Steering Rack Install and Home "Alignment" - 1990 Saab 900

After pulling out the steering rack and rebuilding it, it's time to put it back in the car and hope it works.
For another first for me, I try to a basic alignment just to get the wheels aligned well enough to get it to an actual alignment specialist.
As much as I want to say this is the end of the steering saga, a few days after finishing the install, the steering started leaking again...
Read more about it here: jamesgregorysa...

[@saabahed2667]

Hello.
You got it back together, and it works - Success!
Thank you for sharing.

[@stephenmorrissey1254]

10:55 I started laughing at the frustration I have with working on cars.
I really appreciate you putting these videos up. So car repair videos show smooth sailing and unrealistic timelines.

[@76-UVB]

The older style racks have the two steel tubes from the rack itself on the outboard side of the rack (the wheel side) and the two lines from the pump and reservoir to the inboard side.
So instead of having four lines coming out of the inboard side ( like yours) they have two lines on opposite sides of the pinion housing.

[@1873Winchester]

How's the power steering after that ATF? It's supposed to be murder on the seals. What you want is any hydraulic oil that's ISO 32. 6 euros for a liter can here.

[@morganmcdonagh2663]

i think a more accurate way of home alignment is to use a piece of string as a plumb line aligned to the rear wheels. I.E the string is set in such a way it touches the side walls of the rear tyre parallel to the ground. extend the string to the front tyre and then you can see how straight the front wheels are compared to the rears. It will be also obvious if the rear wheels are not straight as they will not be plumb to the front wheels no matter what direction you turn the front wheel. they should be plumb if they are straight.

[@jamesgregory6903]

I totally agree with you. If my garage wasn't the size of a shoebox, I probably would have done it that way. That method (to me) seems easier then what I did.

[@barenekid9695]

Frankly Zip ties are at least as good if Not better than those metal strap bands. I've been Using zip ties on Saabs fdor ~30 years with Zero problems.
Just because "it Ain't what Granpapa used" doesn't mean it's not better.
IF concerned, as on a CV joint ....fit two ties with their connector ends at 180 degrees .. to balance.

[@barenekid9695]

Number stamped on the Preload adjust Identifies the Rack (in Workshop Manual)
I fitted a BBB /Cardone Rem rack just last week..
It Pissed out the entire Reservoir after 20 Miles use.
Rock Auto is Utterly useless refering me to BBB for waranty And BBB refers me to Rock Auto as they can't (won't ??) waranty it..
A Shit Show basically. I now have a brand new useless rack and NO $$ /recourse.
AVOID both those places.,