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Power steering problem how to confirm it's the rack and not pump

S

SJAndrew

New member
My PS is not working correctly - it seems to only work when turning right (and I need to turn as hard as I can to turn the wheel left, I get no assist at all and the pump loudly groans).

I understand that there is some valving that directs pressurized PS fluid based upon direction turned. Is this all self contained in the PS rack? I don't want to replace the rack just to have the problem persist.

Any help is greatly appreciated!
 


That would be a dead rack. Mine did the exact same thing. Still running the same pump after replacing the rack too so I know it wasn't the pump.
 
Before I forget, make sure when you order the new rack that you get the correct one, as some have Magnasteer and some do not. If you look down where the steering shaft meets the rack and see a small electrical connection on it, then you have Magnasteer. Or just look for the NV7 code on the sticker on the underside of your trunk lid.
 
Yep. Variable assist.

I got lucky and picked up and OEM Delco rack from Ebay for a decent price. I'd check Amazon as well. Maybe gmpartsdirect.com
 
Did you replace your rack yourself? You don't need to drop the subframe do you?

I had the transmission out last summer and posted here about "should I replace my rack while I'm in there or not"? Everyone (myself included) thought it best to let sleeping dogs lie.

I think I broke this rack by replacing the axle. I jacked it up in such a manner that the sway bar bent the tie rod. I think that broke the internals of the rack. Oh well - yet another project on the silver money pit....
 


that didnt hurt the rack its old and sh it the bed on ya.

yup its rack time. the back of the sub frame gets dropped a few inches for more space and you can pull the sway bar as well for more room.
 
02NavyBlue said:
How?
Click to expand...

I was replacing the passenger axle. I pulled the BJ apart like always, then moved the knuckle out of the way, then took out the old axle and installed the new one. When I did this, I would not get the lower knuckle to align with the BJ stud so I hat to jack up the LCA (my car body was on jack stands). When I did this, I jacked up too much and shoved the sway bar into the tie rod.

Either way I guess it doesn't matter - PS rack needs to be replaced (and I will get new straight tie rod out of it).
 
theres a inner tie rod, if there was to much force it would have bent or broke off. not have broke the rack.


what your are describing is a classic dead rack symptoms.
 
The inner tie rod is bent. The end is fine. I have the larger sway bar so it's possible that changes some of the clearance. When I jack up the LCA (while the body is in the air), the sway bar rotates up and hits the tie rid in the middle (and ended up bending it in this case).

I had planned to pull out the inner tie rod and bend it straight (only because I can tell the alignment is fubar now with the wheel turned 10* to go straight - since I shortened the length of the rod by bending it). But, I also noticed that it's now hard to turn and has stopped completely in one direction.

The PS unit is OEM and my car has 162k miles on it. It's possible that it's pure coincidence that it decided to die when I bent the tie rod. Or, maybe the bent tie rod and messed up geometry put extra strain on the PS rack. Who knows...
 


if you want to, pop the side you say is bent's tie rod end from the knuckle, then try to turn the wheel left, if it still dont turn its the rack.
 
I know the bent tie rod is not causing the no PS assist condition, I just wonder if when I bent it that the act of bending it caused the failure of the rack.

I guess it doesn't matter - I have the PS rack pulled and my wife is going to pick up a replacement for me tomorrow.

The irony here is that this whole situation was caused by a simple failed axle boot. It was spitting grease from a tiny hole. I replaced the axle (under warranty) and damaged the seal (popping the spring out of the seal). So, axle fixed - seal broken (leaking from the diff). I've since popped the axle and replaced the seal three times trying to fix this stupid leak (still leaking ffs), and during the process I bent the tie rod and now my PS unit no longer works.

My PS has been loud for a while, so I think the rack has been on its way out. But, the timing just seems very coincidental to me. Then again, it doesn't matter.
 
Incidentally, I didn't drop the subframe or remove the sway bar. I did remove one of the sway bar connectors (to the subframe) on the driver side for a little more room.

I may drop the back of the subframe to install the new unit (for a little more room).
 
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