Cost for steering rack?

[Grand Moff Joseph]

Well, by the sounds of it, the steering rack on my Lumina is about out of juice (based on the horrible grinding sound I hear when turning left).

 

Any idea how much these things cost? (part+labor)

 

Also, I was looking for this part on GMPartsdirect.com, and I noticed that you can order either the FE1, FE2, or FE3 steering "gear assembly". I know FE3 is the best suspension package available, but what difference is there between the steering gear for an FE3 car compared to an FE1 car?

[Robby1870]

The difference is the turning radius and number of steering wheel turns lock to lock. A base rack is 3 full turns lock to lock. There are 2.5 turn and the semi-rare 2.25 turns lock to lock racks. I have a 2.5 turn in my STE and the turning radius is like 3 feet (I think I remember that right) more than a base rack. So, its a little harder to manuever the car in tight places, but, I think, the responsiveness on the highway makes up for that. I barely have to turn the wheel to change lanes.

[Grand Moff Joseph]

Oh, I see. Thanks for the info.

 

Any clues on cost??

[19Cutlass94]

I can look it up tomorrow for you, since Ill be working...

 

And of couse you know about the core......

[Grand Moff Joseph]

Well, I'm trying to decide if it would be cheaper to buy the part by itself and take it to a shop to be installed, or to buy it from a shop and have it installed there.

 

Either way, the car will go into a shop for the work, because I have neither the time nor the tools nor the space to do it myself.

[19Cutlass94]

If you buy it and have the shp install it, it will be cheaper cuz shops usually mark up the prices which means you pay more.

[jeremy]

most shops won't install your parts....the only steering rack that I dealt with was on my SHO, so I won't be much help here

[1990lumina]

When the rack was replaced on my Lumina the cost was somewhere around ~$430 after tax, CDN. But the oil pressure sending unit was replaced as well so the cost was $500 or something like that after parts and whatnot.

[19902drlumina]

a rack at a part store ranges from 130-180 takes an afternoon to do it your self so if ure worried about money get a repair manual and go to town

[19Cutlass94]

he cant work on his car where he is, they wont let him. But you might find a shop that will install it for you.

[Bossman429]

Labor for rack replacement is 2.9 hours on a 90 Lumina, and that probably doesn't include an alignment.

I would figure:

Labor:

65/hour * 2.9 = 188.50

 

Alignment:

$62 est.

 

Part (the rack):

If they let you buy the parts:

~$180

If they buy the parts, expect some markup, probably:

~$250

 

Grand total:

188.50 + 250 + 62 = $500.50

 

Give or take, but that should probably be the higher end of the spectrum.

[Grand Moff Joseph]

he cant work on his car where he is, they wont let him. But you might find a shop that will install it for you.

 

Yep, my new apartment complex also has a "no working on your cars" rule.

 

Speaking of which, Jay, I need your address, so I can mail you that emblem for your car.

[R Dubya]

list on a Delco rack for a 90 Lumina is around $400, depending on the package. Aftermarkets are more than likely cheaper.