Steering Rack Replace

Topics that apply to all 92-95 civics
 Reply
User avatar

Steering Rack Replace

By BLaCkSiLo
- Mon Apr 20, 2009 2:34 pm #111858 Hey guys,

so it just goes to figure, as soon as i get my transmission back in the car after getting 5 stitches and a $70 bearing, my attention now leads me to my steering rack as it leaking fluid out of the driver side boot.

i wouldn't really care that much, but it was kind of a nice size puddle and it's doing it more and more frequent. i noticed that the boots were torn when i got the car but didn't think too much about it. anyway, i picked up a whole front undercarriage from another civic for $75 yesterday with the rack which has a torn boot on the drivers side (both of mine were tore when i got the car) --can i get away with just replacing this boot?

so does anyone know where i can find a DIY or have any hints from someone who has done this before? i plan on tackling it this weekend along with my new bushings, the suspension parts are just covered in oil down there, i thought it was from the engine a while back.

thanks, and sorry for the ramble
User avatar

By yashep
- Mon Apr 20, 2009 3:28 pm #111868 I had to do this a couple of years ago to my Protege, it was somewhat easy because I had another spare out so I bought the new parts and just swap the units, you have to pay close attention to the parts you remove and where you put them, if you are not taking your car to an aligment shop afterwards although is recommended you do so, count the turns it took to remove the tie rod so when you put them back it'll be almost as before you remove them. I got a seal kit from autozone and I pay $35 for it, it has everything you need to fix a leak plus 3 years waranty and used this DIY: http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3455386 It's for *reference only* so you know what/how to remove.
As far as getting away with just a boot change I doubt it, if your leaking a "fair amount" as you stated, some of the seals might be toast if not all of them. If you got the money buy a new unit if no go to autozone and buy:
    Duralast / Rack & Pinion Seal Kit P/N 8875-$41.99
    Duralast / Rack & Pinion Boot Kit P/N FA8019-$31.99 ea. you'll need 2

You could buy a new unit and avoid all of this but not always one have at least $400 for it. Hope this helps you, good luck :thumb:
Last edited by yashep on Mon Apr 20, 2009 4:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar

By BLaCkSiLo
- Mon Apr 20, 2009 4:18 pm #111872 cool man, thanks for that, but i meant that i already have a new (to me) but used steering rack off another civic. the boot is just a little tore up on this new one, i was just going to replace it because the internals looked a hell of a lot better than mine... :hehe:

that diy should help out a lot, are these things prone to wear out?
User avatar

By yashep
- Mon Apr 20, 2009 4:25 pm #111874 yes they do, but if this one wasn't leaking maybe it could work. just make sure that there's not dirt in the inner part of the tie rod, they got to be clean. Dirt can make them fail Image if it doesn'y look like this youre ok :thumb:
 Reply
Return to Chassis - General