Steering rack tolerance

Hello, all. New member. I recently bought a new toy... '96 Tacoma 4x4, extended cab. Overdue replacement for my '85 4x4, long since departed. 160,000 miles and well-cared for, so it was a surprise when it failed inspection. Loose ITR end. So they said. I tore into it and found the ITR end is in very good shape. There is tight linkage between the components of the wheels, the rack, and the steering wheel; everything moves in unison with no discernable slack, and I checked it with one side up on jack stand; both sides up; steering wheel locked and unlocked; every combination I could think of. There is, however, SOME movement where the rack exits the rack housing (when rocked pretty solidly at 9 and 3) indicating, I assume, some wear/play in the rack roller bearing just inside. I know Toyota changed the part to a guide a few years after my model, and that an upgrade to the guide is the fix if need be (correct so far?).

My questions:

1. What is the spec tolerance for movement where I describe? Is it supposed to be rock solid with no play? If there is play, how much is acceptable before it is necessary to replace the roller bearing (I gotta wonder how there is wear and eventual play in that part; it appears to be a simple steel rolling guide bearing...)?

2. I've read there were some rack problems with the early Taco's. What is expected life when not used hard and little if any serious off-road use (I don't think it's had much; I know the previous owner).

3. Am I on the right track to believe my fix, if need be, is to replace the bearing with the newer style guide? Is it likely that will do it for a lot of miles, and that it's worth the time and money (not much from what I can tell) to invest in the original rack. I would sure be surprised if an OEM rack on a Toyota truck didn't last a lot longer than 160,000 miles.

4. What are your favorite sources for parts? I've heard good things about Toyota of Dallas.

TIA.

 

Welcome to the Madhouse!!!

 

Are you sure it's not the rack bushings gone bad?

 

The roller knocking sounds like the whole stearing needs to be replaced. Toyota service told me so. I did the fix by replacing the guide for less than 100 dollars in all OEM parts and less than 1 hour my own work. The whole story described here:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/95-5-tacoma-4x4-dx-2-7-ext-cab-steering-rack-parts.495128/

 

2stroketrush: Yes, I'm sure. I've got the conditions described by RysiuM.

RysiuM: That looks GREAT. I've seen parts of that in older threads, I think. I will devour it. Thanks for now.

 

RysiuM: Great post. I knew it looked familiar; I saw the last part the other day when I did a general search (before joining this forum). Thanks for such a detailed report; very helpful. Thanks also to the others mentioned in your post. Good forum here.

 

Wolftaco... Thanks for the welcome. Yes, all threads worthless without pics, but I'm tech challenged...