2001 Grand Prix GTP - Rack Pinion - Page 2

zepol · #16 05-30-2010, 04:44 PM

I'm gonna do this first thing tomorrow morning and try to write a detailed write up with as many pictures as I can manage too.

I do have a quick question though....What is the cleanest/neatest way to release the current power steering fluid out of the car without getting it all over the place?

Also would you guys recommend that I fill it up with Lucas power steering once it's all put back together or would you say that I should use something else?

tblake · #17 05-31-2010, 01:49 AM

you would be suprized, not much will come out. just have a pan ready or else you could remove the return line on the pump and drain it that way. Keep in mind there will still be some in the lines.

zepol · #18 05-31-2010, 02:08 AM

Thanks! What type of power steering fluid would you recommend me using when refilling after the steering gear replacement? Regular power steering fluid or is Lucas power steering fluid really that much better?

BNaylor · #19 05-31-2010, 10:34 AM

Any that meets or exceeds the GM Saginaw Pump specifications and contains corrosion inhibitors. If you want to use Lucas it is your choice but I doubt it is any better than OE.

AC Delco Power Steering fluid PN: 12353832 (1 qt) or PN: 12353833 (16 oz).

Good second choice is Castrol GT power steering fluid.

zepol · #20 05-31-2010, 01:28 PM

Help! How do you get access to the intermediate steering shaft lower pinch bolt? I have the car up with a 3 ton jack positioned in the center front of the car jack stands in place (for lowering subframe later) and everything is so tight I can't see or get my wrist up anywhere near the stub shaft of the rack and pinion. It would also help if I know what I was looking for but thats another issue.

BNaylor · #21 05-31-2010, 01:50 PM

Its under that rubber protective boot so you have to adjust it to move it out of position. The bolt you are looking for is the lowest to the rack and pinion.

zepol · #22 05-31-2010, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BNaylor

Its under that rubber protective boot so you have to adjust it to move it out of position. The bolt you are looking for is the lowest to the rack and pinion.

Ahhhh. OK. Now I know why I couldn't see it.

zepol · #23 06-01-2010, 05:53 PM

Wooot! Job is finished. I will have a complete write up with pictures coming soon.

Should I use this thread or start another one for the write up?

There are certainly some things that I haven't seen mentioned in any forum that you have to deal with when changing the rack and pinion in this car.

First I would say that I have read that you can do this with two hydraulic jacks and jackstands which is what I was going to do until my neighbor told he had had a huge one that could lift the car from the front. I think you can do it with the two jacks on the side but think that would have severly hindered me from moving around under the car the way I was able to with the single jack in the front

Next I had to use several extensions to get to the pinch bolt that connects the top or stub of the rack to the steering shaft in the plastic cowl. Luckily I have a bunch of them from all the sets of tools that I have bought over the years.

The next thing I had to deal with were the bolts that tie down the rack and pinion to the sub frame. There are nuts on the back of those bolts that I didn't see right away and the nuts are nearly impossible to get to but I have a tip that will be shown in the write up. I used a plumbing tool and it worked out very well. Once you crack those bolts loose and get the nut off I had a clearance issue with what I believe to be the sway bar. I have a picture of this too. I have a couple of suggestions here too.

Then the thing that everyone said was the PITA of this job is certainly a PITA. Getting the stub of the rack back onto the steering shaft is tricky and takes time to keep working it.

Finally something that caught me totally off guard were the bolts in the tie rod. They spin when you go to tighten them back up and it took me literally 2 hours trying different things before I came up with the idea of using a plain old adjustable wrench to hold the nut while i used another adjustable wrench to grab and spin the bottom part of the bolt which happens to be a hex shape but was either too big or too small for any of my sockets so I don't think this was meant to be done the way I did it but in the end it worked and my car is back on the road and without the leak that has been plaguing me for month and months now.

Zep

tblake · #24 06-01-2010, 06:34 PM

I can't wait to hear your tipps!

You can post a write-up in the tips and maintenance subforum.

zepol · #25 06-02-2010, 11:41 PM

Just got the alignment done and the car feels amazing! I also finished doing a very detailed write up http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul....php?p=6418355 Take a look. I almost screamed because I worked on it for about 3 hours only to find out that after 30 min the site times out and logs you off so I had to start all over again from scratch. I went ahead and did the whole write up again based on the fact that I have gotten so much help from everyone on this site that I felt obligated and honored to be able to help someone out in the future. I was saving/editing multiple times so as to not have to start over again! It came out really nice and I'm proud of it

doctorhrdware · #26 06-03-2010, 12:06 AM

Just looked at your write up on changing out the rack and pinion. It is an excellent write up. The pictures that your wife took were also very good. I also found out the hard way that after 30 minutes you have lost your post, I did not know that until you also mentioned that.

POST REPLY TO THIS THREAD