I'm looking to replace my R&P myself, my current one is leaking from the valve housing seal next to the knuckle joint, I have a 96 outback sport. It's been suggested that I get a used one because of there reliability, sounds good to me ($65). How do I know that a rack is centered? Also any tips on the process or installation guides avalible.

You can turn the rack off the car with a rag and vise grip. Rotate it all the way to one end and then start counting rotations. When you reach the other end take your total and divide by two. Set it at that point. Install and tweak with the knuckle from the column to the rack or by unbolting the steering wheel and airbag (careful here!) and set wheel back to center.

 

I usually take a moment to consider doing front struts as well since you are going to need an alignment. You might get away with it if you take all the tie rods and such but even then its a different car that you got the rack from.

most of the time i've probably swapped the exact same rack in place and i've never had an alignment problem. but i live in the rust belt so all the exposed threads are PRE-MARKED for me :lol: Usuallly you can see where the threads were exposed or covered by the tie rod end, I still count but that's a really good indicator too.

 

I don't ever recall "centering a rack", I didn't know there were any adjusments if there are. i remove the old one, bolt in the new one and reinstall the outer tie rods exactly as they were on the original.