So I just got back from the alignment shop... apparently my lovely northeastern rusted-out pos is SO rusted out half the bolts used to align the car are completely frozen.

I get to replace a rear lower control arm, and the guy suggests I replace my entire steering rack. How hard is the rack to replace, if I manage to get one at the junkyard?

 

wtf, the ENTIRE??? steering rack?

 

I'd get under there and check it out yourself... sounds fishy... if you do have to replace the entire steering rack take one out of a prelude - it has a better steering ratio nd will bolt right up... supposedly...

 

It's the part that the tie rods attach to... in short, the tie rods are fucked, and I just picked up the um.. I guess it's just the pinion(?) from the junkyard for $100

The guy working on the car would in no way profit from me repairing it, it was just an alignment/tire shop. He showed me exactly what the problems are... I don't think your tie rods are supposed to be able to be liberally shaken back and forth, that causes play in the steering wheel, which I had since I curbed my car avoiding an accident.

I got to pick the car it came from, it was an Accord with no front end damage. I've got what I need, but how hard will this bitch be to put in without a lift? Or should I have a professional do it?

 

Kinda funny, when you think about it... I curbed my car avoiding an accident and it caused me a good $2000 worth of damage in the long run... from suspension and steering damage to eventually hydrolocking and blowing up my engine because the fender lining was torn off.

I shoulda nailed the ******.

 

hmm... where did you hear this from? I'd like more info on whether or not you can bolt them up...

 

Heh... that last word... 'supposedly'. That's enough to deter me for the moment.

 

Good god... I just got off the phone with Mahdavi Motorsports... it IS the ENTIRE rack that I'd be replacing, they also recommend it, but it's a 4-4.5 hour job, plus an alignment, that equated to $400 for the alignment and labor.

Now I'm starting to consider throwing the car up on jack stands and doing it myself. I managed an engine swap, a steering rack shouldn't be that hard, right?

Just wish I had a lift...

 

A friend of mine from HART told me it was possible... I really haven't looked into it to much. Those guys know some crazy ****... especially about switching parts from one model to another (probably because most of them hand a hand in designing it!)

 

I suggest that you try to unfreeze the bolts with some PB Blaster before you get a new control arm.

 

I'm going to have to unfreeze them anyway, but I'm going to replace it no matter what... my bolt looks like a blob of rust. The steering rack I have to replace because of damage and wear, too.