I have a 1998 Impreza L 2.2l auto. The boots on my rack are both ripped, its starting to leak fluid, and it clicks a little. So I'm goin to replace it. My question is, has anyone replaced there's? And if so, about how long does it generally take? I'm currently working 60 hour weeks, and trying to figure out if its something I wanna do on my day off, or if I should just bight the bullet and bring it to a shop. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Pretty easy. Messy but easy. Its been a while but iirc its only 2 ps lines, the column, 4 bolts, and the outer tie rod tie rod ends to get it out. Depending on model you'll have to drop the header, sway bar, jack plate, etc... Tips, get new gaskets, don't mangle or cut the hardlines since you'll probably end up reusing them, and get an alignment afterwords
Make sure you don't spin the steeringwheel after you disconect the rack, Or you'll need to replace the clockspring too.
Thanks guys. I planned on getting an alignment done, sounds like a couple hour job to replace the rack then ay?
I've never done one on your year but I have done 1-2 dozen 05+ legacys and imprezas. It's not too terrible. Male sute your steering wheel is straight and secure it in the car with a bungee chord to the oh **** handle. Pop both tie rod ends out. Take off any brackets in the way underneath. Remove the steering shaft u-joints. Loosen the two line connections(just above the subframe. A 14mm and 17mm crows foot works great) unbolt the rack and drop it out. If your sway bar goes under the toe rod ends it will make it a lot easier to just remove the brackets and let it hang from the end links. Might take you 1.5-5 hours depending on your skill level. Put the new rack completely on except for the ujoints, straighten the wheels the best you can and put the joint back in. And get it aligned immediately afterwards.
Thanks for the detailed walk thru brewski. I went to college to be a mechanic, but that was 8 years ago, and wrenching is just a hobby now. And I haven't touched much rack and pinion stuff since college. Is there any bleeding needed? Or just keep filling the reservoir when its running?
Yes. When your done with the job you will have to bleed it by going lock to lock at least 30 times while keeping it full of fluid.
