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Re: power steering leak diagnosed, $1000 to fix??? Posted by Saana88 [Email] (#207) [Profile/Gallery] (more from Saana88) on Sat, 19 Jan 2008 09:31:38 In Reply to: power steering leak diagnosed, $1000 to fix???, drupchen, Sat, 19 Jan 2008 08:08:03 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
That's around the typical estimate I'd expect from a mechanic trying to keep themselves in business. A rebuilt rack usually goes for around $170. The pressure line is $43, the return line is $24. The filter is unnecessary, especially since your car may not be with us by the time it clogs up. That's another "why was this added in the first place in 1991?" parts like the shifter coupling and the heater bypass valve. Leave it out and change your PS fluid every 50,000 miles if you're ambitious. The only part left to consider is the steering knuckle U-joint. This part is a common killer of racks. When the U-joint starts to sieze up, the twisting motion will wrench out the input shaft and you'll get a massive fluid leak there. A new one, unfortunately, runs $380. A used one from a junkyard or parts car will be about $25. To make your mechanic's life a whole lot easier, you can replace the tie rod ends at around $28 each so they don't have to try to get the old ones off and re-use them. Throw in two rubber bushings where the rack bolts to the car at $8 each and you're all set.
A mechanic with a lift should have the old rack out and the new one in and the lines swapped out in 4-5 hours, conservative estimate. I think the book pays 3.6 for the job. $350-400 parts, around that much for labor, and you're dealing with $800 tops.
Do it yourself and deduct $400 for labor, add around $35 for beer where applicable, and you can get the job done in six or seven hours for four and a quarter. I get to attempt this on my '88 in the spring. I've heard that access is a little tight, especially on cars with sway bars, but it's doable with a Bentley. Definitely get the alignment fixed when you're done, since the toe will be off.
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