2008 Jeep Patriot Rack and Pinion

donleschyshyn@gmail.com · Feb 27, 2019

Hey everyone, I have a 2008 Jeep Patriot limited 4x4 that's been nothing but a pain since I've owned it (bought it 2011).

I live in a very cold winter climate area and I'm currently on rack 3, about to be rack 4. (Only 165k on the car itself).

I was just curious, trying to be saved from another $1000 repair bill, can I just get a seal replacement kit and do the seals or is it better to just put in another rack?

Terasec · Feb 28, 2019

majority of cost in R&P is labor in removal/installation,
will still have that cost doing a seal kit
first have to check whats wrong with the rack?
if its inner tie rods, could get away with just replacing inner tie rods,
if its gearbox, might as well replace it
cost of a replacement rack and pinion assembly is about $150
labor is about $300-$400
if your getting $1000 cost from dealer, shop around local mechanics
you also should not be on 3-4 racks at 165k miles
diagnosis might have been wrong,
or problem is not rack itself
I am on my second at 215k miles

donleschyshyn@gmail.com · Mar 1, 2019

I have a friend who is a mechanic so my labor costs this time are going to be low. Also, I live in Canada so a rack for me costs $300 or the seal kit is $30.

Anyways the first 2 replacements were under warranty.
Bought the car in Feb of 2011. January of 2011 my power steering was leaking, brought it into the dealership for the warranty work and they replaced the rack.

Then it lasted a year and feb 2012 it went again, luckily RIGHT before warranty expired. So got it replaced again, which is the rack I currently have.

Moved to a warmer climate province and it lasted from 2012 till I moved back this year and this winter broke it yet again.

Is there any special tools needed to change out the seals?
or would it just be less hassle to replace the whole rack?

2008 Jeep Patriot Rack and Pinion

donleschyshyn@gmail.com

Terasec

donleschyshyn@gmail.com

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