drivable? bad rack and pinon

i had a similar problem with mine when i got it, i picked up a couple of bottles of stop leak as a temp fix. I picked up my flaming river kit on ebay for 300.00 don't know how much it would be to install it (i did it myself) the only hard part about the install is getting the splines on the solid shaft to line up. It only took 2 hours to install the complete kit though, and make sure you get an alighnment A.S.A.P....oh and the stop leak i used was lucas stop leak it actually worked....well it slowed the leak alot

The rack will work just fine without fluid. Just disconnect the pressure and drain hose and turn stop to stop until all the fluid is gone. Turning it without the pump and filled with fluid is very hard. Removing the fluid will ease the turn effort.

The pump, however, will not survive without fluid. You'll need to bypass if you still have AC. If not, you will need a standard rotation water pump, a new clutchfan or electric fan and a belt. The WP will not work with forward rotation.

Steering rack replacement tech note...

The two inner tie rod ends are usually what wears out, and at $45 each, it's better to get a replacement rack assembly since they are part of the package. The rack is about $100 + a $40 refundable core charge, which you get back when you return the old rack. Be sure to ask for the GT or high performance rack, it has fewer turns lock to lock than the standard rack.

The flex coupling for the steering shaft needs to be disconnected before you can get the rack out. You should disassemble the coupling by undoing the 2 bolts that hold it together. The lower part of the coupling will then come out with the rack, and can easily be removed.

The tie rod ends can be removed with a tool that looks like a giant "pickle fork", it's less than $8, or some stores will rent/loan one. Remove the cotter pin & nut on the tie end, stick the tool between the rod end and the arm it connects and hammer away. The bigger the hammer, the easier it comes apart.

Remove the two bolts that bolt the rack assembly to the frame and then pull the rack down. Get a catch pan to dump the fluid in when you disconnect the hydraulic lines. I replaced the rack mount bushings with some Energy Suspension urethane ones. When you re-install the rack assembly, put the rear bushings in the rack assembly and lift it into place. Then install the front bushings & washers and tighten down the nuts. Doing it this way makes room for the hydraulic lines without having them bind against the frame.

To change the tie rod ends, do them one at a time. Loosen the jam nut 1/4 turn, then unscrew the tie rod end from the rack. Turn the jam nut back 1/4 turn to return it to its original position. With the tie rod end removed, use a machinist square to measure the distance between the end of the threaded rod and the jam nut. Sit the bottom of the square against the end of the threaded rod, and the end of the blade of the square against the jam nut. Duplicate the measurement on the new rack and then install the tie rod end and tighten the jam nut. Then do the other side: the front end will need aligning, but the toe in will be close enough to the setting of the original rack to drive.

Buy several extra quarts of fluid to run through the system to flush it when you change the rack. The car needs to be up on jackstands for the next step. Fill the pump up, start the car, and turn the wheels lock to lock to bleed the air out. Then stop the engine, disconnect the low pressure hose (the one that is secured with a hose clamp) and drain the pump. Re-connect, refill and do it several more times or until the fluid looks clear and not burnt or black.

Wow that was very detailed. You get an A+ i love it when people take the time to explain, im saving this if i ever need to swap again. I got my used rack on ebay 25 bucks. and sold my Flaming river kit for 280.00 used on ebay. Its sorta hard to stear with the manual rack and i had the quick ratio.

but again thumbs up to jrichker.