Hours for Pwr Steering Rack

Any idea on garage hours for changing steering rack assembly, pwr steering pump seems fine. Just wonder what mechanic's labor time to expect, on 2000 Grand Am 6cyl coupe. Thinking of buying used part and having installed.

Thank You,

 

I'm guessing the rack is leaking?

Wild guess, couple of hours labor; maybe as many as three depending on what all is in the way, so you're probably looking at about $150-200 in labor depending on the labor rates in your area. I would think real hard about using a used unit and check to see what the parts houses (NAPA, CarQuest, etc) are getting for one. You wouldn't want to pay the labor again to get a bad used one replaced again even if the supplier replaced the part for free, and, of course, the garage is not going to warranty the work on a used rack.

 

I worked for a short time for a foreign car shop where the owner insisted on useing salvage take offs for replacement steering racks on honda's. I finally refused to do any more honda's unless new was installed, because on 3 different cars the salvage racks were as bad as the one's we pulled out and I had to eat the labor for r&r of the second one. useually about 3 hrs.

life begins when the kids leave home and the dog dies

 

book calls for 2.5 hours to replace compleet asy.

 

Thanks, Doc; I'm a pretty good guesser today.

 

Rack is not leaking, last year we replaced pwr steering pump, used, and the "cut-out" effect of the pwr steering was gone for a while, usually on intermitent left turns, occasionally right turns. Then problem became more pronounced. We didnt hav it professionally checkd. Just assumed our used part might still be problem or the rack & pinion. Son has been living with it that way, didn't bother him much, high school and a few miles here and there, not much driving in his schedule. Now he wants to sell, prospect buyer took it to asme? shop and they say its the rack?

Thanks so much for your input , that helps us decide what he wants to do to sell it, great car other than this problem. I'm thinking for quick sale, he should fix it, or of course drop price considerably, he's looking to get $3000, we'll see. (134kmiles)