Internal Steering Rack Leak

[nessanater]

I just finished replacing the steering rack on my '85 SR5 back in February, and it seemed fine until I was driving from Seattle to Charleston, SC. I stopped in Missouri to get my alignment checked, and the shop told me I needed a new inner tie rod on my front drivers side. The front wheel has a little bit of play, and there's a little shaking especially at higher interstate speeds. I didn't want to wait for a few days for the part there, so I just continued on and got it checked today in SC. The shop here said when they went to take the boot off to remove the inner tie rod, it poured out all of the fluid from the steering rack, about a gallon and a half or so they said. They said it has an internal leak in the rack and that I need a whole new rack.

The rack I put in was a remanufactured one and I know they can sometimes have issues, but this seems like a big deal. It wasn't leaking when I put it on. I'm supposed to drive it to Vermont in the next couple of days. Question is, do I spent the $570 to get another new rack put on (cause I'm not doing it again myself), or do I live with the shaking and drive it to Vermont to get it fixed then? The shop here said when they turn the wheels from side to side, that the steering wheel doesn't turn smoothly inside, that it moves kinda jerkily.

Will I make it to Vermont or should I get this fixed asap? Worst case scenario? Is $570 a fair price for this repair job? It's at Firestone, cause they would be doing the alignment anyway, and they said if they put the rack in it would have a lifetime warranty.

[Petros]

If that $570 includes the parts and labor, I would say that is an okay price. Particularly with a lifetime warranty (they probably think your old Tercel can not possibly last much longer). if that also includes a new tie-rod end and alignment, that is very reasonable.

If it was just the seal I would say it is okay to drive without the power steering, but if the rack is chewed up from worn bushings, causing rack missalingment, it would NOT BE SAFE to drive at all. best change it now. sounds like the rack and pinion are breaking up, not a good way to drive.

Was it a Cardone reman rack and pinion by any chance? I would rather put in a good used toyota rack from a wrecking yard, than a reman unit.