Date:         Fri, 21 Oct 2005 10:16:11 -0500
Reply-To:     John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject:      Power Steering Rack Rebuild
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

I need to do something the leaking power steering rack on my  '88 GL.

What would you do? Replace or overhaul yourself.

I'm considering overhauling  it myself - I'm pretty fair with mechanical
things - but from past experience on my  '85 GL, I know there is a
threaded locking ring that must be removed. On the '85 GL removing that
ring without the specific wrench made for the job, proved to be a
nightmare. Succeeded in breaking the ring, and wound up having to take
it to a machine shop and have it welded, then machined back into
tolerance. What a PITA!!!  Cost me 50 bucks, and I got a deal because I
knew the machinist. But it worked. The rest wasn't that difficult.

But all that was along time ago way up north.. These days I have less
time, fewer tools, etc. So, just wondering what the List suggests. I
sorta would like to give it a go, but absolutely not unless I can get
that proper wrench for the locking ring from someplace. I have done a
lot of shadetree stuff, but  I learned a long time ago that the right
tool for the right job is the only way to go - even if it's a tool you
make specifically for that job. Never use a knife for a scredriver or a
screw driver for a chisel, etc.

What say you, Volks? (think VaG will get me for using the term?)

TIA

Regards,

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver