Hard start and vibrating when backing up

My car experienced a hard start (which I called due to vibrating, shaking when backing out of driveway when driven first time in day). No vibrating after 2-3 minutes.

My repair shop said it was rack & pinoin problem, although I never experience steering problems. They also fixed alignment, although that didn't seem to be a problem. Shop also replaced two belts.

No vibrating at start anymore, but in paying alot ($900) for rack & pinion, could it have been cheaper problem to stop vibration at start; as I never experienced any problem with steering to begin with.