I've done it both ways.

At this point in time I recommend the complete replacement route. If you
get one from  Ron Salmon at Bus Depot or Ken Wilford at Vanagain.com ,
and probably any of the other vendors, it will come ready to install and
with a very good warranty. All ya gotta do is swap them. You will in all
probablility have to have the front end aligned. The first one I did
myself, including installing  the seal kit. This was on my 85 GL. What a
PITA. The next time, not long ago, on my 88 GL I hired it done. Many
reasons - getting old being one - not as flexible as I used to be,
joints complain loudly getting under, while under, and getting out from
under the old van.

Replenish the system with Dextron II/III  ATF. If you hire the job done,
be sure your instruct the mechanic on what to use. He may try to use
regular power steering fluid, which is a no-no and may seriously damage
the system.

Good luck.

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver

Mike Frost wrote

>My '86 GL started losing power steering fluid from the end of the valve
>where it connects to the steering gear. There are seal kits available for
>less than $100.00 and rebuilt steering racks for around $325.00.
>
>Has anyone rebuilt the rack using one of these seal kits?
>
>Would I be better off just replacing the rack with a rebuilt one?
>
>Does replacing the rack require a front end alignment?
>
>I'm not interested in switching to the manual rack.
>
>Mike
>
>
>
>