# Mechanics: Broken Rack and Pinion **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 25, 2013, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanics-broken-rack-and-pinion/664461 "2013-07-25T06:28:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![IceQube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@IceQube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IceQube)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanics-broken-rack-and-pinion/664461/1 "2013-07-25T06:28:13Z")
Is it dangerous to drive around with a broken rack and pinion? How much would it cost for it to be repaired? I have a 1999 Toyota Sienna. ---
**Author:** ![simple\_homer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@simple\_homer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simple_homer)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanics-broken-rack-and-pinion/664461/2 "2013-07-25T07:33:41Z")
> [@IceQube](#): > > Is it dangerous to drive around with a broken rack and pinion? > > How much would it cost for it to be repaired? > > I have a 1999 Toyota Sienna. Probably . In what way is it broken ? ---
**Author:** ![snailboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/97f17d/32.png) [@snailboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snailboy)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanics-broken-rack-and-pinion/664461/3 "2013-07-25T08:37:27Z")
The rack and pinion is used for steering. You didn’t say how it’s broken, but if it goes out completely, it won’t be a good day for you. I had one go out one time and I was fortunate that I was doing about 30 mph and the vehicle steered itself to the right where there wasn’t a ditch. It’s easy to imagine how that could’ve been worse. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanics-broken-rack-and-pinion/664461/4 "2013-07-25T09:24:21Z")
> [@IceQube](#): > > Is it dangerous to drive around with a broken rack and pinion? YES > [@](#): > > How much would it cost for it to be repaired? > > I have a 1999 Toyota Sienna. More than a few hundred, less than a few thousand. ---
**Author:** ![JerrySTL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanics-broken-rack-and-pinion/664461/5 "2013-07-25T13:02:46Z")
In general: YES! It’s probably dangerous. However how exactly is it broken? A small leak? A large leak? One wheel turns but the other doesn’t? Inquiring minds want to know. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanics-broken-rack-and-pinion/664461/6 "2013-07-25T15:15:52Z")
“Broken” is a useless, essentially meaningless, term in this context. If the rack and pinion were truly broken I’d expect a symptom so severe that no one would consider driving the car. So please, what exactly is the problem? What symptom(s) are you observing? Has it been inspected and evaluated by a repair shop? If so, what did they say about it? If the rack and pinion assembly does need to be replaced, I’d expect it to run in the 800-2000 range, depending on exactly what was needed and where it was done. ---
**Author:** ![IceQube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@IceQube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IceQube)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanics-broken-rack-and-pinion/664461/7 "2013-07-26T18:48:45Z")
The car handles fine under all conditions. The mechanic said the rack-and-pinion was affecting the steering. The mechanic aligned the car but we kept noticing a moderate right-ward pull and after further inspection, the mechanic found that the bushings on the rack and pinion had worn out. Is this dangerous? ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanics-broken-rack-and-pinion/664461/8 "2013-07-26T18:57:17Z")
That’s much better info. Worn bushings are not generally a huge deal. I say not generally because usually you notice it and have them replaced before they fail. It usually takes a little while for it to fail completely but you really don’t want to push it that far, a failed bushing at high speed will not be a good experience. You’re probably OK limping it to the shop but I wouldn’t be driving it regularly. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanics-broken-rack-and-pinion/664461/9 "2013-07-26T18:58:34Z")
> [@IceQube](#): > > The car handles fine under all conditions. The mechanic said the rack-and-pinion was affecting the steering. The mechanic aligned the car but we kept noticing a moderate right-ward pull and after further inspection, the mechanic found that the bushings on the rack and pinion had worn out. > > Is this dangerous? I assume the bushings that connect the rack to the whatever wheel acuator is there. It’s dangerous because the joint is wearing rapidly and will eventually break.