Jaynik

I am going to do a steering rack guide adjustment on my civic. (1997 cx) It has manual steering and that rack seems very very loose. The shop where I ahve a lifetime alignment says the rack will need to be replaced before a proper alignment can be done again, and this has been a long time coming.

https://honda-tech.com/forums/showth...ght=rack+guide

Anyway long story short I am going to try to tighten the rack guide and see if that fixes it before I go buying a new rack. Im pretty sure the jack asses at firestone didnt even know what a rack guide is so of course they wouldnt have suggested it in the first place.

Ok seriously long story shot, do you think I could get away with doing this with an open ended 40mm fan clutch wrench (harbor freight has this) insted of the super specific honda dealer available 40mm box wrench?

b18cKoupe

I just bought the honda wrench from majestic while I was ordering other stuff since the shipping on just one little thing is killer. Even with the wrench it was a pain in the ***, but I was on my back since I dont have a lift. It was about 20 for the tool if I remember right and I think it'll work on most 92 -00 hondas and maybe more so it was worth it for me. You might be able to do it with a low profile fan wrench but you have about maybe a 1/2 inch to turn each time before you have to reset the wrench, thats why the honda one has so many teeth. It did make a difference in my 94 civic with over 200k.

Also check your inner tie rods if you're having a lot of play while your under there.

Jaynik

Inner/outer tie rods are all new. I think I can get away without the honda wrench. I think this because on most other hondas, escpecially acuras, it is WAY more crowded and awkward of a space around that rack than it is on my car. I could prob reach the nut with a regular wrench without even jacking up the car.

Civic cx is just about the easiest car I have ever worked on (except for the 1977 ford maverick.. you could actually stand in the engine bay, next to the motor, with your feet on the street under the car, and change the spark plugs hahaha)

Jaynik

Got it with a regular 15" adjustable wrench! So far the steering is 100% better!