Get the Best Priced Dodge Dakota Steering Rack

The steering rack on a pickup truck can take quite a beating. It is a complex system that must respond precisely to every motion of the steering wheel. When steering rack problems occur, it can seriously impede the control you have over the vehicle. The rack is connected to both front wheels and turns them left or right. It has many parts. Inspecting the rack and pinion for trouble can avoid many issues, and at the very least keep your truck running as you expect it to.

Signs Your Steering Rack Has Seen Better Days

If you have to constantly correct the direction your truck is traveling, yet have not intentionally made a turn, the rack and pinion replacement cost may be on your mind. Wandering may signal a need for an alignment. When it happens at low and high speeds, and there's lots of tire wear, the steering rack is often the reason. Poor steering response at certain wheel positions also indicate a problem. A shaky steering wheel is a cause for suspicion as are leaks in power steering fluid. Another cause for concern is noise; knocking, thudding, and clunking sounds are characteristic of issues within the steering rack.

What Is a Steering Rack on a Car?

The steering rack is an interconnected mechanism that links your steering wheel with the front wheels. There are shafts, U-joints, and a pinion. This pinion pushes the steering rack in either direction based on the input. A pinion is a linear gear that turns the circular motion of turning the wheel into side to side motion needed to steer the vehicle. Every time you turn the steering wheel, hydraulic fluid is pumped in to make the wheel easier to turn. Hoses, seals, and o-rings are therefore needed as part of the hydraulic system. A damaged rack often leaks because of this complex system of hydraulics, and is usually replaced rather than attempting Dodge Dakota rack and pinion seal replacement.

How Much Is a New Steering Rack?

A Dodge Dakota rack and pinion leak should be checked out right away. It is one of the earliest signs of failure, so you can potentially get to the shop before more serious problems start. Replacing the steering rack in a 2006 Dodge Dakota is $771 to $915. Labor can account for as much as nearly $250 of that. You'll get a new rack plus power steering fluid, and most likely an alignment. The job will resolve your Dodge Dakota rack and pinion problems, although set you back financially. If the cost is a concern, parts from online suppliers are generally less. To make Dodge Dakota steering rack replacement less of a shock, go to PartsGeek.com to get the most substantial savings. Selling auto parts and accessories exclusively on the Internet allows us to reduce prices because we save on running our business. Passing on these savings to customers is part of our business model. In turn, you get to repair and maintain your vehicle for much less.