leak in rack and pinion

Quicksilversurf917 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 10, 2010 7:03 pm

I took the jeep into the shop yesterday just for a check up- fluids replaced, alignment, etc...etc... and I went to go pick it up and I had some bad news... The mechanic said I have a leak in my rack and pinion due to a gasket blown out and its leaking oil slowly but its okay as long as I keep checking it and making sure its not gushing out oil. But he said I will have to get the whole entire front diff replaced....IS THIS TRUE!!!??? He quoted me at $$$1000 with labor and im not really trying to pay that much.

Is there anything I can do??

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 10, 2010 7:21 pm

Yep if the R&P is leaking there is nothing you can do but replace it.It's 5.5 labor hours to replace the R&P in a 4wd KJ and a alignment is also needed which is not part of the 5.5 labor hours.

Quicksilversurf917 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 10, 2010 7:29 pm

yea thats excatly what the mech. said too....

So whats the easiest thing to do.... go to a junk yard and see if they can pull one out? or have the mech. do it? or go SFA?

03CDKJ · **Posted:** Tue Aug 10, 2010 9:30 pm

Quicksilversurf917 wrote:

I took the jeep into the shop yesterday just for a check up- fluids replaced, alignment, etc...etc... and I went to go pick it up and I had some bad news... The mechanic said I have a leak in my rack and pinion due to a gasket blown out and its leaking oil slowly but its okay as long as I keep checking it and making sure its not gushing out oil. But he said I will have to get the whole entire front diff replaced....IS THIS TRUE!!!??? He quoted me at $$$1000 with labor and im not really trying to pay that much.

Is there anything I can do??

You will not need a new front diff..... You will need a new Rack and Pinion....

Quicksilversurf917 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 10, 2010 9:43 pm

Ok so then what is the rack and pinion?

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 10, 2010 10:10 pm

Quicksilversurf917 wrote:

Ok so then what is the rack and pinion?

Your steering gear.

By the FSM the front diff needs to be removed.The R&P can be replaced without the front diff coming out but any shop will still charge you the full labor time.I've done a few R&P's in KJ's now and from taking 4 hours for the 1st one(in a camp ground in MOAB) I can now do them in less then 2 hours including doing the alignment but The customer still pays for 5.5 hours of labor and I still get paid for 5.5 hours(plus another 1.2 for the alignment).

Quicksilversurf917 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 10, 2010 10:26 pm

Well shoot. Looks like in out of luck with this one... I might as well just pay the shop

infernicus · **Posted:** Mon Dec 20, 2010 6:51 pm

How much did it end up costing you to replace your Rack and Pinion?

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Mon Dec 20, 2010 8:29 pm

Don't know if the same applies... but...

On my 2004 Ram 1500, the steering was rack and pinion. After taking delivery of it I noticed it was leaking on the driveway. Asked the dealership and they said it would need a new R&P at a cost of $600 plus labor. I basically said F that and walked out. Started doing some research and found out that the factory power steering fluid system built up too much pressure which could cause a leak. So I drilled a small (1/8" I think) hole straight down into the top of my P/S reservoir cap to release some pressure...and it never leaked again. My driveway stayed bone dry after that.

vermette · **Joined:** Tue Dec 21, 2010 3:30 am **Posts:** 3

I just replaced the high pressure hose and the rack and pinion (just in time for Xmas)

it cost 1650$ labour included! If your getting it done at a shop make sure you look into the warranty they offer! The shop gave me a lifetime warranty on the parts and 2 years on labour, if you do any 4x4ing an you have a lift your most likely gonna want that lifetime warranty on your rack!

KJ Willy · **Posted:** Tue Dec 21, 2010 11:33 am

I am on my 3rd rack, all been replaced under warrenty. my dealership said it would have been $1200 without the warrenty.

Quicksilversurf917 · **Posted:** Sat Dec 25, 2010 1:13 am

Well going to a technical school really helped me with the cost. The auto shop there charges you $10 for labor and you pay for the parts. My total bill came out to 249.90!!!! Yeah, it was a steal.... hahahaha

Vranes17 · **Posted:** Sat Dec 25, 2010 4:07 pm

Quicksilversurf917 wrote:

Well going to a technical school really helped me with the cost. The auto shop there charges you $10 for labor and you pay for the parts. My total bill came out to 249.90!!!! Yeah, it was a steal.... hahahaha

thats awesome, must be nice

Quote:

I can now do them in less then 2 hours including doing the alignment but The customer still pays for 5.5 hours of labor and I still get paid for 5.5 hours(plus another 1.2 for the alignment).

you dirty lil theif :mrgreen:

hehe thats awesome tho, thats what you get with hard work

infernicus · **Posted:** Thu Mar 10, 2011 10:51 pm

How difficult is it to replace a rack and pinion by a technically savvy hobbyist?

And do you recommend using a re manufactured one by A1 Cardone? (~$119 after core, Mopar is ~$500+ after core)
http://www.partsgeek.com/catalog/2007/j ... _rack.html

VMKJCRD · **Posted:** Fri Mar 11, 2011 1:17 am

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=42379

leak in rack and pinion

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