98 V70 T5 Really Need Help Buying A Steering Rack!!

98V70T5 · Post by **98V70T5** » 25 Aug 2014, 13:15

Bought the car used, knowing it needed a rack. It was pouring out of the left boot. Ok no biggie. I ordered a re-man for $350, paid a shop $250 to install, and $80 alignment. Three months and two weeks later, I hear the pump groaning! It was leaking again from the left boot!

Unbelieveable! It didn't even last 1000 miles. I am so mad right now. I love the car, and spent a lot of money on all new shocks, timing belt/water pump service, new axles, new front control arms, and I'm not getting rid of the car.

Is there a rack out there that will last? I have read terrible terrible things about rack units on these cars. I am willing to buy whatever rack, regardless of cost, that will work!!! The factory rack lasted 120,000 miles and 16 years. The reman unit, only 3 months!

Please I can't afford to pay for this repair a THIRD time.

Thanks!

Post by **tryingbe** » 25 Aug 2014, 14:51

Get your car to your favorite shop and have them change it and make sure the warranty covers both labor and part.

Post by **erikv11** » 25 Aug 2014, 16:02

OP: the cheap-o reman racks will not last, your experience is typical. You can go the shop route as mentioned, and be prepared to haggle with them to replace it when it goes out in a year. Not a bad idea.

I have had good luck with reman racks from Jorgen Automotive, they know about the SMI/TRW differences and sell a quality rebuild.

http://www.jorgenauto.com/rack-pinion/volvo.html

Post by **cuhfs** » 25 Aug 2014, 17:21

Just bought one from Jorgan. Can't speak about how long it will last. Their service was great, and I paid around $250 plus refundable core fee. You paid $250 for the install - wish I had. FYI Everything I read is that if their is bad fluid remaining in the system that can cause your new one to go bad fast. Good luck.

98V70T5 · Post by **98V70T5** » 25 Aug 2014, 17:23

What does Volvo sell? I'd be willing to go the "Stealership" route. I just want something that will last a long time.

Post by **erikv11** » 25 Aug 2014, 21:00

The Volvo rack that came with the car was made by either TRW or SMI. Not sure if you can find one of those but I would be interested to see the prices if you can. A new one, Volvo branded, is listed from tascaparts.com for $633 plus $100 core charge, again if you can still get it. I would call them for a part number if you are thinking of going that way. Plus whatever shipping; other online dealers will be priced similarly but shipping could make a difference in this case.

98V70T5 · Post by **98V70T5** » 25 Aug 2014, 22:58

It's such a scam business what these Chinese rebuilders are doing. $350 is a lot of money for something that failed after 3 tanks of gas.

Are you saying the one you found from Tasca is a TRW or SMI? The way I see it, if the second one fails, and I have to replace that, I could potentially be out close to $2000 (parts, labor, alignment), the third time around. I only paid $5000 for the whole car!

Post by **erikv11** » 25 Aug 2014, 23:19

I totally agree about the scam aftermarket crap. And the market is inundated with it, it is getting harder and harder to find quality parts. Try buying an axle, that one is a total crap shoot

. It is a big problem getting worse.

I would expect the rack from Volvo to be TRW or SMI, yes, but I don't know for sure. I would be confident that it will be very good quality. It won't fail, this is a certain way to go if you trust the installer.

Still it isn't necessarily what I would do, I would get a rebuilt from Jorgen and replace it myself, if I could afford to put the car on jackstands in the garage for a couple weekends. The job will be easier, but still a very challenging DIY, now that there is a freshly swapped (albeit POS) rack in there. But that is one way to be certain that, for example, the old contaminated fluid (with metallic flakes) is completely flushed out.

Post by **JDS60R** » 25 Aug 2014, 23:21

FCPeuro.com ( an MVS sponsor) guarantees anything you buy from them. Give Mike Rivera(ext 505) a shout and ask him which is the right one to buy. Many folks also use the wrong fluid which can easily destroy seals if not chemically compatible. Please check the owners manual and use only the fluid they recommend (ie Type F trans fluid for some or Pentosin CHF-11S for others or CHF-202) as the seals in the pump and rack are expecting those fluids.

Post by **JDS60R** » 25 Aug 2014, 23:26

Owners manual says "ATF"
This fluid takes so much abuse/heat I would run a synthetic.