2001 Pontiac Montana Logo
dan shatrowsky Posted on Apr 08, 2012

How tough is it to replace the rack and pinion on a pontiac montana

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Anonymous

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  • Posted on Nov 01, 2012
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It's a bit of a pain, but doable with simple tools.

Loosen the front lug nuts. Jack up the van and support it on the rails just behind the front tires (not the sub frame as you need to lower that a few inches). Remove the front tires. Disconnect the sway bar link pins, and the sway bar mounting bolts. Disconnect the tie rod ends from the knuckles. Support the rear ends of the sub frame, and remove the bolts mounting it to the van. Once the sub frame bolts are out, lower the rear end of the frame. I did this by using a jack, and placing the jack stands a couple of inches below the frame. Remove the sway bar from the van. You may need to drop the rack a bit more, but be careful as the steering shaft is still connected. You should be able to get at the bolt that attaches the rack stub to the steering rod by pushing up on the boot. Remove the sub shaft bolt. Disconnect the power steering lines from the rack (at the rack). Un-bolt the rack from the sub frame, there are two bolts. The rack should be able to be removed from the drivers side of the van. I replaced the tie rod ends and the sway bar bushings when I replaced mine (new link pins are easy at this time too). The installation is reverse of removal. I measured the tie rod distances when I put the new ends on. The only change I made was that I tied the steering shaft boot down onto the rack so I could install the bolt. I couldn't push the boot up high enough to get the bolt back in. Be sure to install the new power steering line seals that should come with the rack (buy new ones if it doesn't) - the lines are different sizes so you can't mix them up. Torque everything to spec when reinstalling (the cheap Hanes manuals have what you need along with these directions!). It's easiest to install the sway bar brackets when the sub frame is hanging down. Once it's together and running, check the power steering fluid. Get an alignment immediately (I set mine up before I changed the rack).
One last bit of advice, buy the rack with the longer warranty, you don't want to do this twice.

5 Related Answers

emissionwiz

Marvin

  • 85242 Answers
  • Posted on Oct 19, 2010

SOURCE: how to remove and replace the rack and pinion

The entire repair procedure (with illustrations) is avail at the link below, it is from the factory service manual courtesy of Alldata.com. Please go to this link, it is a PDF file so u will need Acrobat reader.

http://ww2.justanswer.com/uploads/ebrock63/2010-01-25_184524_RACK.pdf

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Anonymous

  • 47 Answers
  • Posted on Sep 26, 2009

SOURCE: rack and pinion steering need to be replaced. is

going to be a difficult job and take alot of knowlege to do but if you want to do it yourself buy a hyanes manual they walk you throw step by step

Testimonial: "i felt it would have some dificulty to it. but if a hyanes manual is truly step by step, thats good somtimes hyanes is based on full disassembly"

Anonymous

  • 226 Answers
  • Posted on Nov 21, 2009

SOURCE: How tough is it to replace the rack & pinion

jack it up put it on jack stands / shake it make sure it's safe . remove tie rod end nuts and split them apart by using a splitter , do both sides .helps if the tires are removed, then unbolt the hoses from either the pump or rack then there's only a couple of bolts and it's out /ready to reverse and put in a new 1. then you may need to bleed the steering system again by turning wheel back and forth to work out air . good luck.

david dixon

  • 740 Answers
  • Posted on Jan 01, 2010

SOURCE: need instructions for replacing rack and pinion

disconnect the tie rod ends on bothe spindles.next take the bott out of the steering saft going into the rack. next disconect the power steering lines (take a piece of masking tape and perminant marker and leave a note wich line goes were.) next just unbolt tghe rack and slip it out of the wheel well.

Anonymous

  • 1 Answer
  • Posted on Dec 01, 2010

SOURCE: 2002 pontiac grand am rack and pinion replacement

Removing the rack and pinion assembly from a 2002 Pontiac Grand Am Se To get the old rack and pinion off of the car for replacement involves lowering the sub-frame, removing the stabilizer bar, and pulling the rack out from the driver side of the vehicle.

  • Start by lifting or jacking up the car and removing the front wheels. Once the car is safely supported, disconnect both tie rods from the steering knuckles.
  • The rear motor mount sits on top of the cross-member part of the sub-frame, and must be disconnected to allow the sub-frame to drop a few inches. Remove the three bolts attaching it to the center of the sub-frame - one in the back and two in the front near the back of the transmission.
  • Loosen the two bolts holding the front of the sub-frame. Place a scissor jack or bottle jack under the rear of the sub-frame where the bolt for the motor mount was. Remove the two smaller bolts from each side of the rear of the sub-frame (total 4 bolts) and then loosen the two remaining larger bolts holding the rear of the sub-frame (these bolts go through the rear control arm bushings and are very long) until the bolts are only going through the control arm bushing, and not into the chassis. You do not need to remove these completely.
  • Remove the stabilizer links from both sides.
  • Next you must disconnect the steering linkage. This is done easily by lifting up the rubber boot to expose the small bolt holding the linkage. Remove the bolt and pry the linkage upward using a pry tool or screw driver.
  • Near the passenger side of the crossmember, remove the bolt holding the power steering line bracket to the chassis. You may now begin to lower the sub-frame using the jack. The front bolts should have lowered the sub-frame about a half-inch or so, allowing you to lower the back of the sub-frame 3 or 4 inches.
  • With the sub-frame lowered, you can now access the bolts holding the stabilizer bar in place. The right side has a nut screwed onto the top of it holding the power steering lines, remove this first, then remove both bolts. Pry or pull the stabilizer brackets up and out. Remove the stabilizer bar.
  • Now you can get to both of the bolts holding the rack in place. Remove both of these, then begin to slide the rack toward the driver side wheel well until there is no more slack in the power steering lines. At this point you should be able to get to the nuts securing the lines on the rack. Loosen both nuts and be ready with something to cap the ends with. I used part of a plastic bag and a wire to tie it. You can now pull the rack out through the driver side.
  • Be sure to replace the rubber o-rings on the ends of the lines when putting the new rack in. Replace everything in the reverse order. Put your tie rods on the new rack, making sure to count the turns or make a mark or measure to be sure your tie rods end up close to the same length as before.
  • Bleed the power steering system.

Important: Get an alignment! Not only is it dangerous to drive with your steering out of align but it will also grate the tread off your tires in a matter of weeks or even days.

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These details will help.
Thanks.



0helpful
1answer

How tough is it to replace the rack and pinion on a pontiac montana

on a scale of 1-10 it's about a 5 with a lift and about a 6 without
1helpful
1answer

Rack and pinion leaking badly out of the rubber boot.

the only cure is to replace the rack&pinion steering gear and have an alignment done.
2helpful
2answers

Where is the power steering hose? on a 2001 pontiac montana

The power steering hose,goes down under the power steering pump,it goes directly down from the pump,and cuts under the engine to the rack and pinion,both hoses do.If this was helpful,please rate,thank you.
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