What have you done to your Tacoma today? 1st Gen Edition

Little blurry, but you get the idea.

 

I can tell you that Cardone 97-1697 is some kind of expensive at O'Reilly..

 

Got my oem steering rack for for $500. Well worth not having to change for another 10 years or so.

 

Might be a reboxed true OEM at that price. Hope that's not a new garbage one at that price

 

I agree, this is one of those types of repairs that it really does make sense to go OEM

 

And the OEM racks come with new inner tie rods and bellows. I think I paid $550 shipped from Camelback toyota.

 

honestly should have pulled mine when installing turbo manifolds. snapped 5 studs off and had to raise engine anyways to drill a couple of em out. was a terrible job on my crusty 95.5

 

I see the RackDoctor is selling racks starting at $349. I've read good things about the Dr with other cars. Not sure about Tacoma.

If I had to buy a new Rack tomorrow, I would bite the bullett and get a new OEM for $498. Some of this just isn't worth the headaches on a part that can be a PITA to change.

https://shop.rackdoctor.net/1995-2004-Toyota-Tacoma-4X4-Rack-and-Pinion-34995-RD19549.htm

Oh.. On a different car, I had a small rack seal leak. So I would lose a certain amount of PS fluid between oil changes. This is a Dexron III Japanese car like the Tacoma.

Anyway I started using Valvoline Max Life ATF (Red Bottle) like I see recommended on here for PS fluid. The seal conditioner must have worked on the leak because it stopped. I'm not complaining.

I just put in new OEM inner tie rods and rack bushings.. I'm down for trying the Lucas PS conditioner that someone on here mentioned yesterday.

This is the best price that I've been able to find for a new OEM. Though I wouldn't want to see the part discontinued and not have it as an option.

 

i made my truck true dual and had the 02 sensor mounted on one side without issues. i later added an x pipe and put the sensor in the centee of it.

 

My Rack Dr. rack was junk.

It started leaking pretty quick, and had poor quality ITRE that developed play right away.

 

I'm not sure I would would completely trust it.. I've had good luck with Cardone rebuilt PS pumps over the years when I didn't want to mess with trying to reseal one on my own. But a PS pump is a very simple thing compared to a Rack that is most likely made in China.

 

The rack pictures look like they are remarketing some new stuff as their brand..

 

This is good to know type info

 

Good to hear on that seal sweller stuff with the max life fluid. Decent options to buy time are a good thing

 

Not today (last week) I parked in the last spot available at the mall.

 

I guess there’s not big harm in it. But if the bank you had nothing on did have an issue you’d be unaware. But to have one bank go bad typically means your screwed anyway

 

That would suck. Are there any good remanufacturer of steering racks?
Over the years something I've noticed with Toyota and Japanese brands is that the companies that do the rebuilds of the more complicated components like auto transmissions, steering racks, the companies that rebuild them suck. One person may get lucky with it, but by far the majority of folks that buy a remanned rack or rebuilt transmission are not happy with it a year or two down the road. A nice niche market opportunity for someone

 

Speaking of parts, I'll go outside here in a few minutes and jack up a couple of my cars and check on my CV axle experiment. In one of my other clubs, we found a particular type of aftermarket axle was mechanically sound but the grease and outer boots were very low quality and would only last for 3 to 5 years. So I bought a new CV axle, then took it apart, replaced the grease, and installed a new OEM outer boot to create a hybrid aftermarket/OEM axle. I'm about 4 years into that test. I'll take it apart after 5 years (next year) to see how its doing. These are lowered cars that are known to chew up CV axles like our lifted trucks. A new OEM CV axle is way over $500 and the factory rebuilt units are not so good.

 

So you take the driveshaft off them or loosen it anyway?

 

My mind can't wrap itself around a CV axle being compromised from too little lift....it goes against everything we're told lol. Makes sense though