Replacing the Power Steering Rack on my '00, need help!!

kmgsix08 · 10-26-2009, 01:55 PM

Okay, so my power steering rack is popping when I turn the wheel back and forth. My first thought was the outer tie rods, so I picked up a pair. Still popping after the install, so now it's pretty much narrowed down to either the bushings or the gear box. I said screw it and just bought an entire rack. I was told that the '01-'02 F-Body's came with a fluid cooler or something to keep the fluid from getting too hot and messing up the gear box..? Does anyone know if one of these coolers can be installed on a '00 F-Body? Anyone have any knowledge in this area?

ROCNDAV · 10-26-2009, 02:32 PM

I thought the power steering cooler was just an option. You don't need one.

niceguyyy01 · 10-26-2009, 02:37 PM

I have one on my 00 T/A. Don't know about the rest of the models. And usually they put them on there for a reason.

ROCNDAV · 10-26-2009, 02:57 PM

I've read of some people take their coolers off. They refer to them as "heaters" rather than coolers, because it runs the hot engine coolant around the PS fluid.

DAS1998 · 10-26-2009, 03:11 PM

make sure you check your steering shaft.. i have replaced a ton of them for noise and frozen u-joints. might not be your problem but just thought i would pass that along.

Mike

kmgsix08 · 10-26-2009, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROCNDAV

I've read of some people take their coolers off. They refer to them as "heaters" rather than coolers, because it runs the hot engine coolant around the PS fluid.

Interesting. Does PS fluid perform better when its hot or something? Maybe the guy that tried to explain it to me had it backwards. He said that it cooled the PS fluid to prevent damage to the gear box. I bought one already, I'm just trying to decide whether or not I want to use it.

whitehooptie · 10-26-2009, 04:39 PM

I put an 01 rack on my 93 V6 car. So, yes. Put it on and be finished with it. Just put you new tie rod ends on and get an alignment when you are done.

kmgsix08 · 10-26-2009, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitehooptie

I put an 01 rack on my 93 V6 car. So, yes. Put it on and be finished with it. Just put you new tie rod ends on and get an alignment when you are done.

Thanks man. I have the new tie rod ends. I think I should probably get a new bushing for it since it's a convenient time. Is it just called a Rack Bushing or what?

Thanks for the help guys

whitehooptie · 10-26-2009, 05:31 PM

You talking about the steering shaft? LT1 cars have a replaceable bushing, but I don't think LS1 cars do....

whitehooptie · 10-26-2009, 05:33 PM

Oh, and I would at least "eyeball align" it if it is too bad. Just measure the distance between the outsides of both tires the best you can so they are as even as possible. I didn't do that once when I changed the rack on my v6 car and it chewed through a tire in 2 days.

neutron82 · 10-26-2009, 08:57 PM

grab an extra rack bolt from the dealer... one of the bolts is going to hit the bottom of the oil pan when you try to take it out... easiest way to do it is cut the head of that bolt off so it will just fall out and install the new bolt from the bottom and use some red thread locker to hold the nut on... the other bolt will come out fine... i did mine this way when i did my rack... if you don't want to do it this way you're gonna have to loosen the mounts and jack the motor up to get it out... mine has been fine this way and that bolt will not come loose unless i ever have to take it out again... i wouldn't run the factory p.s cooler the way they are set up on our cars but if you want to go with an aftermarket one it wouldn't hurt, but i don't think it's necessary for a daily driver... the factory ones will get the fluid hot with coolant and they always end up mixing coolant and p.s fluid and creating a big mess and problems

DSIM · 10-27-2009, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAS1998

make sure you check your steering shaft.. i have replaced a ton of them for noise and frozen u-joints. might not be your problem but just thought i would pass that along.

Mike

^^^What this guy said.

When I worked for a GMC dealership one of the recalls for the Yukon/Tahoe was the steering shaft, the u-joint in there would go bad and make a popping sound. Easy way to test is to shut the car down and move the steering wheel... if you hear the pop then it is most likely the knuckle (u-joint) in the shaft going bad.

cookba · 10-27-2009, 10:34 AM

my PS cooler leaked the entire reservoir into my radiator. DON'T PUT THE COOLER ON!

kmgsix08 · 10-27-2009, 10:58 AM

Thanks for yall's input. I definitely wont be putting the cooler on now.

The Darkness · 10-30-2009, 11:24 AM

Ive got a related question, one of the bushings on my 00 T/A WS6 is shot, can i just replace that bushing or should i just go ahead and get spendy and buy a new tie rod for that side? What do i have to replace?