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My powersteering seems like its been realy jerky, like, when i recover the wheel from the left, it seems to have a jerkieness to it, but the car doesnt jerk or nothin. I checked the fluid and it was hot, but it was freakin low, so filled it, but may have put a little to much in, its a little above the HOT line, not much, is this like, BAD like i should go get a turkey baster and suck it out before running my car anymore? I ran it already and the pump stopped wining and the jerkieness is mostly gone, but im afraid i overfilled it, how badly does a little overfull hurt?

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Low fluid - bad

 

Over full fluid - usually leaks out of the cap after a while, but won't really hurt anything.

 

Check for leaks, if it was low, it's probably leaking somewhere.

 

The fluid lines are the most common for leaks, but it could be the rack, or even the pump.

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ouch, the rack and pump are definatly not somthing i wanna buy and replace. the only leaks iv noiticed are my trans line. with 72k i would think the rack wouldnt be going out already

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I don't know if the rack is bad or not, cause I'm not there.

To diagnose a failing rack (usually)

Turn the wheel lock to lock several times. Typically a failing rack will assist in steering (act normal) for some of the turning motion, but provide no assist other times (like no P/S).

Your rack may not be bad, but letting the system go low consistently is a sure way to change that.

 

If the pump is bad or leaking, you can replace it yourself for under $100, or pay someone about $250.

 

If your p/s pressure line is leaking, or seeping you can replace it yourself for under $50, or pay around $100 to get it done.

 

Look closely around your p/s pump, and lines, sometimes they aren't leaking bad enough to drip all the time. Most P/S pressure lines only leak badly when the wheel is turned all the way in one direction, that is when fluid pressure is the highest.

 

Good luck.

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THe jerkyness turned out to be the Lug nuts were loose :shock: My pump stopped making noise now, and i dunno about the fluid, mabye it is leaking tho, ill keep an eye on the fluid

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Guest donkeykongrape

I changed the rack on my cutlass just a few weeks ago....it assisted fine, it just leaked like a screen door on a submarine and I couldn't find any rebuild kits anywhere so I just said hell with it and I put a new rack in...no leaks!!!

 

almost every GM car has a leaking rack, its a way of life...my 92 cutlass supreme has only 86k and had a leaking rack, my friends 87 cutlass ciera also had a leaking rack w/ 82k and his brothers camaro z28 (96 i think?) also leaks.

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  • 2 weeks later...

How invasive is a rack replacement? Mine was just diagnosed as "shot" today at the shop, and I'm thinking about doing it myself...

 

Also, would there be a certain rack I should get if I want a tighter than base Lumina feel (i.e: maybe a GP GT rack might be tighter)?

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Rack replacement calls for 2.9 hours, so set aside at least half of a day for it. You really just unbolt the tie rod ends, unbolt the pinch bolt for the steering column, remove the lines, remove the rack bolts, and pull it out the left side.

 

An FE3 or "Sport Suspension" rack will be tighter than the granny Lumina rack

 

All of this info pertains to a 90-94 Lumina since you didn't provide a year. :wink:

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I have a '93 Lumi with a 125-C, powered by a '91 regal's 3.1 saddled with a '92 Lumi intake... I take it all the w-body racks are interchangeable... I think I'll do it myself. I just found a $200 parts car that will donate a rack, a gas tank, a strut mount, and some other accessories.

 

I am however interested in getting a tighter rack down the road... http://www.steeringrack.com has several lumina choices... the one I'd be intersted in would be the 90-93 Lumina/Z34 rack utilizing 2.5 turns.

 

http://steeringrack.com/product_info.php/cPath/1/products_id/3808

 

... what's with the "sensor" and "no sensor" selections though?

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http://steeringrack.com/product_info.php/cPath/1/products_id/3808

 

... what's with the "sensor" and "no sensor" selections though?

I don't see where it asks that, but it could be a sensor for variable assist, which I didn't think they started until 95 on the luminas (gen 1.5, so 94 on all else)

 

The only odd thing is that the sensor for variable assist is on the power steering PUMP, and not the rack. :shrug:

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