Detroit Axle rebuilt steering racks

[850oldschool]

Anybody run one of these for a while?

Price is ridiculously low (in the $175 range) and while they will pay $10 for your old one, they don't require a deposit. They claim these are rebuilt in the US and tested under pressure prior to shipment.

[greg850r]

I just got lower control arms and inner and outer tie rods from them for a 2000 Jetta. Quality seems good.

[SuperHerman]

I bought their wheel hubs for a V50 I use to own. I thought it was an American brand, ended up being Chinese. Two of the four wheel bearings failed within 5000 miles. So I would say junk and steer clear (even a pun).

[850oldschool]

Thanks for the reports, keep them coming! I'm hoping somebody who's bought a rebuilt axle will offer a review.

The new parts they sell seem to be lower mid-grade Chinese, perhaps a notch below Moog. Wheel bearings are getting bad reviews on youtube, though some people like the brake rotors and feel they are a good value.

I wouldn't have given the rebuilt racks a second look if they didn't state clearly that the work is done in the US. Luckily it looks like my rack isn't the source of the leak. It's actually coming from the return hose side of the pump reservoir. The pressure side is dry.

Draining the reservoir without drenching the alternator in oil looks a little tricky. I do have a mightyvac style vacuum hand pump. I might try to improvise a collection container. Or yank the hose off and shove a drain tube on the nipple.

[800artfreed]

Use a turkey baster. It has a squeeze bulb and a long tube that can be inserted in the reservoir. If needed use a plastic hose attached to the tip to fit into the reservoir.