DIY Power Steering Rack and Pinion 2006 Chrysler Town and Country

[@mostlymoparih5682]

Good video. I replaced the rack on my 01 T&C. I did it without removing the cradle. To remove the lines I removed the charcoal canister. I took off both outer tie rods before removing the rack and pull the rack out on the passenger side. My son helped me finagle it out but after seeing what was needed to get it out, I was able to do it alone. Happy Motoring.

[@MrMattDat]

WHAT A VIDEO!!! Changing out the high pressure line on my 2005 SXT was just about the worst experience ever! I never thought of accessing through the floor!

[@justcallmeboats]

Thank You!! I have found that going through the floor for those lines is way easier than dropping the cradle. The trick is not tightening the rack to the body until after getting those lines attached and tight. Otherwise, there isn't very much room to move a wrench around. Thanks for watching!

[@MrMattDat]

@@justcallmeboats I found no way at all to get the lines re-installed (and removal was indeed a nightmare). The van still sits and now it has a ray of hope to come back!

[@tomblobasjamesc.mccollum1740]

Thanks for sharing this fun adventure with us, it was helpful for those like myself facing this common and soon coming repair. Some vehicles are easier and can come out without removing the subframe or plates ect... Your puppy is awesome!

[@justcallmeboats]

Thank You! I'm glad that I could give you a little insight to what you could be facing when doing yours. A shop near my house was trying to charge me a bit over $800.00 to do this repair. My cost was around $300.00. I bought the part cheaper than this guy was going to charge me for it and he refuses to install customer supplied parts. I wonder why???? I used to work in a transmission shop when I was just a young lad. I know how this stuff works and I wasn't going to allow this guy to make hundreds of dollars profit off of my bank account. Thus, the reason for starting this channel. My puppy IS awesome! She is actually a fully certified service dog. She loves her Kong disc and I love that she unknowingly gets exercise while playing.

[@zwddl]

Great video❤ How many litres of fluid you put in at the end please?

[@justcallmeboats]

The entire system holds approximately 1.2 Litres of ATF+4 transmission fluid. So, make sure that you have that and a little bit more in case of air being trapped in the system as well as for any potential leaks.

[@zwddl]

@@justcallmeboats Thanks a lot👍

[@keithbyrd7989]

I, unfortunately, had to do this repair previously on my van as well. I thought a refresher would be a good idea. For the bolt close to the pinion shaft, I ended up using a ' crows foot' wrench and that really helped resolve the clearance issue.

[@justcallmeboats]

You say, unfortunately, I hope that it went well for you. I lost all of my crows foot wrenches when I moved here. I did break those lines loose with a line wrench, then finished removing them with a regular open end wrench. This was the second time I had done this job, but the first time, I made a video on it. The first time, I removed the lines from underneath, and it took forever. I hope that my video helped you out in some way. Thanks for watching!

[@izzycamaro]

GREAT job Boats. I really appreciate your effort to make this video. have a wonderful day

[@justcallmeboats]

Thanks! I hope that this video helped you out in some way. Thanks for watching!

[@gabrieleporter7059]

I was hoping to see how to remove that bolt and nut holding the rack right at the steering connection. No room to get a box wrench on the nut on the top. Only thing holding me up now.

[@justcallmeboats]

Are you referring to the bolt holding the steering shaft together inside? Or, the 21mm nut/bolt nearest to the shaft that holds the rack onto the the bottom side of the van? If it is the 21mm one, you can access it from the backside of the aluminum cradle. It is very difficult to see so you have to basically do it by feel. The angled box end of a wrench should have just enough room to squeeze over the top of the nut and them remove the bolt through the bottom. I didn't show that in the video because it can't really be seen with the naked eye let alone the camera but I did mention how to remove/replace it through commentary. I hope that this helps you. I know that this isn't the easiest repair that you could ever do on one of these vans and I wish you the best.

[@gabrieleporter7059]

@@justcallmeboats Thanks, I must have missed it in the commentary with the grandkids in the background. I can squeeze a short socket on it and do have a pivoting rachet. It might just work. Thank you. I have also found my set of stubble box wrenches.

[@kdeh21803]

Where you able to find a replacement boot? I have been unable to find a replacement.....where??

[@justcallmeboats]

Sorry, no, I wasn't able to track one down, and even the vans that I looked in at the junkyard had the same issue. I didn't think to check out the local Chrysler dealer, but if it's available from them, it's not going to be cheap. Thanks for watching

[@shanazhosein3838]

Hope you still have your van. Mine has over 400k and I don't want to junk it

[@justcallmeboats]

I do still have my van. It's around 326,000 miles right now and still a daily driver. Unfortunately, Michigan winter weather is beginning to take a toll on the body but it keeps on running. I'll drive this until it's no longer safe to. Then I'll patch it up and drive it some more! Thanks for watching!

[@Rphillyink]

Thanks for the Video

[@justcallmeboats]

You're very welcome! I hope that this helped you in some way.

[@ethad-sh8xx]

Thanks for the video. Do you happen to have o ring part number? Thx

[@justcallmeboats]

Thanks for watching! Sorry, I do not have the part number for the O-Rings. Generally, the steering rack comes with new O-Rings in the box. If you need new ones you can always take the old ones to a parts store and they should be able to help you out with new ones.

[@aartmark]

Have you ever had a TPM problem with that van? I have a 2005 and once in a while if it's rainy or if I've driven through a puddle the TPM will get wet and the wipers and the headlights and dashboard lights will go wacky. When this happens I spray out the underneath of the fuse box very thoroughly with non lubricant contact cleaner with the battery unhooked. Then wait about 20 minutes and the hook it back up. That works for until it does it again. But you never know when it might happen. It can be dangerous. I've looked into a replacement TPM but they don't make them any more that my vehicle. Do you know of a more permanent fix? Thanks.

[@justcallmeboats]

Yes, I have had issues with my TPM. I had to replace it a few years back. Mine had collected a ton of salt and water in it from Michigan winter driving. The salt had caused so much corrosion that it had literally eaten some of the connectors off the bottom of it. I grabbed one out of the junkyard and threw it in. I was lucky that the one I grabbed worked with zero issues. That is until one winter we had blowing snow and the snow impacted the engine compartment and the problems came back. Luckily, the problems went away after it had dried out and there wasn't any corrosion this time. What I did to resolve this problem was to make sure everything was clean and then I applied dielectric grease to all of the plugs and exposed areas where water could get in. It has been several years since I did that and I haven't anymore issues. I re-check it periodically to make sure there is still grease covering everything. I'm not saying that this is the correct thing to do, or even if it's the smartest thing to do, but it worked for me. Don't over do it though. If you go to a website called Car-part.com and put your vehicle info into the search box it will give you a listing of every junkyard in your area and beyond that has the parts that you're looking for. Good luck in your repair and Thanks For Watching!

[@aartmark]

Thanks for the info. I also live in Michigan. Our salty winters sure do eat up vehicles. After watching your video changing the rack and pinion I now know why garages charge $900 - $1,200 to do that job. Yikes.@@justcallmeboats

[@Carlos-vu6ei]

Nice video sr ... Inspirational and safety

[@justcallmeboats]

Your Welcome! Safety is the very most important part of working under a vehicle. I was a witness to failing jack stands on a neighbors vehicle. That mini van crashed to the ground in literally a blink of the eye. Luckily he had just crawled out from under it moments before the collapse. Two or three more seconds and it would have crushed him. You can never be to cautious! Thanks for watching!

[@abitoffblacksmithing9985]

Getting ready to change out mine today . I have an all wheel drive so I believe there is another couple of steps such as the drive shaft to the rear. My question is other videos show removing part of the emissions system, is that necessary? New subscriber by the way ! This is the most informative one I have seen. Thank you for putting this out there!!!

[@justcallmeboats]

Thanks for subscribing! The disconnecting of the emissions system was not necessary when I did my repair other than the couple of bolts that held the vacuum canister in place. Those bolts were attached to the reinforcement plate. I try to include as much information in my videos so that my viewers know what they're getting into. The hardest part of this repair is getting the power steering lines back into the new rack without stripping the threads. Doing this part is easier from the top as you have a lot more wiggle room for your hand. Make sure that you tie your steering wheel in place before disconnecting the linkage so that you don't risk damage to your clock spring. Good luck with your repair.

[@abitoffblacksmithing9985]

@@justcallmeboats i emailed you my progress! Thanks again!!

[@NYSIXFIFTH]

Thanks for the safety bonus points sir.

[@justcallmeboats]

Your Welcome! Thank you for your kind words! Safety should always be a first consideration when it comes to working around any vehicle. I have seen jack stands collapse under a vehicle. My neighbor had just gotten out from under it when it happened. You can never be to careful.

[@stefanosmelissourgos2852]

Thanks mate

[@justcallmeboats]

You're very welcome. I hope that this helped you!

[@jose-eh8hb]

Excelente! Good Job!

[@justcallmeboats]

Thank You! This repair is fairly easy once you get past the power steering line situation. Thanks For Watching!

[@janvan31166]

Well done.

[@justcallmeboats]

Thank You!

[@maribelperez3597]

Thanks Sr good información

[@justcallmeboats]

I am glad that I could help out! Thanks for watching!

[@222valas]

About how much time for this job? Looking at about 6 hours or so?

[@justcallmeboats]

Shane, In all it took me around 7 hours as I recall. I didn't really time how long it took me but if I recall correctly, it was around seven hours or so.

[@222valas]

@@justcallmeboats thx boss

[@bobbyriggs9470]

Just a question where do the the high pressure or low pressure lines go is the top high pressure and the bottom port low? On the rack Thanks in advance

[@justcallmeboats]

I believe that the high pressure line is the lower hose on the steering rack and is an 18mm bolt. The fittings on the rack and hoses are different sizes and will only go in the appropriate holes.

[@izzynutz2000]

I'm getting ready to do the same thing on my 2006 Chrysler Town and Country put on a cheerier note looks like you're a Navy man do you know that there is an organization PT boats Incorporated out of Memphis Tennessee which were the old Patrol torpedo boats during WWII they have a museum in Fall River Massachusetts and one in Memphis the founder of the organization was a man named Boats Newberry when he passed away he made my father successor and president of the PT Boat organization he was president from the late 70s to the early to the mid-90s when Alzheimer took ahold of him was just wondering if you knew that tidbit of information great video I'll subscribe and watch for more

[@justcallmeboats]

I hope you got through that repair well. Yes, I am a retired Navy man. I am a Boatswains Mate, and I retired after 20 years of active duty.I was not aware of that organization, but it sounds interesting. Thanks for sharing that with me, and thanks for watching!

[@SDPP992]

Good video..I hope I don't have to take that stupid plate off and do without..

[@justcallmeboats]

Michael, Thank you for your comment! Unfortunately, I don't think that you can gain good access to the steering rack without removing that plate. After removal, you have to re-install it due to it being part of the suspension system as it holds the rear joint of the lower control arm to the body as well as reinforces the sub-frame. Also, without that plate you run the risk of the aluminum sub-frame (that holds the engine and transmission in the van) from cracking and breaking. I performed this repair showing that simple hand tools can be used to do it. You could get a cheap impact driver from say Walmart (not endorsed) to speed up the job. Good luck on your repair!

[@SDPP992]

@@justcallmeboats yeah I actually just got done replacing this transmission and did it without removing the frame, but looks like I'm not going to get away with it this time lol, I'll give it a go, thanks again

[@justcallmeboats]

@@SDPP992 You're very welcome!

[@ExtremeRecluse]

What this guy wouldn't do for a hydraulic lift

[@justcallmeboats]

I would love one but I have to have a building to put it in first... Someday...