My first post - thanks in advance forum members for reading.
The power steering rack has been leaking for a couple of months. I removed it last weekend and bought a $40 seal kit. Dismantling the rack has been a chore as the rack is not just stratightforward nuts and bolts. At the moment I cannot remove the rack from the cast housing - some special tool needed - like a socket with four round pins. It has been recommended to me not to proceed with the rebuild, but to spend $200 on an exchange unit. I would like to get some of the forum members opinions on the wisdom or stupidity of dismantling and rebuilding the rack as opposed to buying one and bolting it on. Cheers. RicT

Not worth the hassle of taking the thing apart and re-building. This way it is just "plug and play". Plus you get a warranty

think i read that post? ... and i think it was grumps [SWC]?? who mentioned grabbing the exchange unit ,,, i'd go with the exchange as he said if you don't know what ya doing with it

If you're doing only the one, go a reco unit.
Otherwise you'll need to make up some special tools - needlenose pliers and vicegrips for the passenger side seal retainer, a hex socket for the rack preload to pinion. The five teflon rings need to be stretched and compressed when fitted, you can do them without the special tools, but it is an art, and if you damage one, you'll need to buy another complete seal kit.

Unless you have the tools and the skills, go with the exchange unit.

Some guys on here, like Snap, have the skills to do the job.

With the exchange unit you get warranty, as creeture3 has stated.

Thank you all for your good advice. A reco unit it is. In the future, I am going to obtain an old rack from a wrecker and build the tools required to dismantle and rebuild the unit. I have two old Fords (EL and NF) and a good workshop (drill press, lathe, fly press, mig welder, grinders) at my disposal - but I don't want to do all this while the car is on stands in the driveway. Thanks guys - much appreciated.

great idea!
this way if you stuff the old rack up it dont matter!