Actually it't the seal kit installation that is the PITA. I succeeded in
breaking the cylinder barrel locking ring on mine. And that little
sucker was  thin machined aluminum with about 5 threads in it. So
besides the kit that had to be installed, I had to take the ring to a
machine shop, have them weld it, then rethread the thing, before I could
finish the seal installation. Arrgh!! What a nightmare.

John

Mike Frost wrote:

>Thanks. I had a feeling this would be a PITA. Why should it be any different
>than say, the water pump? Or the fuel tank/hoses? etc.
>
>On 1/24/06, John Rodgers <inua@charter.net> wrote:
>
>
>>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
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
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