Need Steering Rack Advice
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 167
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Need Steering Rack Advice Hey guys so my steering rack and pinion is leaking plus the tie rod end bushings are wasted. I've been reading and people say not to go remanufactured from your local auto store, but some people seem to like rackdoctor. Is the rackdoctor steering rack a good choice? Or will I be replacing it every so many thousands miles? Also is it hard to rebuild the steering rack? Is it a good idea to just rebuild the one I have with a quality kit?
I picked mine up from Rackdoctor.net No problems after a year now. Quality of rebuild was far superior then Cardone. I could tell when I pulled it out of the box that the have quality checks. As many say, stay away from all the local parts stores as they all carry Cardone and they are equally all ****.
Last edited by BrittleSpeed; Jan 30, 2017 at 04:51 PM.
TECH Regular
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 453
Likes: 14
From: Utah
I purchased one from rackdoctor. The first one I received went in and after about a month started clunking when I turned the wheel.
I contacted rack doctor and the sent me out another one. That one came and had some damaged lines so I asked if I could swap them over for the one I am sending back and they said that's fine. New one has been in for about 6 months with no real issue.
I contacted rack doctor and the sent me out another one. That one came and had some damaged lines so I asked if I could swap them over for the one I am sending back and they said that's fine. New one has been in for about 6 months with no real issue.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 167
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Ok I guess I am going with the rack doctor. So they have 2 different steering racks in their website. One is for the F41 suspension and the other is for FE2, FE4, and FE7 suspension. How do I know which one I need?
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I ordered the 2000-2002 rack expecting it to be the v8 rack that takes fewer turns lock to lock, and I received a v6 rack.
I called them up and the guy was super rude. "You think you know more about steering racks than me?" "Why didn't you call before ordering" etc. I asked him to please check my core to be sure about the ratio and he said he could tell just by eyeballing it that it's the same as the one they sent (it isn't). So now, rather than send me the right rack, they're just returning my core to me and sent me a label to return the new rack for a refund. What a hassle. I'm going to be buying my next one from a local store so I don't have to deal with this.
The new rack I got from rack doctor also wasn't centered. 1 and a half turns right, 1 and a quarter turns left. Also that's 2 and 3/4 total turns which is a v6 rack. 2 1/4 total turns would be the v8/performance rack.
I called them up and the guy was super rude. "You think you know more about steering racks than me?" "Why didn't you call before ordering" etc. I asked him to please check my core to be sure about the ratio and he said he could tell just by eyeballing it that it's the same as the one they sent (it isn't). So now, rather than send me the right rack, they're just returning my core to me and sent me a label to return the new rack for a refund. What a hassle. I'm going to be buying my next one from a local store so I don't have to deal with this.
The new rack I got from rack doctor also wasn't centered. 1 and a half turns right, 1 and a quarter turns left. Also that's 2 and 3/4 total turns which is a v6 rack. 2 1/4 total turns would be the v8/performance rack.
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Verdad Gallardo TECH Regular
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 453
Likes: 14
From: Utah
If I could do it all over again I would just send my stock one to TurnOne to get rebuilt. My post (#4) from a six months into the second rackdoctor one either leaked and I didn't see it or started leaking shortly after a few months. It leaks and leaves a few drops on the concrete out the drivers side boot every time I park the car. I still have my stock one (never turned it in for a core refund) and over the winter I may send it in to turnone.