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2nd gen steering rack recenter and LCA replacement

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by s1s2, Dec 12, 2018.

  1. Dec 12, 2018 at 8:29 PM
    #1
    s1s2

    s1s2 [OP] Member

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    I've been reading this forum several hours a day for nearly the last month since I bought a "project" 2006 SR5 4x4. You guys have helped a lot! This is my second post. Most of the info I have been able to find, but for some reason my mind doesn't process the logic behind all the parts involved in alignment. Backstory- I took my truck to the dealer because I found out after I bought it that it had an outstanding recall on rear leaf springs. No argument, they replaced the rear springs with shiny new 4-leaf springs and as part of that they re-aligned the vehicle. Well, they tried. What they told me was that the alignment tabs on the LCA were all bent and needed to be re-welded. In addition the eccentric bolts that go through the LCA at these tabs were siezed and needed to be cut out, and finally, my steering rack needs to be re-centered. Well, after a day or so of near panic and heavy drinking and some research, I figured out this isn't impossible. I have a friend that can weld. Ordered the Total Chaos tabs and gussets. I run fast down long dirt roads but I'm not a rock crawler, so planing on replacing LCA's with stock and upgrading shocks. But here is where my mind siezes up. Recentering the rack? I can see that the passenger tie rod end is about 1/2 extended, while the drivers side is completely snugged up. I would guess the recentering process would roughly be make sure both outer tie rod ends are equal, then I kind of get lost. Pop the rack off the intermediate steering colum and re-center the wheel, or is there more to it?
    Second part, I need to (assuming dealer is correct) cut out the LCA bolts and replace the control arms. So if I am cutting the bolts out, do I just roughly replicate the position of the camber adjustment cams when I put new ones in. Or do I just slap it together and go straight to an alignment center and let them deal with it?
     
  2. Dec 12, 2018 at 8:49 PM
    #2
    CBenfell

    CBenfell I don’t know sh*t about f*ck

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    Don’t know anything about recentering rack.

    Mark postitikn of alignment cams. Install new ones in the same position. Take truck to get an alignment ASAP
     
  3. Dec 13, 2018 at 8:04 AM
    #3
    s1s2

    s1s2 [OP] Member

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    Thanks. That was pretty much going to be my default solution if I don't hear a better idea. Now for the steering rack.....
     
  4. Dec 13, 2018 at 8:07 AM
    #4
    la0d0g

    la0d0g Its 4 o’clock somewhere

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    Yes, get an alignment. And there's a whole thread on rack replacement that should help you with centering it. Let me find it.
     
  5. Dec 13, 2018 at 8:08 AM
    #5
    la0d0g

    la0d0g Its 4 o’clock somewhere

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  6. Dec 13, 2018 at 8:25 AM
    #6
    s1s2

    s1s2 [OP] Member

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    Thanks for that! I actually read that thread once before, but during a marathon of reading threads about removing the rack, it didn't really sink in. Friggin easy, just measure from mounting bolt to end of innter tie rod and make sure they are equal before hooking up linkage. Saweet! Thanks again for that.
     
  7. Dec 13, 2018 at 8:29 AM
    #7
    la0d0g

    la0d0g Its 4 o’clock somewhere

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    :thumbsup:
     

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