Help! Power steering issue...

-T- · 11-06-2009, 07:28 PM

Had my power steering go out on my way home. Pulled in the garage to... popped the hood. Res was dry. Put a bottle of fluid in, started the car... turned the wheels to hear the pump whining and a little squirting. Jacked the car to find this on the passenger side wheels turned right... oh... 2004 CTS-V if that means anything

eseibel67 · 11-06-2009, 07:56 PM

That's a very severe leak. You popped a hose, which is good news.

-T- · 11-06-2009, 08:00 PM

which hose? The fluid is coming out of the inner tie rod boot. is there a hose inside of there?

-T- · 11-06-2009, 08:04 PM

???

eseibel67 · 11-06-2009, 08:12 PM

Sorry about the double post, I was having a glitch.

I didn't realize the fluid was coming out of the bellows. That volume usually indicates a hose.

If it's coming out of the bellows it's bad news - you need a new rack.

-T- · 11-06-2009, 08:28 PM

thats what i was afraid of. is there a seal that usually blows? rock auto has the rack for 410? how much is the dealer gonna rape me for? $1K?

eseibel67 · 11-06-2009, 08:42 PM

Yes, there is a seal. It seals the "rack" to the rack housing.

The $410 is likely a rebuilt. Should be o.k. Rebuilt racks are fairly reliable.

-T- · 11-06-2009, 09:02 PM

410 after a 220 core. I just know the dealership is gonna try and rape. I'm gonna try a parts store and find a garage that will change it for me. I have never changed one and dont wanna mess up my alignment.

neutron82 · 11-07-2009, 12:28 AM

you're gonna have to get an alignment whether you do it or have a shop do it there's no way around it... you can count the threads on your tie rods and get it close but it won't be exact... if you're capable of doing it just save the money and do it yourself and then get an alignment done afterwards... you will get the core charge back when you bring in your old rack so you will only be out the $410 unless you can find it cheaper... i'm not sure about a cts but if it's anything like an ls1 camaro or t/a rack then it will be a piece of cake

-T- · 11-08-2009, 12:49 PM

i decided this morning that im going to do it myself. I am more than capable. It was an issue of time more or less. My next obstacle is finding out what part number i need. There are two different part numbers on a site i found. One comes with inner tie rods and is for "special ride". i am not sure what the special ride is yet

neutron82 · 11-08-2009, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -T-

i decided this morning that im going to do it myself. I am more than capable. It was an issue of time more or less. My next obstacle is finding out what part number i need. There are two different part numbers on a site i found. One comes with inner tie rods and is for "special ride". i am not sure what the special ride is yet

check your rpo codes and it should have one of the 2 codes and that will tell you what rack you need... http://cadillacfaq.com/rpo/index.php

intense3123 · 11-08-2009, 04:26 PM

I'd get the rack with inner tie rods if it's not too much more. That way you don't have to mess with taking the boots off and the inner rods.
And when you get an an alignment, tell them you just want them to set toe. It'll be cheaper and that's all they're probably gonna do anyway if they did a full alignment.

-T- · 11-08-2009, 08:24 PM

thanks intense.

The quickest i could get one here to Tx was through Autozone. It will be here Tuesday morning. Everywhere else was 5-10 business days. Cant have my DD down that long. Unfortunately Autozone couldnt tell me if it would come with inners or not. They assumed no. Most of the sites i found had inners with the kit. Im hoping for inners... if not, oh well.