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Car Forum / Chrysler Cars / February 2005Steering Rack
I have a 93 3.3 Grand Caravan. About 2 years ago I had to replace the steering rack. Last year I had to do it again because it was leaking. Now I see it's starting to leak again. The racks are remanufactured from CarQuest. Lifetime warranty, but I don't like the idea of replacing them every year or 18 months. Has anyone else had bad experiences with CarQuest parts or steering racks in general ? Any suggestions on where to get a better part or are they remanufactured by only a few companies. thanks, Nick > I have a 93 3.3 Grand Caravan. About 2 years ago I had to replace the > steering rack. Last year I had to do it again because it was leaking. > Now I see it's starting to leak again. The racks are remanufactured > from CarQuest. Lifetime warranty, but I don't like the idea of > replacing them every year or 18 months. It's amazing and sad that people will continue to inflict the unreliability and the time and money waste of "remanufactured" parts upon themselves again and again and again, all the while going "But...lifetime warranty! Lifetime warranty! Lifetime warranty! It can't be the 'remanufacturing' process, it must be, um, the store I bought it from! After all, lifetime warranty!". > suggestions on where to get a better part Check with Steer & Gear, or look in your local yellow pages. >>I have a 93 3.3 Grand Caravan. About 2 years ago I had to replace the >>steering rack. Last year I had to do it again because it was leaking. [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Check with Steer & Gear, or look in your local yellow pages. Daniel - Is this a situation where a part from NAPA will likely be better (a btter screened supplier, etc.)? Bill Putney (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my adddress with the letter 'x') > >>I have a 93 3.3 Grand Caravan. About 2 years ago I had to replace the > >>steering rack. Last year I had to do it again because it was leaking. [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > Daniel - Is this a situation where a part from NAPA will likely be > better (a btter screened supplier, etc.)? It might vary according to what region of the U.S. but around here, Cardone is the rebuilder for both Carquest and NAPA for such parts. It's tough for me to gauge which is a better part by just looking at them, which is the only thing I have to go by. True a lifetime warranty doesn't do me much good if the part keeps failing. I think the dealer sells reman. parts also and they are more expensive. Is there one or two parts chains out there that is better than most ? NAPA vs. AutoZone, CarQuest vs. local stores ? And I've never had a problem with these chains and their parts before. They are usually pretty good and cheaper. thanks, Nick >>>I have a 93 3.3 Grand Caravan. About 2 years ago I had to replace the >>>steering rack. Last year I had to do it again because it was leaking. [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my > adddress with the letter 'x') I am lucky that I have two good independent parts stores near me, but NAPA is also usually good. I've heard good things about CarQuest but I've never lived near one. Pep Boys, AutoZone etc. I usually only go to for consumables like oil etc., although AutoZone seems to be getting a little better. nate > It's tough for me to gauge which is a better part by just looking at them, > which is the only thing I have to go by. True a lifetime warranty doesn't [quoted text clipped - 37 lines] > http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups > ----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =----  Signaturereplace "fly" with "com" to reply. http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel > It's tough for me to gauge which is a better part by just looking at them, > which is the only thing I have to go by. True a lifetime warranty doesn't [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > thanks, > Nick My experience with replacing rebuilt steering racks from AutoZone was positive. In each case, the replacement unit worked perfectly and gave no trouble until I finally sold the car. In the case of the '86 Mark VII, it was about 40 months. In the case of the '87 Taurus, it was only 10 months. Paid $105(1/2001) for the Mark VII and $70 for the Taurus (1/1998). Stan K. "Bill Putney" <bptn@kinex.net> wrote: >> It's amazing and sad that people will continue to inflict the >> unreliability and the time and money waste of "remanufactured" parts >> upon themselves again and again and again, all the while going >> "But...lifetime warranty! Lifetime warranty! Lifetime warranty! It >> can't be the 'remanufacturing' process, it must be, um, the store I >> bought it from! After all, lifetime warranty!". >>>suggestions on where to get a better part >> Check with Steer & Gear, or look in your local yellow pages. > Daniel - Is this a situation where a part from NAPA will likely be better > (a btter screened supplier, etc.)? Time was, yes. Nowtimes, NAPA is cheapening-down their line to try to compete with Schmuck's, AutoBone, Schlep Boys, etc. Their O2 sensors used to be Echlin (good), now Bosch (highly inconsistent). Their remanufactured components used to be Rayloc (reliable), now Cardone (junk). >"Bill Putney" <bptn@kinex.net> wrote: > [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] >to be Echlin (good), now Bosch (highly inconsistent). Their remanufactured >components used to be Rayloc (reliable), now Cardone (junk). While it was UAP up here in Canada, the parts were generally pretty good. You could buy their in-house VERDIC brand and save some money, getting sometimes slightly less quality. Since they went to UAP/NAPA, and now simply NAPA, the quality of MANY parts has definitely taken a HUGE nose-dive. My brother's shop is in the other side of a NAPA store - and it's getting to the point the "inhouse parts department" is getting a lot less of his business because he's getting sick and tired of constantly returning defective parts - and crap that's boxed wrong right from the warehouse. He has had 3 different (wrong) parts supplied under the same part number before getting the right one........ > It's tough for me to gauge which is a better part by just looking at them, > which is the only thing I have to go by. True a lifetime warranty doesn't [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > problem with these chains and their parts before. They are usually pretty > good and cheaper. Pesonally, I just don't mess with the low-quality for low-bucks outfits any more. I found out many years ago that real parts stores (the kind with an ashtray shaped like a tire and fan belts hanging from the ceiling) are actually cheaper than Advance Auto. That did it for me. I used to have to put on 2 or 3 rebuilt starters from Advance to get a good one. I don't have to do that any more! There are certain things you shouldn't buy rebuilt, but I don't really know if racks are in that category. I've never replaced the first one. I don't even look to see if they're leaking. Have you considered doing nothing? That's probably what I'm doing, because I don't know if my rack is leaking or not. So are you saying to buy from the local auto parts stores versus the chains ? I see there's a site on the web, 'CarSteeringwholsesale.com' that charges about $40.00 more but says it's racks are better than the production line racks put out by the remanufactures. Anyone have any experience with these people ? thanks >> It's tough for me to gauge which is a better part by just looking at >> them, which is the only thing I have to go by. True a lifetime warranty [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > nothing? That's probably what I'm doing, because I don't know if my rack > is leaking or not. If NAPA has cheapened their line, where am I supposed to go for parts now? > If NAPA has cheapened their line, where am I supposed to go for parts > now? My experience is that NAPA will now offer you two parts, one which costs a whole bunch more than the other. Take the expensive one. SignatureJoseph J. Pfeiffer, Jr., Ph.D. Phone -- (505) 646-1605 Department of Computer Science FAX -- (505) 646-1002 New Mexico State University http://www.cs.nmsu.edu/~pfeiffer I've been dealing with my local CarQuest and its predecessor(same management) for some 26 years. No telling how many thousands of dollars. Can't recall ever getting a bad reman. part from them. The staff there is good as gold...they will tell me if what they are selling is junk or if it's good stuff based on feedback from other customers. I sure as heck can't say that about some of the others....Autozone, Checker, Advance, etc. My only steering rack experience with them is a CarQuest reman. we've been running in our '96 Grand Voyager for about 4 years and 60,000 miles with no problems. I would be looking for another source of problem....like using the wrong fluid or not adequately flushing the old fluid from the pump and lines. Steve > I have a 93 3.3 Grand Caravan. About 2 years ago I had to replace the > steering rack. Last year I had to do it again because it was leaking. Now > I see it's starting to leak again. The racks are remanufactured from > CarQuest. Lifetime warranty, but I don't like the idea of replacing them > every year or 18 months. Has anyone else had bad experiences with CarQuest [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups > ----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =---- > I've been dealing with my local CarQuest and its predecessor(same > management) for some 26 years. No telling how many thousands of [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > experience with them is a CarQuest reman. we've been running in our '96 > Grand Voyager for about 4 years and 60,000 miles with no problems. > would be looking for another source of problem....like using the wrong > fluid or not adequately flushing the old fluid from the pump and lines. Could be, and it could be shitty re-man for carquest. Carquest does not make the re-man part, they buy it from a re-man facility. Which typically can be from a reputable re-builder , or a shoddy one. I suspect the re-builder uses shitty seals, or does not change the seals during the rebuilding process. > Steve > [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] >> ----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption > =---- thanks for the advice. I'm wasn't aware that there could be a wrong fluid. I used Valvoline SynPower. Is there a more preferred brand that's better ? thanks, Nick > I've been dealing with my local CarQuest and its predecessor(same > management) for some 26 years. No telling how many thousands of [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] >> ----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption > =---- > thanks for the advice. I'm wasn't aware that there could be a wrong fluid. > I used Valvoline SynPower. Is there a more preferred brand that's better ? Yep: Fluid that specifically indicates it meets the relevant Chrysler spec. Not "universal" P/S fluid, not transmission fluid, etc. >> thanks for the advice. I'm wasn't aware that there could be a wrong >> fluid. I used Valvoline SynPower. Is there a more preferred brand >> that's better ? > > Yep: Fluid that specifically indicates it meets the relevant Chrysler > spec. Not "universal" P/S fluid, not transmission fluid, etc. funny... my power steering on my 2004 PT says ATF +4 for it, same as the transmision wonder if many more models are the same. >>>thanks for the advice. I'm wasn't aware that there could be a wrong >>>fluid. I used Valvoline SynPower. Is there a more preferred brand [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > funny... my power steering on my 2004 PT says ATF +4 for it, same as the > transmision wonder if many more models are the same. Per TSB No. 19-005-03, you are correct for the Cruiser and most Chrysler vehicles of very late 90's and later. However, Daniel is correct on the earlier Caravans that still have to use the approved power steering fluid only. The TSB has a chart that is too complex to copy here, but unless I missed something, there's nothing earlier than '99 for which ATF+4 can be used for p.s. fluid, but there are some vehicles that must not use ATF+4 for p.s. even as late as '04 MY ('05 MY is not in the chart) - that's why I say, you've got to see the chart to determine the requirements for any given vehicle. Bill Putney (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my adddress with the letter 'x') no there was a running change about 2 years ago on all p/steering fluids and there is a tsb for this but i don't have the tsb # handy > >> thanks for the advice. I'm wasn't aware that there could be a wrong > >> fluid. I used Valvoline SynPower. Is there a more preferred brand [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > funny... my power steering on my 2004 PT says ATF +4 for it, same as the > transmision wonder if many more models are the same. > thanks for the advice. I'm wasn't aware that there could be a wrong fluid. > I used Valvoline SynPower. Is there a more preferred brand that's better ? When all else fails, read the freaking owners manual or call your local dealer. >> thanks for the advice. I'm wasn't aware that there could be a wrong >> fluid. I used Valvoline SynPower. Is there a more preferred brand >> that's better ? >> > When all else fails, read the freaking owners manual [or call your local > dealer]. Except that won't help on some late model Chryslers where the manual says don't use ATF, but the TSB specifically says it supercedes the manual and to use ATF+4 (certain vehicles). Bill Putney (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my adddress with the letter 'x') I replaced the one in my 86 lebaron T and C and the one from Chrysler was cheapest believe it or not. never had another problem with it after that. > I have a 93 3.3 Grand Caravan. About 2 years ago I had to replace the > steering rack. Last year I had to do it again because it was leaking. Now [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups > ----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =---- |
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