Couple of questions for AZHitman

[Bayarea Q]

Hey Hitman,

I read a post of yours the other day.....and you stated the Q was in for a new steering rack. I'm curious about the reason why? Just curious as we both drive 95 Q's on the west coast, I was kinda shocked with your low mileage. I'll bet you got that warranty of yours to cover it.

Also I'm taking my Q to the shop Friday to have all my new suspensiono parts on and I'm thinking of getting some synthetic mobile 1 in my differential.

Is this a total DIY?? Like an oil change? I'm wondering if the differential drain plug is on the bottom so it just drains out? Or is it difficult and you have to have it sucked out?

Thanks,Robert

[szh]

I am sure that AZhitman will reply later. Here is an experience from another west coast person!

In my 95 Q, I had to have the steering rack replaced at about 95k miles or so - sometime last year. It was sloppy ... going over a sharp bump on a curve at a reasonable speed (like an warped expansion joint on an off-ramp, for example), the car direction was affected. Small hops and vibration in the steering wheel. I did not lose control, but it certainly did not act clean enough.

I do not know the reason that it failed. Maybe I hit some bad bump sometime and it got damaged. Maybe it is a flaw in the 1995 design! I do not know.

My extended warranty sorta covered it - they only wanted to pay for a remanufactured rack and I wanted a new one. I ended up paying the small difference (was about $200 as I recall) to make sure that I got a new one. Total cost of replacement, at the dealer, was about $1050, I seem to remember.

The only thing I forgot to ask for was to get a 90-91 rack! I would have prefered a smaller lock-to-lock on the steering ... assuming that the earlier rack fit on the 95, of course. Oh, well.

Z

[Bayarea Q]

Szhosian,

Nice to see there is another 95 west coaster here! Where abouts are you?Thanks for your relply....I have noticed my steering could be a little sloppy when entering corners. But I thought it was upper links / tension rods were the culpret. I sure hope I don't need a rack as well. I'm hoping it will be nice and tight Friday when all the tockio's go on with the above parts.....

That's a great thought about the 90-91 Rack.....I to would opt for that if it fit.

Have you ever changed the diff fluid?

[AZhitman]

I just picked her up from the shop. Rack was SEEPING, not leaking. Not even enough to generate a drip yet, so I decided to wait - I don't want to hit the warranty company with a steering rack at $2K then find I need a transmission next week. I'm choosing my battles wisely.

I did the diff fluid - It's an easy job. Drain plug is the lower one, refill through the upper plug. Attach a piece of hose to the top of the Mobil 1 90w gear oil bottle, and tuck the bottle up above the diff and squeeze! You'll use 1.5 bottles - Stop when the fluid starts to exit the filler hole. If you're careful, you won't spill a drop.

[Bayarea Q]

I think I'm going to do the diff myself. I'm far from a DIY, but I can do the oil.....would you say it's about the same degree of difficulty?what type of hose did you use to attach to the mobil 1 bottle?

Do I have to worry about any torque values when putting the plugs back in? Or just tighten real good?

[AZhitman]

Diff fluid is FAR easier than an oil change IMO. I didn't even jack the car up. Used a length of fuel line, but if I did it again I'd use some clear vinyl hose so I could see that delicious synthetic fluid coursing through to its destination.

Torque? Just snug 'em down, I marked mine with a crayon when I removed 'em and re-tightened them to where the marks re-aligned.

[Bayarea Q]

you da man....thanks Hitman!

[DAEDALUS]

Jeez, you could reach under there, remove and install the plugs and fill the diff *without* raising the car? And you're the same guy that cleans the inside of his plenum with his hands via the TB port, right? Limber timber! The rest of us only get 1 elbow per arm.

The NGK plugs have a crushable washer that swages (deforms) to properly seal and lock the plug in. Similar to the factory oil plug copper washer. Turn the plug down hand-tight and then wrench it in another 1/2 turn. If you remove the plug and put it back, turn it hand tight and then wrench it another 1/8 turn or so.

[AZhitman]

I'm skinny, what can I say?

[szh]

Nice to see there is another 95 west coaster here! Where abouts are you?

I live in San Jose (Evergreen valley, east of 101) and work on Winchester Blvd., south of Valley Fair Mall.Quote » Thanks for your relply....I have noticed my steering could be a little sloppy when entering corners. But I thought it was upper links / tension rods were the culpret. I sure hope I don't need a rack as well. I'm hoping it will be nice and tight Friday when all the tockio's go on with the above parts.....[/quote] That would be good. Since you are replacing shocks anyway, it is probably best to get that out of the way and see if it is sufficient! Why pay for more than you need to do?

I am working on trying to figure out how, when and where to get shocks and links done too. Most likely, will end up doing them myself ... soon, I hope. I have received encouragement from the folks here, and hope it is within my skill set. Quote » That's a great thought about the 90-91 Rack.....I to would opt for that if it fit.[/quote] I wish I had remembered to ask for it! I don't know if it fits - since I forgot to have it done (argh!), I did not bothered to ask later.Quote » Have you ever changed the diff fluid? [/quote] Yes. Did not do it myself, but had the dealer do it for me, not too long ago. I do not recall exactly when, but I vaguely seem to remember asking for it at the 90k mile service work.

Z