Thread: variable steering assist or not, how do I know

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  1. #1 variable steering assist or not, how do I know 
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    rack and pinion is bad on 2001 pontiac grand prix GT 3.8 V6. Going to replace entire assembly this weekend. I want to buy new pressure and return lines in case I need them. How do I check if I have variable assist or not?

    thanks for the help!
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  2. #2 Re: variable steering assist or not, how do I know 
    Killa Bee Scottydoggs's Avatar
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    turn the wheels all the way to the right, then look in from behind the d/s wheel to the rack, your looking for a wire that leads from the rack boot ( where the column meets the rack) to the top of the trans by the shiftier linkage.

    if you see that wire you have magnasteer.

    98 Buick Regal GS, F body brakes, Caddy STS wheels, tinted tails L36 bottom end, lightly ported heads, 1.95 roller rockers, headers, gen 5 N* 3.0 pulley, FSIC, 42 lb injectors, a BrandonHall rebuilt trans, DHP tuned and AEM water/Meth injection https://goo.gl/gpV5kW
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  3. #3 Re: variable steering assist or not, how do I know 
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    Yep there is a sensor there, so I do have the variable assist thanks
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  4. #4 Re: variable steering assist or not, how do I know 
    Killa Bee Scottydoggs's Avatar
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    its just the plug to the magnasteer rack, not so much a sensor.

    make sure the new rack listed has magnasteer. in the pics the wire is zip tied to the rack, makes it hard to see sometimes.


    98 Buick Regal GS, F body brakes, Caddy STS wheels, tinted tails L36 bottom end, lightly ported heads, 1.95 roller rockers, headers, gen 5 N* 3.0 pulley, FSIC, 42 lb injectors, a BrandonHall rebuilt trans, DHP tuned and AEM water/Meth injection https://goo.gl/gpV5kW
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  5. #5 Re: variable steering assist or not, how do I know 
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    Yep orielys, has it listed as magnasteer

    Thanks
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  6. #6 Re: variable steering assist or not, how do I know 
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    So is this job really hard?

    My past projects are:

    LIM gaskets with coolant elbows and thermostat
    Front hubs with new rotors and pads
    New front control arms and sway bar end links
    New cv axle
    Alternator belt and battery
    Plugs and wires

    I hope it's not worse than these jobs

    Have one small floor jack
    2 small jack stands
    One large floor jack for my 1 to pick up
    2 large jack stands for 1 ton pick up
    Impact gun
    Pry bars

    Just a little Leary of the job from the labor I got quoted for 4 hours
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  7. #7 Re: variable steering assist or not, how do I know 
    I live here. Slick2500's Avatar
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    It's not really a hard job to do, the hardest part for me was removing the lines because it's so tight in there. And you will need a second person to help you when you hook up the intermediate shaft.
    2003 Redfire Metallic Chevy Tahoe Z71 - Airaid Modular Intake Tube, Flowmaster Exhaust.
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  8. #8 Re: variable steering assist or not, how do I know 
    Killa Bee Scottydoggs's Avatar
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    hers a vid, the guy is using a lift. but this can be done on your back. your tool list will do.




    what i do is take that big jack you have, then lift the whole front of the car via the middle of the front of the sub frame as high as it will go, then put the jack stands under the rockers, or what ever solid metal you have under there left to use. not the sub frame tho, cause you need to lower it.

    unbolt the dog bones, then you lower the rear of the frame, take the big jack, set it up to the middle of the rear sub frame and jack it up to the frame, then remove the two rear bolts and lower the frame. you may or may not have to unbolt the sway bar, some cars it blocks the two mount bolts for the rack.



    frame dropped rack removed. my sway bar was not in the way, so i left it in.





    if you care about your drive way have some cardboard laid down under the car, some fluid will leak when the lines come off and your lines will leak too. we dont always make it to the pan in time lol

    98 Buick Regal GS, F body brakes, Caddy STS wheels, tinted tails L36 bottom end, lightly ported heads, 1.95 roller rockers, headers, gen 5 N* 3.0 pulley, FSIC, 42 lb injectors, a BrandonHall rebuilt trans, DHP tuned and AEM water/Meth injection https://goo.gl/gpV5kW
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  9. #9 Re: variable steering assist or not, how do I know 
    Killa Bee Scottydoggs's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Slick2500 View Post
    It's not really a hard job to do, the hardest part for me was removing the lines because it's so tight in there. And you will need a second person to help you when you hook up the intermediate shaft.
    i got that son of a b1tch back on solo lol


    trick there is to make the wheels dead straight, lock the steering wheel dont unlock it till your ready to put the shaft back on the rack. now take the old and new racks side by side, match the nub up on the new rack to the old one.

    now when its time for the shaft t go back on pull it down, so it clears the boot, then jack the frame up so the nub meets the shaft and slide it on.

    98 Buick Regal GS, F body brakes, Caddy STS wheels, tinted tails L36 bottom end, lightly ported heads, 1.95 roller rockers, headers, gen 5 N* 3.0 pulley, FSIC, 42 lb injectors, a BrandonHall rebuilt trans, DHP tuned and AEM water/Meth injection https://goo.gl/gpV5kW
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  10. #10 Re: variable steering assist or not, how do I know 
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    Dog bones, are those on top? I believe I had to loosen those when I did the spark plugs. No one had mentioned loosening these just removing the two bolts underneath, curious.

    I planned on locking the steering wheel with a ratchet strap or something, and go from there

    also I bought nEw pressure and return lines in case these become an issue.

    oh and for flushing I was going to use my mitt vac hand pump and pump the fluid out thru the return line while refilling from the resevior

    any other pointers, thanks
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  11. #11 Re: variable steering assist or not, how do I know 
    Killa Bee Scottydoggs's Avatar
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    take the key out, the wheels locked.

    dog bones, the two upper engine strut mounts. take the 2 bolts off the engine side. taking these off will let the engine drop when the rear of the sub frame is lowered.

    no need to vac the lines to fill. swap the lines if you want, then hook em all up, then wheels off the ground still, fill the res on the pump, then car off turn the wheels lock to lock 15 times. stop 1/2 way top off the res if needed. then fire it up and top off more if needed.

    if your using the old lines, dump some fluid in the res with the lines over a pan. they will drain and flush the res and lines.

    98 Buick Regal GS, F body brakes, Caddy STS wheels, tinted tails L36 bottom end, lightly ported heads, 1.95 roller rockers, headers, gen 5 N* 3.0 pulley, FSIC, 42 lb injectors, a BrandonHall rebuilt trans, DHP tuned and AEM water/Meth injection https://goo.gl/gpV5kW
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  12. #12 Re: variable steering assist or not, how do I know 
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    10-4 thanks
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  13. #13 Re: variable steering assist or not, how do I know 
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    My buddy works for the county and offered their lift to use, gonna knock this out tomorrow. Super excited to use the lift to do this!

    Let ya know how it goes.
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  14. #14 Re: variable steering assist or not, how do I know 
    Killa Bee Scottydoggs's Avatar
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    you lucky @&%!*. lol

    98 Buick Regal GS, F body brakes, Caddy STS wheels, tinted tails L36 bottom end, lightly ported heads, 1.95 roller rockers, headers, gen 5 N* 3.0 pulley, FSIC, 42 lb injectors, a BrandonHall rebuilt trans, DHP tuned and AEM water/Meth injection https://goo.gl/gpV5kW
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  15. #15 Re: variable steering assist or not, how do I know 
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    Knocked it out yesterday, started at 7:15am and tool clean up at 8:45am.

    It was pretty easy, never touched the dog bones though.

    Thanks for the tip on bleeding the system! Worked awesome

    Thanks for all the help as this saved me over $700 doing myself
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  16. #16 Re: variable steering assist or not, how do I know 
    Killa Bee Scottydoggs's Avatar
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    damn, you make it sound easy with a time line like that.

    98 Buick Regal GS, F body brakes, Caddy STS wheels, tinted tails L36 bottom end, lightly ported heads, 1.95 roller rockers, headers, gen 5 N* 3.0 pulley, FSIC, 42 lb injectors, a BrandonHall rebuilt trans, DHP tuned and AEM water/Meth injection https://goo.gl/gpV5kW
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