Replacing steering rack in an '88 740 GLE
 

Can a person with almost zero mechanical experience (save changing tires, oil filter, and fluids) be able to switch out a bad steering rack with a used one? The plan is to save as much money as possible by attempting to find a used steering rack from a junk yard and putting it in myself. I've ordered the Chilton's manual for this model, which will help tremendously, but would anyone here support/advise against me doing this myself? Any suggestions or tutorials available? Thanks in advance!

well, you'll need a good set of decent quality metric tools for that, torque wrenches and so forth. you'll be draining and replacing the power steering juice, too. I'd probably want to use new hoses if at all possible as the 20+ year old ones might fail after being molested

Well, if all goes well, but it rarely does...
Make sure you get the same type of rack you have in the car as there are several brands. How'd you ascertain that the used rack is in good shape, worth the trouble? The job itself is not too difficult as long as you don't strip any fittings. No torque wrench needed...

person with zero mechanical experience need torque wrench or small fasteners will be too tight, and big ones will be too loose.

Person with zero mechanical experience should not be doing a steering rack. Torque wrench is pretty impossible to use on a steering rack due to space constraints. I have actually done this...