How To: Replace your own steering rack

[fjfodee]

What happens is; tech locks steering wheel centered. He then find tires/wheels turn off, to one direction. He adjust TRE to bring tires/wheel dead-on forward with correct TOE, while steering wheel centered. Not knowing, he can center steering wheel, later, electronically through tech stream.

Yes, it’s an ‘05.

So what would be your remedy to what you mention above? If the tech adjusts the tie rods with the steering wheel locked and leaves you with 3 threads on one outer TRE and 13 threads on the other. Let’s say everything is perfect at that point (toe, steering, etc) except the thread count. How do you fix that?

Also, where is the best place to measure the lengths of the inner TREs with the rack in the vehicle?

 

[2001LC]

05LX has VGRS. So do not lock steering wheel. let it turn/clock however it wants. You'll center it, later in TS VGRS.
Example:
So you've 3 thread exposed on one TRE, 13 on other. TOE is set with tires/wheels dead-on straight ahead. So total thread count is 16 (3 +13). Take the 16/2=8. Expand the TRE with 3 to 8 threads. Contract/shorten the other TRE with 13 to 8 thread, with tires/wheel dead-on straight ahead. Fine tune TOE, which may change thread count a tiny bit.

Now steering wheel. Will likely be turned/clocked, off center. No worries. Go into tech stream, VGRS, Center steering wheel.

Done!

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In a non VGRS, like 98-07LC or 98-02LX. Which do not have VGRS. If thread count on TRE's, set equal on both sides. Result in steering wheel off center. We must either remove and reset steering wheel. Or remove and reset intermediate shaft on pinion shaft. Or live with TRE thread count, however it may end up.