rack and pinnion

[bmanhand]

went in for my oil change and the nice man told me i needed my rack and pinnion changed or replaced or whatnot....he was probably being nice because he told me it would run me around 400 bucks :(
he said it is a normal problem in the ga's


what do yall think?

[XoticGA]

wtf is a rach and pinnion? :???2:

[nice96gt]

I thought they were a problem only on the older w-body vehicles? :???: It was a recall on my old Buick Regal GS. Never heard of that on the GA's...

[bmanhand]

I dont know, thats just what he told me..ill keep ya updated

[VanishingImage]

ask them to show you. I haven't seen ANY GA's come in the dealership for this,comon problem,wouldn't say comon,never heard of it being one. Rack and pinion is part of the steering. Which I have not heard of it being a problem on any GA's.

Ask them whats actually wrong with it.

[cosmocanyon]

Also, a rack and pinion failure can constitute one of three things:

1. a leak/hole in the housing, causing all the fluid to leak out and a "no power steering" effect to kick in,

2. the rack could seize up, resulting in no steering

3. the teeth on the gear inside the rack or the teeth could break off, resulting in a "lose" feel to the steering (eg you may move the wheel 1/8 of a turn but have no movement in the wheels - "slippage" if you will).

Unless one of these three issues is going on, he's full of shit.

I suppose a fourth could be a clog in the line or the rack, resulting in the fluid not being able to circulate, but that would be the same symptoms as number one. Generally, the R&P is one of those things that you can "drive on" even after it goes "bad" for quite a while. (in the case of #3 - the usual culprit). Even then, it's more annoying than anything else. Basically, unless its locked up or leaking, no big deal.

[BBT]

Steering racks can & do leak, and yes it is a common problem with many R & P steering steups. VWs are pretty notorious for it. My steering rack is leaking, but it is a slow leak and so I just keep it topped up . I was quoted by my regular mechanic as $300 for used rack plus labour.

However, having said all that, I rather doubt your 2002 would be having this kind of a problem. I'd get another opinion.

[Riley1123d]

Yeah it kinda sounds like he's trying to gip you. Get another opinion definately

[bmanhand]

Thanks everyone, i will definately get more opinions, I wasnt really paying attention to all the things he was explaing after the fact because i was trying to figure out how the hell i was going to pay for this....but i did hear something about a leak. Ill call him up and find out for sure then get more opinions, he said i wouldnt pass inspection. The car has over 103 K miles on it ....

i askd my dad about it the next time i saw him and he told me that my GA always had that problem, the clicking when i turn the whell all the way one or another way....