New steering rack in my future

[Geotrash]

Last week I noticed a few drips of power steering fluid hanging from the drivers side bellows that cover the inner tie rod. I wiped them away hoping they wouldn't come back, but they did. At this point it's not leaking enough to drop the power steering fluid level significantly, but that time won't be far off. I'm certain that the leak is coming from the rack and not above it as I went over the area with a fine toothed comb in the form of an inspection mirror. And, with 223K on the clock, it's probably time.

A new rack is prohibitively expensive for an aging rig, with a reman unit running about half price. Fel-Pro sells a rebuild kit for less than $50. Have any of you rebuilt one of these racks on the bench with success? I would of course install new inner and outer tie rods, and bellows as well.

 

[Doubeleive]

I have never rebuilt one, but I have replaced them in the past due to the same issue, a used one usually runs about $150
relatively easy to do just need a alignment afterwards. you could maybe try some stop leak in it in the interim just to see.

 

[Geotrash]

I have never rebuilt one, but I have replaced them in the past due to the same issue, a used one usually runs about $150
relatively easy to do just need a alignment afterwards. you could maybe try some stop leak in it in the interim just to see.

Thanks Wes. I always fear the possibility of long term problems from using stop leak, but that thought did cross my mind as well. Yeah easy job to R&R, just trying to save a few bucks if I can reseal the thing easily enough. $200 savings on steering rack = more money for good whisky and cigars.

 

[Doubeleive]

Thanks Wes. I always fear the possibility of long term problems from using stop leak, but that thought did cross my mind as well. Yeah easy job to R&R, just trying to save a few bucks if I can reseal the thing easily enough. $200 savings on steering rack = more money for good whisky and cigars.

maybe poke around youtube and see if it takes any special tools or a press or something, I see remaned on rockauto for like $300 or so

 

[Geotrash]

maybe poke around youtube and see if it takes any special tools or a press or something, I see remaned on rockauto for like $300 or so

Yeah, been doing that and came up short. Found a few things on other makes/models like the MR2, but nothing on the GMT900 trucks. Yet, they sell rebuild kits all over the place so I'd think it should be possible.

Since I can live without the truck being on the road for a couple of weeks, maybe I'll pull out the rack and put it on the workbench to see what's doable. I have a new set of mount bushings on the shelf that I can install as well if I can reseal the original rack.

 

[Geotrash]

Adding pic because if I don't then none of this happened

 

[Doubeleive]

I would imagine most rack n pinion are very similar in construction, just like brake calipers and and various other things

 

[pwtr02ss]

Yeah, been doing that and came up short. Found a few things on other makes/models like the MR2, but nothing on the GMT900 trucks. Yet, they sell rebuild kits all over the place so I'd think it should be possible.

Since I can live without the truck being on the road for a couple of weeks, maybe I'll pull out the rack and put it on the workbench to see what's doable. I have a new set of mount bushings on the shelf that I can install as well if I can reseal the original rack.

Very interested in your results. I'd much prefer the rebuild at home method when the time comes

 

[Geotrash]

Very interested in your results. I'd much prefer the rebuild at home method when the time comes

I ended up having an overhauled rack shipped from RockAuto and will swap it out it over the weekend. I'll get a good look at the rack when I pull it out and see how easy it might be to reseal it. I'll let you know what I learn.

 

[pwtr02ss]

I ended up having an overhauled rack shipped from RockAuto and will swap it out it over the weekend. I'll get a good look at the rack when I pull it out and see how easy it might be to reseal it. I'll let you know what I learn.

When the time comes, I'll probably do the same. Avalanche is at 215k now so its only a matter of time. It would be nice to rebuild though. I just bought new inner and outer tie rods for it (GM).

Now that I think about it, something was replaced on it under warranty at 99k miles. It was something to do with the rack. My dad told them to give that truck a once over and replace anything they could under warranty and he would order a new avalanche from them. His son was buying the old avalanche (me) and he wanted to make sure it was good. They did both hubs and something with the rack, and whatever the "fix" was for the dod. I'll have to dig the paper work out.

I'm still interested in your findings though. Casey's yukon is getting up there in the miles also, so one of will be needing the info lol.

 

[Geotrash]

Just an update with some pics from the work. Still have a few things to finish and wrap up the job, but I have an appointment at Firestone on Wednesday morning to get it aligned, so I better get it done stat! Still haven't torn into the old rack yet.

 

[91RS]

I rebuilt one with the Gates kit and it started leaking again worse than it did before about 6 months later. The rebuild is not for the faint of heart. There are a number of felt seals that you really need a stretching and shrinking sizer tool to install and the internal seal in the middle of the gear was a BEAR to get out and back in, there also has to be a special tool for this and or some sort of press adapter to install the new one smoothly. I have had sucess with only replacing the seals on the pinion shaft to fix the insanely annoying squeaking/rubbing noise they make when turning the steering wheel. I've fixed three of those so far (one for each truck). My opinion now is if they're leaking, they're trash because it has to be an internal bushing which doesn't come in any rebuild kit causing it to leak. I've seen tons of reman steering gears start leaking again shortly after being installed so I'm not much interested in spending $800 on one. GM for some reason decided to never sell the gears for these trucks new, they've only ever been remans even when they were still under warranty so any new gear you've found is aftermarket and I would be very weary of that. It probably won't feel the same.

I think the factory had some sort of flow test they did on the gears when new because it is interesting how they all take the "same" gear (only difference is truck vs. SUV has a different part number) but the gears in a Chevy or SLE/SLT Yukon feel much heavier than the gear in a Denali or Escalade. I've bought a bunch of used steering gears that's where I really realized that. I returned a few of them because of that. Every gear that came from a Denali or Escalade had the same nice light feel.

 

[Geotrash]

I rebuilt one with the Gates kit and it started leaking again worse than it did before about 6 months later. The rebuild is not for the faint of heart. There are a number of felt seals that you really need a stretching and shrinking sizer tool to install and the internal seal in the middle of the gear was a BEAR to get out and back in, there also has to be a special tool for this and or some sort of press adapter to install the new one smoothly. I have had sucess with only replacing the seals on the pinion shaft to fix the insanely annoying squeaking/rubbing noise they make when turning the steering wheel. I've fixed three of those so far (one for each truck). My opinion now is if they're leaking, they're trash because it has to be an internal bushing which doesn't come in any rebuild kit causing it to leak. I've seen tons of reman steering gears start leaking again shortly after being installed so I'm not much interested in spending $800 on one. GM for some reason decided to never sell the gears for these trucks new, they've only ever been remans even when they were still under warranty so any new gear you've found is aftermarket and I would be very weary of that. It probably won't feel the same.

I think the factory had some sort of flow test they did on the gears when new because it is interesting how they all take the "same" gear (only difference is truck vs. SUV has a different part number) but the gears in a Chevy or SLE/SLT Yukon feel much heavier than the gear in a Denali or Escalade. I've bought a bunch of used steering gears that's where I really realized that. I returned a few of them because of that. Every gear that came from a Denali or Escalade had the same nice light feel.

Really, really helpful to know. And I wondered about the possibility of differences in steering feel. The new one definitely feels more snug and there is more resistance in the steering wheel than the original. So maybe my replacement was one that was tuned for a Silverado or Suburban.

Sure hope the reman doesn't start to leak in a few weeks/months/years. It's not an awful job but then I'd have to take it in for alignment and all of that. I would have bought a new OEM unit but couldn't find one in stock anywhere.

 

[91RS]

There are no new OEM gears for these, unfortunately. There is an OEM reman and an AC Delco reman (much lesser quality) but they’re both pretty spendy. I’m usually all for OEM parts as they’re almost always better quality than aftermarket replacement parts but a reman is different, I think a reman is a reman. I was tempted by the new aftermarket one as well but really worried about the steering feel.

I came across a used 29k mile 2012 Escalade while looking for trim pieces that was smashed in the rear and they had the steering gear listed so I bought it thinking it would be perfect and undamaged. I didn’t even pay attention the salvage yard was in Michigan and the truck came from Illinois so it is pretty crusty, they must have strictly put that 29k miles on it in the winter. I can’t decide if I want to keep it and try to clean it up since it is highly unlikely another with such low mileage from an Escalade or Denali will come up any time soon or not. In their the internals should be ok.

 

[pwtr02ss]

Thank you for the heads up @91RS That's very interesting and saved me some hassle!

 

[Geotrash]

Just an updated perspective here. After driving both the '07 with the reman rack and the '12 with the original rack, I have to say that the steering wheel resistance and handling both feel the same between them.

 

[91RS]

That’s good to know. Which one did you get from Rock Auto?

 

[Geotrash]

That’s good to know. Which one did you get from Rock Auto?

It was the reman one from BBB Industries at the link below.

2007 GMC YUKON XL 1500 6.2L V8 Rack and Pinion | Shop Now at RockAuto

Steering Parts and More for Your 2007 GMC YUKON XL 1500 at Reliably Low Prices. Fast Online Catalog. DIY-Easy. Your Choice of Quality. Full Manufacturer Warranty.

www.rockauto.com

 

[91RS]

Did you happen to take any more pictures of the reman gear other than the one posted above? The boot looks to be factory-ish in that picture. One of the things I've always hated about the aftermarket reman gears is they usually come with a crappy rubber boot that doesn't "slide" on the inner tie-rod when adjusted the alignment so it twists up and you have to take the clamp off to fix it. The only thing that bothers me is they show it fits pickups and SUVs but GM has two different part numbers for pickups and SUVs.

 

[Geotrash]

Did you happen to take any more pictures of the reman gear other than the one posted above? The boot looks to be factory-ish in that picture. One of the things I've always hated about the aftermarket reman gears is they usually come with a crappy rubber boot that doesn't "slide" on the inner tie-rod when adjusted the alignment so it twists up and you have to take the clamp off to fix it. The only thing that bothers me is they show it fits pickups and SUVs but GM has two different part numbers for pickups and SUVs.

I'm sorry, I didn't :-( It's definitely a factory part that's been rebuilt.

The boots actually behaved as I hoped. They were snug on the rods but allowed enough slippage for me to install and adjust the tie rod ends.