I have a higher mileage ED sedan.... which is the first problem haha. But jokes aside, when I got my ED sedan I put in the quaife quick steer kit in my what I believe to be OEM rack. Now since putting it back in, about 7k miles after the install, the rack is starting to make racket. Its mostly when the car is at slow speeds, it feels like it rolls over on itself, overloads the pushing and then makes a small POP sound and corresponding sound. It feels like the bushings are going unfortunately. So I figure seeing as how my car has ~320k miles on it and this is possibly the original rack, its time for a new one. So, getting to the meat of the situation, I wanted to know, what brand of aftermarket rack should I go with? I highly doubt I could find a Honda OEM rack new, so I've been looking at the aftermarket replacements such as A1 CarDone, Maval and AC Delco. Has anyone replaced this in their car and maybe has it in their heart to give me a review?

 

well i know that those Quaife quick steering racks are for cars without power steering. so if you have power steering that steering rack is for manuel steering racks only. Thats all i know so maybe it can help haha

 

I wasn't aware anyone actually made aftermarket steering racks, just the quick ratio steering gear.

IMO go digging around at the junkyard. There are some relatively low mileage EF's in the boneyards. Sad really.... some of the cleanest stock EF's I've ever seen are in the boneyard.

 

the only 2 pieces to "rebuild" on a manual steering rack is the rack end bushing, and the pinion bearing. parts cost $15 new, oem.

i dont think its cost effective to buy a rebuilt rack. its not much more work to replace the two over replacing the rack since you have to take the rack out anyway.

as for the quaife rack, its a new rack and pinion that is geared much shorter. if youre interested in one, you have to use a DX rack. a Si rack isnt compatible.

 

I was waiting for tyson to chime in....

I actually think its the mounting points that are shot.... when i put the car up on a twin post lift it looked like the source of the noise was at the drivers side mount, almost as if the rack is moving around the shank of the bolt. do they make upgraded (poly or solid) bushings for actually mounting the rack?

Also, check out rockauto.com for the rebuilt racks i was looking at. They also have pretty reasonable prices on Moog ball joints and other good replacement parts.

Thanks for the help guys.

 

you can buy new rack bushings from the dealer or energy suspension.

are you sure the pinion gear just doesnt need to be adjusted?

 

I'll check both. Thanks.