I have a 97 z28 and it has about 146,500 miles and the steering has a lot of play in it. It has abouut 2 to 3 inches of play. People i've talked to said just replace the rag joint with the eliminator kit and it should fix my problem. I just don't see that happening because my steering has alot of play. My car has been through some tough curb encounters, could this make the rack go bad?

my questions are....

1. how hard is it to replace a rack and pinion unit and could it be done with common garage tools?
2. what is the part number for the rack unit for a 97 z28
3. how long do racks usually last?

 

I'd be more concerned with the tie rod ends, if they haven't been replaced yet. At 65k miles the originals are done. Hell, maybe sooner then that. I couldn't believe the **** poor design. Almost any replacement is greaseable and the ball is about 25% larger. Just replaced mine and the car tracks perfect and there is zero slop in the steering wheel.
Doug