Mechanic installed my new rack.. Now this defect... Does this look bad?

Yeah it’s a pain in the everything. I’m in the middle of tearing apart the entire front end right now. About 75% of the bolts come right out. The rest are sawzalled or break off. So it goes

 

Not even close.

 

Don't understand the negativity given for asking this question. If your opinion is made up already regarding this what value is there in faulting, coming for and outright attacking (something that I've never witnessed on this website till now) the person who is experiencing this issue. From what I can tell this site is geared towards people of all skill levels and experiences.

I care very much for my safety. I've watched to many episodes of Modern Marvels Engineering Disasters to not consider that a small imperfection or flaw somewhere MIGHT cause an unexpected failure.

All to often people overlook or shrug off defects that lead to things like the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. Something that I remember vividly as a child.

For the record: I have a great business relationship with my mechanic, who I take care of and treat well.

It was also absolutely worth asking to get a feel for how bad and common an issue this was.

Thanks again.

 

These 1st gen Tacoma's and equivalent 4Runners have only been described by many as some of the best designed vehicles ever. But I do see a lot of Toyotas trucks and rigs out there that are quite dirty. Zip ties holding up this and that, missing the various mud skirts and skid plates and people who generally seem to throw caution to the wind. I am the inverse of that.

But people obsess on minor things all the time like getting the lights just right or having the car look a certain way... But the rack in pinion spindle area... that's no big deal and he's crazy to worry about THAT.. Its always been my ideal to have things done right and to not cut corners when possible. I understand why the mechanic did it that way now.. Just wonder if there was a better way. That's all... "The more you know"

 

Sometimes I die threads...

Other times I tap them.

 

Any chance this is your mechanic?
It would explain the forty whacks.

 

You guys didn't get he was trolling 3 pages ago with the Japan comments??? You're just chewing it up. I was gonna give this bait a 3/10, but apparently on TW that's like a solid 7.5

 

He is his mechanic.

 

Very cool, sounds easy... Wondering if this is something you can do without having to take everything apart.

 

Nah.. especially the engine Japanese design all the way. Japanese did study the American market... so in that way it is for American tastes. I give you that.

 

And see mine wasn't all that rusted if you look. Not even a ton of reddish colour yet... Think mechanic did have some trouble tho.. Seems like a tricky thing to switch out. Maybe not.

 

You're really latching on to posts which support your view, while disregarding (the overwhelming majority of) posts which are telling you getting the lower section of the rag joint off is more difficult and prone to the sort of result you have on your rig now. Cherry picking at it's finest.

... The engine might be JPN design and assembled, but the rest of the truck was manufactured at various North American plants and assembled in FRESNO. The beds ("rear deck" as they call it) were stamped and processed in Long Beach, CA for example. The Tacoma (4 Runner, Tundra, and Sequoia) is purely an American product which is not sold in any other world market.

 

With the engine out in my last rack replacement on a nearly rust-free vehicle, I can say that those joints don't like to slide up. I had a lot of access and doused it in WD-40 a few times and it only wanted to budge a little bit until it let go after a bit of messing with it while I was actually sitting in the engine bay.

 

If you have the time and money to worry about that scuff you have too much free time and money. Leave it alone. It’s fine

 

The 4Runner is still a Japanese import assembled in Japan.

 

Never been in the 3rd gen section, have you...

 

Honestly after looking at the pictures again, there is serious cause for concern. That joint needs to be 110% mechanically sound otherwise the steering shaft could slip off of the splines on the rack & pinion and then all of a sudden you would have no ability to steer.

I think the right thing for your hack of a mechanic to do is to replace the entire steering shaft, rag joint & rack & pinion and even the steering wheel itself just to make sure everything is back to the way the Japanese had it. That's what they would want.

Until he admits to doing that or does that - I would NOT feel comfortable driving your truck. Have it towed to the shop. This is a serious matter and defect!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Nah, don't even bother. The whole truck is FUBAR.