steering rack crap

minute rice sentra · Feb 20th, 2004, 10:02 AM

Ok, I seem to be having all kinds of problems with my steering and suspension, and the biggest problem is my worn out steering rack. I was thinking about getting a PS rack and looping the inlet to the outlet so it works just like a non-PS rack, but it doesn't seem like it would be ok to do that. Where do guys think I should go for a good deal on a new non-PS rack? I checked out OEM surplus and it looks like they don't have the complete rack. I'm trying not to have to spend an assload of money doing this, but I don't know if I can make that happen.

BeEleven · Feb 20th, 2004, 10:20 AM

I think you're right in not wanting to use a PS rack with the PS disengaged. The manual racks have lower gear ratios to assist steering IIRC, thus it's easier to drive a non-PS car that a PS car with no PS fluid.

Myetball · Feb 20th, 2004, 03:16 PM

OEM Surplus does have a complete rack. Part number 48001-33A12 says it's for 85-88 sentra w/manual steering. My B11 parts list has that number but I don't have a B12 parts list to cross check. Looks like the KN13's all came with power steering so I can't do a cross ref that way.

B11sleeper · Feb 20th, 2004, 03:30 PM

if they have a non-PS rack get it! i converted my b11 to manual and it rules. I paid alot for mine, I didn't know of oem-surplus at the time.

too much = $375 for a newish one from parts america

minute rice sentra · Feb 20th, 2004, 07:04 PM

I guess they do have one, I must have misread it last time

I wonder if I can haggle with them to get the price lower than $97.44

Do you know of anyone that has performance bushings for the rack?

Nismodriver · Feb 21st, 2004, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by minute rice sentra

I guess they do have one, I must have misread it last time

I wonder if I can haggle with them to get the price lower than $97.44

Do you know of anyone that has performance bushings for the rack?

I picked one up off of ebay for $75 shiped or so. Its a little of a PITA to swap out, but nothing unbearable. Good luck!

John

minute rice sentra · Feb 21st, 2004, 12:35 PM

Do you know if the guy has another one?

Gsolo · Feb 21st, 2004, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Myetball

Looks like the KN13's all came with power steering so I can't do a cross ref that way.

Yep...I dont know if the pulsar had different rack or not though but it feels tight and stiff for a ps rack...I wonder if nissan did somethign to make it tight for sports car feel.

Myetball · Feb 21st, 2004, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by minute rice sentra

I guess they do have one, I must have misread it last time

I wonder if I can haggle with them to get the price lower than $97.44

Do you know of anyone that has performance bushings for the rack?

$97.44 isn't a bad price for a brand new rack. Of course OEMSurplus usually charges some pretty high shipping/handling. It'll probably be more like $130 or more shipped.

Nismodriver · Feb 21st, 2004, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by minute rice sentra

Do you know if the guy has another one?

It's been a while. Sorry, dude.

John

Myetball · Feb 29th, 2004, 02:27 AM

After giving it some thought, I've decided to go manual steering on my B11. I scored a manual rack on Ebay for $49.99 + shipping. This is it. Eliminating the power steering has many positive points when swapping in the CA18DE.

- No hp loss to p/s pump
- No lines to worry about getting mounted and connected
- No resevior to install (ca18 has external resevior)
- No worrying about fluid leaks
- Best of all it will save a bunch of space that would otherwise clutter the engine bay.

My first ever vehicle was a 1975 Toyota Hilux pickup with a strong running 2.0 liter. Also the first engine I ever rebuilt. The truck had manual steering and was alot of fun to drive.

I'll eventually sell off all the p/s related stuff...pump, resevior, hoses, and brand new OEM lines....you guessed it....from OEM Surplus.

minute rice sentra · Feb 29th, 2004, 12:35 PM

Yeah, I'm gonna go ahead and just get that one from OEM surplus, I asked them how much it would cost just to see if I could get a lower price than what was listed. That didn't work at all, they told me $125+ $20shipping so I had to mail them back and show them the pulsar rack's price.

Myetball · Feb 29th, 2004, 01:36 PM

So how much are you gonna have to pay?

minute rice sentra · Feb 29th, 2004, 01:59 PM

Here's what they had to say about the pulsar rack price:

"Hi Jon,

It's the exact same piece. Sentra and Pulsar quite often have interchangable parts. You found that part on a not-yet-updated page. But I will honor that. We have a lot more items and will be updating the website within the next week or so.

Let me know what you want to do."

So I told them "I would like to buy it and I'm wondering what shipping would be and how you would like me to pay."

That was friday, so I should here something within the next couple of days. It should be $97.44 + whatever shipping is.

Myetball · Feb 29th, 2004, 02:47 PM

Too bad they quit selling most of their stuff on ebay. Their prices were crazy low. Probably could have had that rack for $25. Maybe they were just offloading excessive stock on ebay. Once the stock got down to a manageable level they stopped. Just guessing...really don't know why they stopped auctioning stuff off.

Still, $100 for a brand new OEM Power rack is a good price.