GMC power steering rack and pinion systems are built too light, and accumulate residue and debris that wears the internal valves and increases stress on the steering columns.
I recc. having the system power flushed every 75,000 to 100,000 km to save an expensive repair. Meanwhile , minimize dry steers ( vehicle not moving) and full stop to stop turns.
the upside is that estate sales have many of these vehicles with low mileage. Just replaced my1999 Malibu with a 1999 lumina- 1,295.00 USD, with 72,000 km ( 43,500 miles.)
You have to baby the systems. I learned this the hard way with the Malibu.
Update from Sep 26, 2019: the lumina suspension may require more frequent tie rod end replacement- given the commonality with the Malibu suspension and the frequency of the failures of the steering rack and pinion systems
an hours hoist time, to check for play in your front wheels, and to check for cracks and sealing concerns in the inner and outer tie rods, can save you an expensive road failure.
My idea is to baby any expensive to replace component, by more frequent replacement of components that can stress the central power steering systems.
Update from Sep 27, 2019: also: Check your ball joints at least twice a year, at the same time that you check your tie rod ends. Please, people, get them changed BEFORE you have more serious steering failures. a stitch in time saves nine.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
GMC power steering rack and pinion systems are built too light, and accumulate residue and debris that wears the internal valves and increases stress on the steering columns.
I recc. having the system power flushed every 75,000 to 100,000 km to save an expensive repair. Meanwhile , minimize dry steers ( vehicle not moving) and full stop to stop turns.
the upside is that estate sales have many of these vehicles with low mileage. Just replaced my1999 Malibu with a 1999 lumina- 1,295.00 USD, with 72,000 km ( 43,500 miles.)
You have to baby the systems. I learned this the hard way with the Malibu.
Update from Sep 26, 2019: the lumina suspension may require more frequent tie rod end replacement- given the commonality with the Malibu suspension and the frequency of the failures of the steering rack and pinion systems
an hours hoist time, to check for play in your front wheels, and to check for cracks and sealing concerns in the inner and outer tie rods, can save you an expensive road failure.
My idea is to baby any expensive to replace component, by more frequent replacement of components that can stress the central power steering systems.
Update from Sep 27, 2019: also: Check your ball joints at least twice a year, at the same time that you check your tie rod ends. Please, people, get them changed BEFORE you have more serious steering failures. a stitch in time saves nine.
- Reg S., Calgary, Alberta, Canada