2004 Silverado Rack & Pinion: New Part Number.

The rack and pinion assembly on my 2004 Silverado started leaking and needed to be replaced at 6800 miles. While I wasn't particularly pleased to discover this problem, the dealer couldn't have been more helpful:

Thursday Sept. 9, the dealer confirmed the problem and ordered the part.

Friday Sept. 10, the part arrived from Reno.

Monday, Sept. 13, the dealer put me into a free rental truck while my truck had the new part installed and the wheels aligned. By 4:00 PM my truck was ready to take home.

At first, I was annoyed that the rack and pinion had failed so soon and caused me so much inconvenience. However, it turned out that I got a very nice upgrade out of the deal. The number of the original rack was #26091958 which has been discontinued and replaced with part #88963415. The parts manager told me that I was only the third person to require a replacement of the first part number and the first one to receive the new replacement part.

When I pulled out of the dealership and made the right turn onto the street, I noticed that the truck handled completely differently. The steering response was much quicker and the steering wheel did not require as much effort or as much rotation to make turns as before.

At first, I thought that the dealership had screwed up the wheel alignment, but I got the same effect when making left turns. At high speeds on the freeway, the truck now held the road better and the steering was much quicker, more responsive and more precise than before. On a winding road, the difference was immediately obvious; the truck felt more like a sports car and less like a truck. The turning was quicker and flatter than before. It was only after I got home and compared the repair orders that I noticed the difference in the part numbers.

So, have I just been upgraded to the new and improved steering that will be offered in the 2005 models? It's comforting to know that when the rack and pinion assembly starts leaking on your new, still under warranty truck that you will get a free upgrade to the new and improved rack.

Reply to
One-Shot Scot
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Hmmm, try to get them to replace a fuel sensor......

V.B.

Reply to
vb

I know what you mean, particularly if a component exhibits intermittent failure and requires a diagnosis.

Total component failure is what dealerships prefer. If I had gone into the dealership complaining about moans and groans in the steering with intermittent loss power assist, the dealership would tell me that this is all part of normal operation.

But fluid leaking from every seal in a Rack & Pinion assembly is a component failure that is beyond dispute.

No diagnosis needed. This is a dealer's dream come true.

Reply to
One-Shot Scot

With all those leaks it was a genuine wet dream

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Reply to
Obbop

If that's the case, that's awesome to hear. I'll go buy myself one.

I'm running some custom specs for my alignment to help tighten up the steering in my '04 Silverado SS. More Caster definitely helps, but it's still not great.

-marc

Reply to
Marc Westerlind

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