Hey I would get that HFT tool for $50 but I don't think it's worth $90. Here's an equvalent KD tool for $75 (Taiwan, maybe it's the same foundry as the HFT Tool):

http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/KD-41690.html

With the other responses about an old car being a manageable expense if you do your own work, I would like to add that it's optimal if nobody ever did major repairs on the vehicle, or crashed it, before you get your hands on it.

$1600 doesn't sound horrible for a major cut, weld, and paint, did you get a new windshield with that also? What shop did the welding work for you, how did you find them, and are you happy with their work?

The steering rack leak presents you with an opportunity to rebuild the rack, check for worn joints, hoses, replace seals and fluid, and never worry about steering until your yearly general inspection. At least this is one area there will be no more surprises from, hopefully, you have time for this and enjoy this as a hobby.

Check with Autozone and see if they have the tool. With a small deposit they will let you use the tools fer free. You git yer deposit back when you return the tools. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

already did that. autozone doesn't have it for rent. went to autozone, oreillys, advance auto parts, and sears, none of them even have it for sale on their tool isle. had to order it from a place online this morning.

i guess i'll have to get a reman'd rack too, since i guess its not supposed to be leaking power steering fluid into the tie rod boots in the first place <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

The type I use is the type in the lower left of that Harbor Freight kit picture. That one seems more common at the parts stores...

If you only paid $2500 for it two years and 40K ago, I'd say you already go your money's worth out of it. Walk away from it if you aren't mechanically inclined and don't enjoy working on it and get something with fewer miles.

You can reman the rack yourself, the FSM has the process and an exploded diagram; you can probably guess from looking at it which end seal/o-ring is leaking.

It looks like a press is handy... back to harbor freight, their 20 ton press has served me well.

yeah but then I have to buy a special tool to take off the inner tie rods. and the seal kit is $80. and for the price of the 20-ton press, I can just buy a reman'd rack. then just take out the old one, put in the new one, and get an alignment.

That's probably easiest. I thought the special tool for the tie rod ends was just a wrench. I hope you get a good reman, hopefully it will last forever.

yeah I got the ball joints popped with a pitman arm popper. one of the ball joint boots is torn from when i was whacking it with a pickle fork. so i will need to get an outer tie rod end. i have the reman'd p/s rack on order from advance autoparts. should be here this afternoon or tomorrow they said. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />