Is it my poor googling skills, or does nobody sell individual parts for rack and pinion steering units?
The pinion has a chipped tooth but the rack looks tip top, so I see no reason to spend $250 replacing the whole system.
Is there some trick to searching for rack/pinion assembly parts?
They used to be, but given the popularity of reconditioned units which are offered with a guarantee and the time needed to strip and rebuild a unit it is quicker to fit a complete unit.
If you wish to rebuild yours then finding a second hand unit with a good pinion may be a possibility...
The increase in the availability of commercially rebuilt units at a reasonable price is the likely cause of difficulty finding parts. As independent garages fight to maintain profitability getting the job finished and paid for quickly is a priority. The time to remove, disassemble, inspect, order parts, wait for delivery, etc. would tie up the customers' car and a lift for a longer than acceptable time. The labor rate a mass rebuilder pays is likely far less than that of an experienced tech. The fewer places sourcing parts means they are harder to locate.
