Steering Rack

[mjhockey155]

My steering rack is leaking from both of the rubber boots (ones torn for sure and the other may be) on the inner tie rods. Is there an inner seal or is it the boot that seals the rack? Also, I have heard that the HICAS steering ratio is 13.1 irr. This is of very much interest to me. I have read that if you go to autozone for a HICAS replacement rack that you may only receive a standard s13 rack. So besides getting a rack from a HICAS how can I make sure that I recieve a HICAS Steering rack from autozone, advanced, etc.

[ryguy]

The seals are bad. The boots do nothing but to keep dirt out of the seals. You need a new rack or you need to rebuild the rack. Oh, and the part numbers for the HICAS rack are actually different on the autozone website, and the HICAS rack is something like 60 bucks more expensive.

[mjhockey155]

So the HICAS is 13:1 compared to 17:1 standard rack? Is it worth spending 60 more bucks.

[TurboNetic05]

sorry to thread jack a little... but is it really a big deal if one of the boots is torn? one of mine is and i took it to a shop to get something else fixed and i asked them about the boot and they said its not a big deal because it is just a dust boot? So is the boot critical or is it not really a big deal?

[JRas]

sorry to thread jack a little... but is it really a big deal if one of the boots is torn? one of mine is and i took it to a shop to get something else fixed and i asked them about the boot and they said its not a big deal because it is just a dust boot? So is the boot critical or is it not really a big deal?

like the mechanic told you, it's a dust boot.. it's solely there to protect against dirt and other debris flying up into the joint.

to the op: are you using power-steering fluid or automatic transmission fluid? my guess is you currently use ps fluid and have destroyed the seals doing so.

[mjhockey155]

shit well I used ps fluid. Looks like a new rack for me. HICAS?

[ryguy]

The HICAS rack does have a faster ratio, but I dont have one, so I cant say how much better it is.

[Ninjabread]

I had both of them (but in different cars)

Loved the hicas rack .. my current one is blown so I plan to get a hicas one again.

[upSLIDEdown]

HICAS rack is nice. I have one. And yeah, make sure you use ATF, not PS fluid.

[mjhockey155]

So ive been reading that its hard to get a hicas rack with hicas internals at autozone or advanced auto. Where are you guys getting your hicas racks from. What are your opinions about the Atsco Reman rack.