Greetings TL-ers,
I'm fixing my mom and dads 2004 Acura TL.
I has a leaky rack and pinion (both sides. drivers side boot torn)
I will be replacing front and rear engine mounts as well (I replaced top right last year)
I will replace lower compliance bushings. I will inspect upper arms too once I have a closer look.
Original inspection was done up on a rack at a local shop and they were in a hurry.

Rack and pinion has to come out - $400 labor. I don't really have the flat space to do this job.
I can do the bushings but..
Question: These are hard times to be throwing money at repairs. Have any of you had success with R&P rebuilders like Steering Pros (dot com), or say A1 Cardone or any aftermarket "new" R&P manufacturers?
Curious to know if any of you have had good luck and what your experience has been. There are massive fluctuations in the pricing.

Also If I go OEM, what parts will need to come off the old core? Is there a core charge or a way to turn the old core into $$ afterwards?

Thank you for any help.

 

When I bought my OEM new rack there was not a core charge, since it is new (not reman). However being new I did have to buy new inner tire rods and dust boot, all new rack come as "short rack" and I was intended to replaced everything anyway. If you buy aftermarket you will get the "long rack" which included the inner tire rods. I never trust the aftermarket with steering rack so I can't say much about aftermarket.

 

I'm hoping to reuse the inner tie rods. Is that possible?