79 Leaking Steering Rack
 

Looking at a 79 with a "leaking steering rack". I don't yet know (and won't) until I get the car home as to what is leaking. So if I plan on a worst case scenario, which I believe would be a reman/ rebuild rack, what am I looking at for cost? I checked a few sponsors here and don't see rack assemblies, are they no longer available? As a DIY, how many hours would you guess? Anything that makes this a really difficult task?

Thanks!

Look at the 928 International website for a rebuilt rack. Last I looked they were about $400 exchange. The other major 928 parts vendors sell the 928 International rebuilt rack, so your choice of vendor probably falls to whichever place is closer to you. You'll want to ship or deliver your old rack to them, as the core charge is not cheap.

Talk to whomever you buy it from, for a list of the parts and pieces you'll want to include in your order. Those are typically tie rods and tie rod ends, the power steering hoses and a reservoir/filter. You may also want to include a steering shaft coupling, and rebuild kit for the pump. For sure you'll want to thoroughly flush whatever older parts you reuse, including the power steering fluid cooler loop if your car has one. I'm pretty sure new boots come with the rack, but best to verify when you buy.

Thank you, sir!

928 International is where I checked but couldn't find a rack. Lots of parts to accompany one but no actual rack. This is why I thought perhaps no longer available. Maybe I'm not searching correctly?

Any thoughts on the magnitude of this job? Lots of labor hours or not to bad?

if you also swap in the PS tank ,
and short hose, it should take you about 3 hours or so with the car on 4 jack stands

You can't win, can you?

If you don't list it, people complain that it isn't available.
If you do list it, people complain that you are scamming them into ordering stuff that isn't there.

Am I the only one who understands that used parts is "sometimes it's there, sometimes it isn't" business? Yeah I know probably not, but it sure seems that way sometimes.

Regardless of whether or not it shows, a call or e-mail will very quickly establish if they have it in stock or expect it any time soon.

Perfect, thank you!
Mark, no worries. I'm just a noob here and am contemplating a car to buy. I was just scanning over things on the website and wondered if perhaps things are just no longer available. A phone call today would have answered my question but it was Sunday and I thought I would just post to the group. Definitely don't make changes for me!

Yes, agreed that a phone call would have been best. Certainly wasn't trying to come down on Mark in any way.

Is it possible to denote qty of stock similar to amazon.com? that would be best...

not with our current shopping cart and software

Confirm it's the rack before ordering. Other common items are the reservoir, as Mr. Merlin stated, which is actually really cheap as I recall, and the high pressure hose. My car had developed a leak on the high pressure hose where the engine was rubbing the hose near the driver's side fender, but I also replaced the reservoir out of caution because they will crack as they get old.

The best option on the hose is to have it rebuilt at a local hydraulic shop. They will reuse the factory ends and make you a new hose, also pretty cheap as I recall.

Building on Chris's info, the reservoir includes the PS fluid filter as an integral part. These are regular maintenance items, and could probably deserve replacement with the auto trans service every 25k. The two hoses that connect to the reservoir get crispy with age, hardening to the point where maintaining a tight seal is impossible; You can't get enough clamping pressure on the hoses to restore the seal. One of the hoses feeds the power steering pump, the other comes back from the "steering fluid cooler", which on my car anyway is a loop of steel tubing on the floor in front of the AC condenser, runs laterally for the width of the condenser. All those screw-clamp connections eventually leak as the hoses harden and shrink. When they do, the fluid runs downhill and is blown back by airflow through the grill and radiator. It gets in and on the alternator cooling duct, then everything aft of that eventually gets soaked too.

Most cars seem to have the original reservoirs and filters, and many still have the original low-pressure hoses too. Replacing all of those isn't difficult, but it can be a little messy if you aren't careful catching the fluid. A Very Good Time to take on that hose-replacement task is when you have the system drained for motor mount replacement. Plus you are already doing all that cleaning underneath, when draining another 8oz of ATF is literally a drop in the bucket.

Not that it's important, but this isn't entirely accurate. They do get them from the same source tho.