I just went to firestone to get a diagnosis on my Z28, and they gave me a list of things i need done to it...

I need to replace my rack&pinion

Power steering flush

and an allignment

They quoted me $533 for the rack & pinion thats with the labor,

power steering flush $90,

and lifetime allignment $120.....

This is a lot of money for me, and i need help finding somebody that can fix it for a lot cheaper than this.... i know firestone is quite expensive....

somebody plz help...this is my daily driver

 

ask mrr23 for his opinion on things

 

If you bring the car to my shop in Sebring, I'll do the stuff much cheaper.

 

Changing the steering rack in an LT-1 f-body is a fairly easy task. Call autozone or Central Auto Parts and find out how much a new rack is. To change the rack it's basically disconnnect the lines, then 3 bolts (two to hold the rack and one for the steering shaft) and two tie-rod ends later it's out.

Then after you put the new one back in take it to get it aligned.


-Dave C. '97 Z28

 

I think the lifetime alignment thing is a good deal though. I have that on my car and I've had that done about 4 times. More than the $120 worth if I paid every time. Not to mention the fact that there are firestones and tires plus' all over the country. If you go on vacation and need an alignment while out of town you can get it done for free nationwide.

 

Im with anasazi, mrr23 will set you up. He did my 69 and other than my goof the alignment is great. Good price too.

 

I don't know if the LT1 rack is different than the LS1 rack, but one of my bolts wouldn't come out (the head of the passenger side bolt was at the top and it didn't have enough clearance under the oil pan). I had to tear the whole front end apart before I could get it out.

Anyway, what's it doing that you would need a new steering rack anyway?

 

mrr23 is the man when it comes to suspention stuff

 

yup..he is..and found out that the people that diagnosed the problem wish it was mrr23 that looked at it the first time...well they didnt do it right..and gotta go back to mrr23 to get the right part to put it in..

 

On the LT-1 style, which I assume is the same for the LS-1 since the chassis didn't really change, there is a nut and bolt on each side of the rack. You put your wrench on the nuts under the engine, and the bolts unscrew from under the crossmember.

-Dave C. '97 Z28