Rack and pinion replacement recommendation ?

[98 MERC]

I need a new one as mine is leaking.I am looking at buying one from Napa or autozone.Napa only has one brand while autozone has 2 brands.Anyone bought either kind from any of these stores ? Any good ?

 

[96eb96]

Napa is probably the lesser of evils but reman racks are a crapshoot. Motorcraft cost more for a reason. They likely cherry pick the best cores, and they keep in mind that comebacks to a dealer cost Ford money.

 

[CDW6212R]

Napa is probably the lesser of evils but reman racks are a crapshoot. Motorcraft cost more for a reason. They likely cherry pick the best cores, and they keep in mind that comebacks to a dealer cost Ford money.

I agree, as the cores become much older, the reman's are far more likely to have issues sooner versus newer parts. The Fox Mustang is a well known don't by a reman'd rack issue. Those old racks are almost all thoroughly worn out when they get turned in as cores.

 

[98 MERC]

How much are the ford racks ? I cant find any prices.I will probably go with a napa unit as i get 10% off.

 

[98 MERC]

I assume the more expensive the REMAN price the better the rack ? O reily has a higher price then napa on the REMAN racks.


http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/search/Rack+&+Pinion+Complete+Unit/02873/C0031.oap?keyword=steering+rack&year=1998&make=Mercury&model=Mountaineer&vi=1305212




https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NRP22234



Looks like the NAPA rack's are REMAN from CARDONE.I was told they are a terrible company for anything REMAN.I think i will try the O reily rack from ATLANTIC

 

[98 MERC]

Seems like a lot of toyota people like this company.

http://cvjaxles.com/

 

[rb142]

Reman racks are most likely going to be worse than what you have. If it's just a leaking seal, get a seal kit (about $20 from rockauto) and fix the one you have. Short of that, I'd get a Motorcraft for not that much more. The junk from the cheap rebuilders isn't worth the installation effort.