Steering rack options

[DMCJosh85]

Anybody have and sound advice to give in consideration of matters about replacing the steering rack? I'm considering either a PJ Grady or DMCH rack and want to defer to the community knowledge of if either has any concerns or praiseworthy notes.

[mark w]

Anybody have and sound advice to give in consideration of matters about replacing the steering rack? I'm considering either a PJ Grady or DMCH rack and want to defer to the community knowledge of if either has any concerns or praiseworthy notes.


may I ask why you want to replace it? Whats wrong?

[DMCJosh85]

While I'm still investigating this more, I found a small puddle of oil under my car on the front end which had been leaking out from the steering rack boots. While I found one side just torn slightly I've found the other side completely ripped. The worse side of the two (drivers side) is the one that had the oil collecting underneath, about a 3-4 inch puddle Id say. My concern is that I didn't catch this soon enough and its taken in debris which has been grinding away and has done damage to whatever oil seal there might be. Like I said, I'm still investigating but in the event of the worse case I figured ill do some homework on the higher assembly to replace right now.

[David T]

If you don't have a lot of play (looseness) then just get some new boots. A third option is to get the parts and rebuild it yourself or have someone do it for you. It is not that difficult.

[82DMC12]

I had mine rebuilt by Grady a long time ago and it still looks and feels fantastic. I did have to replace the passenger side bar bushing last year, and I took the time to disassemble the rack, clean it, change the boots, and fill up oil again. Good to go for many more years again.

I agree it's not super difficult to rebuild the rack if you have the parts but if you doubt your abilities, just send it to Rob. Technically you're also supposed to set the pinion gear pre-tension which not everyone is going to actually do but it makes a difference.

[Mark D]

I rebuilt mine using parts from PJ Grady about 10 years / 10,000 miles ago and it's still going strong. I completely stripped the entire rack, had the tube powder coated, and replaced all the plastic bushings. Also got new outer tie rod ends and boots.

https://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=29861&d=1407416534

More pics of the rebuilding process in my album here.
https://dmctalk.org/album.php?albumid=160

There is a how-to PDF in the the forum's tech section here that is easy to follow along:
https://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?7991-How-To-Rebuild-Steering-Rack