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Ok, I'm not the most trusting person in the world. I recently replaced the ball joints in my Forester , and now I'm wondering about steering rack replacements. From an average driver's viewpoint the symptoms for bad ball joints and a worn out steering rack are identical. I replaced the ball joints myself, and it was only $60 in parts. A new steering rack replacement runs well over $1,000. I wonder how many shady mechanics have told a customer that they need a new rack, but only replaced the ball joints, which were the actual cause of the customer's sloppy steering. It's got to be a pretty tempting way for some people to pocket an easy $600-$900. Next time a dealer replaces the steering rack in my car I'm sure as hell crawling under the car after the job is done. $1,200 is a lot of money for just a set of new ball joints.

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Another possible easy fix (just a turn of the ratchet) culprit of sloppy steering is a loose universal joint between steering column and steering rack (check closely cause there are two of them in line and the lower one is not easy to see). It fixed my case of sloppy steering and at no cost at all.

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Ok, I'm not the most trusting person in the world. I recently replaced the ball joints in my Forester , and now I'm wondering about steering rack replacements. From an average driver's viewpoint the symptoms for bad ball joints and a worn out steering rack are identical. I replaced the ball joints myself, and it was only $60 in parts. A new steering rack replacement runs well over $1,000. I wonder how many shady mechanics have told a customer that they need a new rack, but only replaced the ball joints, which were the actual cause of the customer's sloppy steering. It's got to be a pretty tempting way for some people to pocket an easy $600-$900. Next time a dealer replaces the steering rack in my car I'm sure as hell crawling under the car after the job is done. $1,200 is a lot of money for just a set of new ball joints.

 

I had the opposite problem, I contracted my Sub dealer to replace my rack, with one I would supply as no one has a right hand steering rack in stock. I had my wife take the car in and the mechanic told her it wasn't the rack (steering binding) it was a bad left lower ball joint and it needed a cv as well. She unknowingly told him to go ahead while trying to reach me. When they finally got ahold of me I blew up. There was nothing wrong with the ball joint other than the boot was ripped. I know because I ripped it when I replaced the half shaft a month earlier. Of course he screwdrivered the cv boot as well. I had to pay for him to R&R the halfshaft twice to put mine back in, of course I had to eat the ball joint. My halfshaft had a NAPA lifetime warranty, they said it looked like it had been screwdrivered.................

I think the mechanic just didn't want to do the rack.

I had an indie shop change that, problem solved..............

 

swi66

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