Replacing steering rack, should I replace motor mounts?

[outdoor7or24]

Yep, as the subject says, I am going to replace my steering rack. Is this the golden time to replace the rear motor mount? I do not think it is bad, but the mileage is 220k, 1995 855 turbo, and I am sure they do not last forever.
Please vote on the poll, and leave some comments.

Thx!

[aahmes57]

I'm curious as to why are you replacing the steering rack. What prompted this? A noise? Steering problems?

[Ozark Lee]

I would base it on the conditions you encounter.

As you know the rear mount will never be more accessible than when you have the rack removed but if it is good then I wouldn't change it myself. The last time I tried to remove the bolt on the rear mount was on my '94 when I yanked the transmission to replace the clutch and the lower bolt on the motor mount snapped in half on me. It would have been a bigger PITA to try to extract the bolt so I just replaced the mount.

The sway bar is going to be in your way when you go after the bolt. In my case I just unbolted the driver's side of the sway bar bushing where it mounts to the frame and that gave me all of the room I needed to get the ratchet with an extension onto the bolt.

...Lee

[outdoor7or24]

I'm curious as to why are you replacing the steering rack. What prompted this? A noise? Steering problems?

Sorry for the delay, just noticed I had some replys.
I am replacing due to a leak (drivers side) in the rack + there is quite a bit of play on the drivers side. I checked a friends 850 and his steering rack has very little or no play. I think this play contributes to feedback in the steering (shaking).
The play is where the gear shaft comes out of the housing. My guess is the bushing is worn. You can see my video I did here - https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... 13#p154213

I also thought that it would be costly to replace a power steering pump since it continues to dump fluid. I don't want to forget to check the fluid level and then be like crap, now I gota replace everything!

[outdoor7or24]

I would base it on the conditions you encounter.

...Lee

Thanks Lee. I think it looks good, but I may go ahead and see about getting one on hand before starting, so if it is bad, then I be ready.
Is the only way to tell if your mount is bad is to look for leaks or cracking?

[Ozark Lee]

Cracks and leaking pretty much covers the problems. Depending on how long it has been leaking you may or may not be able to tell with a visual inspection.

My rear mount was just fine except that the mounting bolt snapped in half when I went to disconnect it. My front mount, on the other hand, turned out to be completely broken in half. I had to order the front mount and I have not yet had the time or the weather to deal with replacing it. In my case I wish I would have had the mount on hand so that I could have made the change while I was there the first time but the mounts are a bit expensive to buy "just in case"

...Lee