Never messed with a rack before but I'm just handy enough to think about doing the job myself. I understand the basics... will get a remanufactured unit, no magnasteer, with inner tie rods included. Jack stands, ball joint separator, wrenches, sockets, got it. What I hope others could share with me is just how much of a pain in the a** is this job? I'm not afraid to get dirty, spend the better part of a Saturday, and cuss some. What I hate is getting halfway into a job and realize I need another set of hands or wish I had a lift at home.

You'll need to drop the sub frame a bit to get the room needed to get it out. Other than that the biggest pain in the rear can be the simplest in design. The coupler that mates the steering column to the rack. They can be a bear to get off. Try and spread the coupler with something you can jam between the lips (screwdriver maybe). Even so they can be grueling to get off.
Be sure the wheels are dead straight before you start.

And strap down the steering wheel.

I never changed the rack but I did have a issue with one of the lines leaking on a 02 century one thing I remember was the fittings were a bear to get line up so I could get the threads to start without cross threading them. Be extra careful not to bend them if you can.

Sounds like you're on the right track, and the others have given great advice.

Expanding on what Wayne270th said, try to get the tube in all the way first before threading the nut. That helps a lot.

Thanks all for the great advice. I usually learn what I need to do thru the forums or YouTube videos. I don't have a Haynes manual or FSM for the Buick.

As I said, I think I understand the basics of what this entails and am willing to tackle it, EXCEPT that I don't know anything about lowering the subframe. Anybody have any video links, pics, or PDF'* of a service manual they could share? I'd appreciate the help.

We use a crane to hold the engine and remove the rear bolts and lower it down. You may get away with just extracting to two rear bolts enough to lower it without taking the bolts all the way out.

Yeah that ^^^^^^^

. . . and/or: If you only have to go down a little you can probably get away with supporting the subframe with a floor jack and lowering it down an inch or two. Watch all of your wiring and hoses as you do it though.

Thanks for the input... does anybody have any schematics or pics that show what bolts/where to back out? Never messed with a subframe before or know what to look for.

Just go under there and look around. They are the big ol' bolts that go up into the body through the tabs on the subframe. Nothing complicated.