drive a 355 GTS... i notice a small stain puddle about 3 cm in diameter on my garage floor couple of weeks ago....near my left rear wheel... i brought it into the dealer's for a check, my mechanic told me that the steering rack is leaking due to wear and tear and i need to replace it..... i was told that it will probably cost about $3000 USD !!! without labor charges , it has to be replaced and can't really be repaired ! anyone there has an experience or similar problem with a 355 steering rack? ..... the leak kinda of stopped i think as the stain remains kinda the same for a few weeks and i don not experience any probelms during my driving.... just wish for some advice out there.... can i leave it alone or do i need to attend to it on a urgent basis ? do i HAVE to change it or wait till it really breaks ? consequences of that ? should i source for a second hand one or just get a brand new one ? am i overcharged for it? any alternatives out there or cheaper solutions ? any help will be greatly appreciated !! thanx
Well I have been a 355 owner for quite some time - and also a member here for awhile as well... I can say that this is the first time I have heard of a Steering rack problem... Since this is a new territory and all - did he say what the problem was with the steering assist? I am not sure who you took it too - I would be inclined to get a second opinion... Do you have someone who specializes in Power Steering in your area - not necessarily a F-mechanic. I would go on a limb here but I think that someone who specializes in this type of thing would be ok to at least have a look - to see if it could be fixed, rebuilt, etc. Saturdays and Sundays are a little slow on F-chat - give it a day or so and let some of the expert mechanics sound in - the would probably give better advice - but this is my 2 cents... Rich
Had mine replaced last year for 2,100 plus labor. Around 3,000 all together. Same exact symptom, puddle on the floor. Seems to me these could be rebuilt. Since with only 10,000 miles on my car it shouldn't have been worn out. Probably was just the seals anyway stan
BTW, those prices seem about right....(reasonable)...my dad had to replace the steering rack (power assisted) on his Lexus ES300 and it cost $3000 with labor and alignment.
I replaced several 355 racks. IIRC they were all under warranty. I will say the 355 is the worst Ferrari labor wise to put a rack in. If it becomes a common problem I would look into finding a source for seals to fix them myself. My own experience with rebuilt racks is every one I have installed I had to do again at least once, several more than once. Many never made it off the hoist, so I just say no to rebuilt racks. I have lost more money than I will ever be able to make up but more importantly steering is the most important control system and I will not take chances with it.
FWIW - The rack in my Mercedes went too -- probably just one silly seal. Cost $4K at the dealer to have replaced. I don't think the 355 price seems too outrageous, considering the labor involved. If I'm reading my Service Time software properly, replacing the rack on a 355F1 is north of 8 hours worth of labor. -Daniel
Funny Brian, when I needed a new rack for my 328, both the alignment shop, and the independant Ferrari shop I was working with, recommended a new rack over a rebuild (when available). I got beat up by several on the list here, stating that the shops were just trying to rip me off, and that they were not competent enough to stand behind their work, and that a rebuild should be as good as a new one. My mechanic said that my likely problem is a bushing, but since the units are usually "exchange" there is no telling how many miles were on the one I get in return. Though it may get a new bushing, boots and tie rod ends, no telling how much wear there may be on the rack and pinon itself. BTW, new rack from Ferrari UK $800, install and alignment another $300 or so.
It becomes a very different situation when it is either your money or reputation at stake. Not to mention the liability. If I don't have confidence in a part or component I don't use it, that simple. No one pays me to redo work over a faulty part and if I used it in a misguided effort to save some money now where are we? And if I give you the choice with you taking the liability and the job goes south, everybody is unhappy anyway. You lose customers that way, been there. In the case of a steering rack if the worst happens and you have an accident as a result of the part, if it is a genuine F part and I did not install it wrong I can point you in the direction of FNA. The vast majority of the clients I have had over the years have in common the primary interest of keeping their Ferrari as reliable as possible. Most of them are very busy people and have little time to go play. If on the one weekend of the month they have free they go to the garage to take the Ferrari out and it breaks, that kind of ruins the whole idea of having a Ferrari. It is my job to prevent that to whatever degree is possible and that is not generally the cheapest way to go.
