Worth replacing whole steering rack?

Hi guys, I took my truck in to get an alignment a few months ago and the tech said it was kinda pointless to align it, as the inner tie rod ends had a lot of play and needed to be replaced. I now have the time and most of the money to fix it, is it worth just paying the extra for the whole rack and just getting it out of the way? A few years a tech mentioned that the steering rack might be leaking but I haven't noticed any loss of fluid. A whole new rack would be $572 at my local dealer, $200 more than 2 new ITRE's, and it seems like it comes with new OTRE's too?

When i have the truck up the passenger wheel clunks noticeably when you try to turn it back and forth, and this seems to go back into the steering rack, so the OTRE is probably toast.

 

That's up to you, your situation and your budget. Mine has been leaking for a few years now. I've replaced the inners and cutters a few times and found fluid in my boots. I get no noises and keep checking the fluid but its such a slow leak I just don't worry about it too much right now and I do have the money to replace it now. I don't drive much since working from home became a thing. Either way, if it isn't leaking don't worry about it would be my answer. I'm at 260k for what that's worth. I have done precautionary work only when it takes a ton of labor to get in there. I do everything myself but I paid to have the timing belt and all the associated items replaced while they were in there like a water pump (which was fine) and a few other things. It made sense then.

But definitely do the outers and check the inners. The first time I replaced the inners they ended up being fine and that was at 120k. They just don't take the beating the outers do. I really can't recall if I've done them a second time. I know I have twice on the outters, and they are pretty cheap even by OEM parts standards.

 

If you're going to go with OEM inner tie rods, spend the extra money and get the new steering rack. You can do the job yourself and save money.

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

 

Is it a PITA to replace the inners on the steering rack?

 

That's a good deal for a whole oem rack. Bonus is you get it with everything installed, new boots and clamps, etc

 

I found special wrenches were needed to get the tie rods disconnected. There is a type of Inner Tie Rod tool you can rent at auto parts stores, like Auto Zone for free. If you watch the video, Toyota intends on you to put a tool onto the end of the steering rack shaft to hold counter pressure while you apply force to break free the inner tie rod. With that special tool you can rent, you just crank on the inner tie rod which applies all that force to the steering rack shaft. Is it a big deal? I don't know. Probably not. But Toyota made the end of the steering rack shaft in such a way that you can get a wrench on it. If you watch the video, all this will make sense.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/--HcOQlv03U

 

Not at all I replaced my inner tie rods with the rack installed.

No problems with the steering Rack why replace.

I might buy the New Rack from Toyota and pull the inner tie rods put the rack on the shelf.

I do strange things.

 

Ordered the rack, thanks y'all!

 

Order the rack U bushing as well (passenger side, it doesnt come with new racks), and if your sway bar bushings are rough its a good time to do them as well.

 

I had similar issue and replaced all the tie rods, but then had replace the rack a few months later anyway so chances are you might’ve saved yourself some head ache by just going for it.

 

Id just replace it, especially if you will keep the truck for awhile. Then also buy oem outers, they are painted and will last without rusting as quick as say, 555’s