Replacing Steering Rack, advice needed...

So Im going to DIY my steering rack. I realized how easy it would be when i replaced my rack bushing a while back, thats when i noticed the leak on one of the boots. now when i turn hard, i get about 4 drips on both boots per turn! anyway my question is, anyone know where i can get a cheap rack online? and is all i am going to need is the rack, new boots, and new bushings? thanks in advance.

 

I got mine from NAPA....many will tell you to not get anything other than Toyota OEM, but NAPA worked well for me and after I returned the core, cost ~$285. There are cheaper options thru autozone and what not but I don't trust there stuff. The new rack should come with bellow and inner TRE's. It doesn't come with the outer TRE's, but at ~$35 a piece, I would go ahead and replace those too. The rack will come with both drivers side bushing, you have to supply the D-ring bushing on the passenger side, just reuse your *new* one. Good luck, the project isn't that hard, just very time consuming. I was really wishing I had a third hand at many point in the project.

BTW....most every rack you'll find for sale is a rebuilt/remanufactured

 

im impressed you did it by yourself!

 

Its not that bad.....just lots of details

 

trailgear website has one on it for $400.

 

I need to do mine too. I'm just wondering how hard its going to be and what I'm getting myself into. I'm no mechanic... do you guys think I can do it myself or is it worth forking over a grand to the dealer and having it done right?

 

You can do it yourself.....i'm merely a weekend mechanic (oil changes and the like). Take your time, prepare, and you can do anything. This will help.

 

why will it cost me $1800 to fix/replace my power steering rack/leak? is there anywhere here in New Jersey around Burlington that can replace it for a lot less?

 

My only recommendation is have some name brand line wrenches handy. I tried the harbor freight specials and was not impressed. The rack was original in mine and those power steering lines were TIGHT. Ive done mine both times with the truck on the ground. Just use a measuring tape to set toe back into the original location best you can, you should get an alignment afterwards anyways.

It costs that much because you went to a shop and had it quoted. a) I would try a different shop. b) your in the first gen section, run along now 2nd genner c) I can get a delco from a supplier for 220, rock auto 320, msrp is 641. I would imagine, they charged you msrp and maybe with a little bump in percentage.

 

I did mine a few weeks ago. Used a rack from Detroit Axle (from Amazon $250 w/inner and outer TRE/BJ) I would definitely do it myself again to save a grand.

 

I did mine this summer, it was actually my first DIY project.

Things that I had problems with:

The bolt that holds on the grommet and bracket I guess has a welded on nut. On mine the weld broke, so I had to cut into some of the metal underneath it to thread on a new nut and tighten it down to 167 ft lbs.

The replacement racks at O'Reillys have a life time warranty if you use their o rings they supply to you that go on the pressure feed tube and return tube. The problem with mine is that they are unnecessary and caused my rack to leak steering fluid out of those spots. (I'm keeping them just incase).

I didn't tie down my steering wheel to something at the beginning, and when I got everything put back together and drove away my steering wheel flipped upside down. Not the biggest problem, but still annoyed the shit out of me.

The 99$ sears alignment sucked, and now when I jam on the breaks my entire front end shifts around. Still have to figure out why. Lol

I thought it would take 8 hours, ended up being like 16 or something. But thats because I was learning as I went.

 

Here's a video that could help with the replacement.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/wZoRP5ogrK0

 

PITA, but doable watch the video, this guy has some great info, PITA

 

Since posting I found mine has failed. Got a reasonable quote from a local specialty shop to have my spare rebuilt with lifetime warranty. Hooray.