just took the car to the garage

kimnwi · Post by **kimnwi** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 12:36 pm

Hi everyone,

I just got back from taking my Neon to the garage. He told me he can't do the work on it. Apparently, my rack is bad, is this a PITA to remove? Also, I wanted him to replace my power steering pulley, so my power steering and air would work, he didn't have the right pulley puller, and didn't want to buy the right size just for my car. How hard is this to replace, and how expensive is the proper puller?

Kim

GrApHite03 · Post by **GrApHite03** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 2:37 pm

If your close to massachusetts, i have an ACR rack from a 2001 at my uncles shop for sale.

k3v

Post by **Diablo0** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 2:44 pm

The pullers usually aren't that much and typically you can rent thim at Autozone or Advance Auto Parts. As for the rack, it's time consuming but I don't think it's all that hard to do, just intimidating. You have to drop the K-Frame to get it out which requires disconnecting the steering column in the car (one bolt), disconnecting the power steering fluid lines, unbolting the tie rod ends from the knuckle, unbolting the ball joints and then there are four bolts that hold the K-Frame into place. Any shop should be able to easily replace it for you.

Can I ask why they want to replace it? Did I miss something somewhere? Same goes for your pulley, did it I miss something somewhere saying you were having probs with it?

kimnwi · Post by **kimnwi** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 4:26 pm

Diablo0 wrote:The pullers usually aren't that much and typically you can rent thim at Autozone or Advance Auto Parts. As for the rack, it's time consuming but I don't think it's all that hard to do, just intimidating. You have to drop the K-Frame to get it out which requires disconnecting the steering column in the car (one bolt), disconnecting the power steering fluid lines, unbolting the tie rod ends from the knuckle, unbolting the ball joints and then there are four bolts that hold the K-Frame into place. Any shop should be able to easily replace it for you.

Can I ask why they want to replace it? Did I miss something somewhere? Same goes for your pulley, did it I miss something somewhere saying you were having probs with it?

As for the rack, when I'm driving the steering shakes/vibrates like the car is going to fast to handle it. When I give the car gas, the vibration goes away, or at least lessens. The mechanic says the rack needed to be replaced, but he didn't do that kind of work.

The power steering/air conditioning pulley has a couple of big chips missing from it. Which I think is why the belts haven't been lasting on it. Sorry if my original post wasn't very clear.

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 4:50 pm

Check the rear lower control arm bushings.

Matt

tamadrumr88 · Post by **tamadrumr88** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 6:10 pm

you could just buy the mopar rear tension struts regardles

Post by **Diablo0** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 6:15 pm

That really wouldn't fix her steering wheel shake, only rear wheel hop while braking.

I'd jack the wheel up and try and move the tire to see if there is any extra play to the wheel. On the white car I have a bad inner tie rod end I found last week. If I jack the wheel up I can move the wheel side to side as if the car was turning and feel a lot of movement coming from the inner tie rod end. A new rack will set ya back over $600 + labor to install it so if anything get a second opinion whats causing it before replacing something you don't need.

silentneon01 · Post by **silentneon01** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 6:32 pm

don't know where your at but if your near Maryland I'd be happy to come look at. I also know a few good shops to in the MD area you could take it too.

dblsg · Post by **dblsg** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 6:35 pm

i hate it when women have a bad rack

OB · Post by OB » Tue Jul 25, 2006 6:41 pm

dblsg wrote:i hate it when women have a bad rack

lmfao

BlackRoseRacing · Post by **BlackRoseRacing** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 7:07 pm

Who ever told you that you needed a new rack because of the steering wheel shaking is an IDIOT!
Take it elsewhere or atleast to a REAL mechanic!

JRM · Post by **JRM** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 7:08 pm

BlackRoseRacing wrote:Who ever told you that you needed a new rack because of the steering wheel shaking is an IDIOT!
Take it elsewhere or atleast to a REAL mechanic!

x2

kimnwi · Post by **kimnwi** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 11:07 pm

BlackRoseRacing wrote:Who ever told you that you needed a new rack because of the steering wheel shaking is an IDIOT!
Take it elsewhere or atleast to a REAL mechanic!

Any other ideas on what it could be? He told me my rack was loose, he originally thought it was wheel bearings. I'm open to suggestions.

dblsg wrote:i hate it when women have a bad rack

Cute dblsg, but that's one thing I've never been accused of.

Nick Drake · Post by **Nick Drake** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 11:21 pm

Sorry, I had to

dblsg · Post by **dblsg** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 1:02 am

kimnwi wrote: Cute dblsg, but that's one thing I've never been accused of.

prove it!!!

caustic neon · Post by **caustic neon** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 8:33 am

TRy one of these if your rack is loose.
http://www2.victoriassecret.com/images/ ... 256880.jpg

sorry but i had to.

SolarYNeon · Post by **SolarYNeon** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 8:46 am

AH!

I clicked on that at work, without even thinking!

Thank god I have my own office or else I'd be toast :/

(It was worth it

)

latief · Post by **latief** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 10:25 am

it could be your rack mounting bolts loose or something......
get another mechanic to look at it,

it could also be as previously mentioned an inner tie-rod.....

half_twisted · Post by **half_twisted** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 10:16 pm

if it was wheel bearings then you should hear a whinning sound that progresively get louder as you go faster.......

and i also couldnt help notice that we have yet to see proof of your rack....lol

kimnwi · Post by **kimnwi** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 9:45 am

well, it finally gave out. when i was under the car looking at it. it looks more like a tie rod end went bad. couldn't i just replace the bad end and avoid the hassle/expense of replacing the whole rack?