i can spin the wheel freely...like spin it real fast either direction and it will spin for like 10 rotations....so its not connected or broke somewhere...as for the tie rods...theyre still fine...bc if i turn one wheel(getting it on the flat bed) they both turn...i beleive its the rack and pinion because i felt it skip 3-4 time then it went completly out...i need to look into finding the part online so it will be cheaper and then figuring out who has a lift to use...what would labor cost? and how long should it take?

 

like i said, cost me $350 with labor and alignment, about 3 hours of labor

 

thanks everybody...

 

Were there any symptoms leading up to this? Or did it drive and steer fine, then just broke? I've been thinking mine is wearing out because of the tramiling on the ruts in the road. Everything else has been replaced up front except for the inner tie rods and steering rack.
Or maybe some of the non OEM parts I'm using are wearing out faster than I would like.

 

yea sometimes when there was a groove in the road it would pull extremly hard and i would have to hold it with both hands so it wouldnt go into the next lane...i always thought it was just the road...then the day or 2 b4 it seemed like it needed an alignment really bad...and the wheel was turned right when i was driving straight...then i was backing out of a parking lot and boom no more steering...

 

i have just decided...i may attempt this myself and make a DIY bc i doubt there is one out there...if so please let me know...

 

If you're up to it, please do .

 

Great, now I'm even more concerned about the rack. I've been putiing this off since there's 320,000 miles, but I don't see the motor quitting anytime soon-plus I have a spare waiting to go in if it does. And if the motor quits before the rack I'll be doing it then for sure-a lot more room to work!

Doesn't the Haynes manual have the proceedure? I know it will take me a lot longer than the 3 hours I saw mentioned above, but I have more time than money.

 

i have a haynes with it...thats what ill follow

 

I got a used rack for $50 and put it on myself. It took a little smarts to get it all centered, but it's very do-able. To keep from having to mess with the exhaust, I undid the pulley side motor mount and raised the engine enough to wigle the long rack out of the car. It's easier than it sounds if you are comfortable under the car. Make sure that the rack is the problem first... check the joints under the dash by taking off the cover and looking as you turn the wheel. From there have a helper (or a rope) turn the wheel as you look at junk under the car... Good luck. Buy some cool tools with all the money you save!