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2001, LX, 160K. I've been investigating a PS leak for a while now but I determined it is coming from the pinion on my steering. It is dripping down from the steering grommet underneath and I put my finger through the steering column and I can feel fluid pooled in the grommet (I'm glad it leaked so it didn't spill over into the floorboard).

I read several postings and I still had a few questions:

1) It seems (from SM) there are a lot of specialty tools to install the seal rings on the pinion. How did someone who has rebuilt that portion of the steering gearbox done it without the specialty tools? I have a small press but not sure I could get the pinion out of the housing.

2) The fact that the SM seems to give "lite" guidance such as "use cutting tool" to get seal rings off has me thinking it would be better to replace the entire rack. Where have others purchased remans from? I was looking at Majestic Honda but I can't tell if it is $688 or $288 but I think that is the price new/reman.

3) I'm going to replace my inner tie rods while I do the job but is there anything else I should be looking at?

4) This is new territory for me. I understand from several other postings that if I keep the steering wheel stationary (seatbelt maybe) that I don't have to pull the steering column as the SM suggests. However, how do you ensure the new rack and pinion are centered for the installation?

Thanks for any advice.