Today, I decided to finally replace the control arms on my '92 GXE. This is because I was told why I couldn't pull the axel on the passenger side, so I decided that I'd finish my CV rebuild as well...

I went under the car and noticed alot of mess. Some of it from the grease from the torn CV boots, but then I also realized that the ball joint boot was also torn...

As I pulled the tie rod end off the knuckle, I realized that the steering rack boot on the passenger side is completely torn in two pieces!

I have few questions that need advice...

How hard is it to replace the steering rack? If I have done struts, CV axel re-build, and am courageous enough to currently have the right control arm off (to replace it), do you think I am crazy enough to be able to pull it off?

Second question. I noticed tranny fluid on the botton of the engine (I suppose it's the gasket, because it's leaking from the seam just behind the tranny drain plug). There's none on the floor, just the bottom of the engine is coated with it.

There is also an oil leak, none on the floor again, but there seems to be engine oil coating most parts around the oil pan...

The car was neglected by my sister for 2 years street parked in NYC. I confiscated it, and so far in about a year, I have done the following:

New KYB GR-2 struts front and rear
New CV outer joint and boot on driver side
New front rotors and pads
New rear drums and shoes
new control arms and ball joints (currently installing)
JVC head unit with 12disc changer in trunk
Repaired speedo (VG SE cluster) with EL-gauge
New alternator belt, AC belt

Because I've been doing the repairs, the costs haven't been too horrific, but seeing the leakage, and the steering rack, I just am so discouraged...

I wonder if it's time to put this car out to pasture?

It's a 1992 GXE with 150k mi,
Engine sounds runs perfect, tranny shifts smooth as my '01 pathfinder LE, has sunroof, automatic Climate control, power leather seats... It's been in my family since new, and after doing so much repairs (I didn't even know how to do an oil change before this), I've grown attached to it even more, and my wife (who used to be so encouraging) today said that perhaps we should cut our losses and get rid of the car...

I'd really appreciate advices...

Thank you,

-Sage

 

Forgot to include:

New distributor rotor and cap,
New spark plugs
New PCV valve.

All parts I used are OEM Nissans, not aftermarkets (except for the CV outer joints).

 

Can't say about the difficulty of the rack.

Is it leaking power steering fluid? If not, I'd just keep driving it.

Same with the oil leaks. As long as you aren't having to replenish fluids all the time or seriously oiling up the driveway, just keep going. Get some miles out of it.

The problem is, an old GXE with 150k isn't worth that much, and you'll probably have to replace the transmission at some point, which almost definitely will not be worth it.

Then again, oil leaks can come in a variety of flavors, and some of them aren't that hard or expensive to fix, so clean up the engine and try to trace them before you get too discouraged.