First Tacoma for long-time Toyota fan

sway bar bushings are very easy and inexpensive to do, I would check around to a dedicated front end shop for the rack bushings someplace that has done them before because even for an experienced mechanic they are not easy to do, I checked out at least 5-6 shops before finding one that had done the job before it costed about $300 including alignment that was over 10 years ago, I supplied the bushings from Energy suspension $25-$30

 

Hmm, you're making me think that the $800 quote I got from a local shop to replace the rack and bushings (parts and labor) might not be such a bad deal.

That being said, this truck isn't a commuter ... I'm specifically trying to get it ready to use for backcountry camping and so forth. I know a bad rack won't strand me, but I'm thinking for peace of mind that replacing the rack AND the bushings is probably the direction I want to go.

I can get reman rack assemblies for <$200 without a lifetime warranty, and about $280 for the NAPA reman lifetime rack. New OEM racks are what, $1k+? I just can't afford that.

I'll do some more research on here about whether this is something I want to tackle. I'll have some help from handier guys than me if I need it. Hoping I don't have to, because saving $600 would go a long way towards other things I'd like to do to the truck ...

 

I would do a search on the GEN1 forum to see what brand to replace the rack with, some brands aren't so good and will fail prematurely also the guarantee on them is only for the rack and doesn't cover the Labor/mechanics cost to put it in, so if the Reman goes bad you got to pay labor to put in a new replacement, I would do some searchs in GEN1 forum on the subject lots of infos there. this is the best prices on OEM parts I use plus u get free shipping on the rack too https://parts.camelbacktoyota.com/p...cleid=174984&diagram=8510990&diagramCallOut=6

 

https://parts.camelbacktoyota.com/p...iteid=214329&vehicleid=84925&section=STEERING

 

https://parts.camelbacktoyota.com/parts/1998/Toyota/Tacoma/index.cfm?action=partDetail&section=STEERING&group=STEERING GEAR & LINKAGE&subgroup=STEERING GEAR & LINKAGE&component=STEERING GEAR&partnumber=4425035042&vehicleid=84925&siteid=214329 I think its this one, brand new OEM