coupling between the steering column and the rack. And then the two p/s lines at the rack. I just unbolted the inner tie rod ends where they bolt to the rack, I didn't end up taking out the outer tie rod ends on one of cars that I did it on, unbolt the rack from the firewall and it comes out of the drivers side, may rotated it as your pulling it out and it comes right out, very very easy to do. You may want o go with a manual rack as I did, I was tired of p/s fluid leaks and went and installed the manual rack., greater feel for the road and no unlike popular belief its not like driving a p/s equipped car while it is not running.
how do you lubricate the manual rack? does it have grease fittings or what?
im thinking my power rack might be causing my car to wander all over the road.. i've replaced every bushing and suspension component but still have this annoying problem.. when i got the car the pump was shot and the rack had been running dry for an unknown period of time.
The rack is a pain in the but, at least it was on a 3100 grand am, but you dont need to pull the engine or anything. 4 bolts is all that holds it in, 2 power steering lines and it pulls out the side. I would reccomend a lift if possible. No specialty tools needed, but you may have to unbolt the master cylender/brake booster from inside the car.
http://members.cardomain.com/vertz24 1998 Z24 Convertible
