Steering Rack Mounts?
 

Has anyone had a problem with steering rack mounts? My recently was in an accident. I noticed the steering was a bit "off" and asked that they do an alignment. When I picked the car up I noticed the steering was VERY "off", I proceeded to ask about the problem and they explained that it was the steering rack mounts that were indeed bad. It just stood to reason for me that this was something damaged in the accident? Well I asked the mechanic and he explained that they were oil saturated there for they could not have been damaged in the accident? Does anyone know about them, their life expectancy, and the volitility in an accident?

Thanks!
-G

Most rubber items on vehicles are a synthetic composition, made from petrochemicals. When this type of 'rubber' comes in contact with oil the oil acts as a solvent and the 'rubber' begins to swell and deteriorate. (I'm no chemist, but I think I got the gist of it across...)

That being said, if you have any kind of oil leaking onto the bushings they will eventually disintegrate. This is the #1 cause of rack bushing failure, very few fail from other means. While nothing is impossible, it is highly unlikely that an accident had any effect on your bushings. Sorry...

thanks:)

with that being said is it feasible to just pull the rack and replace the bushings and seals and not have to pay for a new rack???thanks in advance