STEERING RACK & PINION

Hows it going peeps?
I need to replace my steering rack for my 2004 4whl drive. I was wondering if any one could share horror or hell yeah stories for aftermarket steering rack and pinion or rebuilt or seals being replaced or ????? good or bad brands ? I see to many options and the prices are all over the charts. 299 to 850$


Thanks in Advance

 

Just what is the cause of it being replaced??

Just how does the Truck get used ?? How big are the tires ?

OP depending where the truck lives and grew up will make a big difference between a few hours and all weekend maybe longer .

When your doing this adventure since the tie rods are being removed the Lock nuts will be broke loose to get them off make sure the Cam Bolts are also free or have a set for your Alignment .

Any plans for a Solid Axle Swap now is the time.

 

Aftermarket steering racks: Cheap ($275 or so), but you must send your old rack in or else forfeit your core charge ($150 or so); judging from the majorityh of the after-market reviews, they don't seem to last more than a couple years, then begin to leak or to get loose. After reading the reviews I wouldn't buy a "rebuilt" rack unless I were not going to off-road any more.

Genuine Toyota Parts: I got mine brand new 2 weeks ago from Swope Toyota (swopetoyota.com) and paid $511, no tax, and shipping brought total to around $580. Durability - after driving most of Nevada's dirt roads (some filled with potholes) and gnarly mountain roads (roots, rocks, and ruts), the OEM racks appear to last around 60,000 miles before they loosen up.

Installation: I paid $280 to have my rack installed and the toe-in adjusted. Received bids from around $300 to $485 for installation and "alignment".

Note: Some a$$hole working at the place that installed my rack stole one of the little square covers that cover the bolts that hold my grab bars on. Just can't trust anyone anymore.

 

cover from grab bars from inside the cab?


i have the beginnings of a small leak in the rack underneath at 151k miles, mostly highway rotted pavement driving in concrete jungle which i am sure is putting undue heavy wear and tear onit

 

Based on those prices, going OEM is justified. Between the cost of install and the cost of an alignment, the the more expensive OEM rack basically pays for itself if it lasts considerably longer than the aftermarket one.

On my old truck, I replaced the rack with a cheap aftermarket rack from Rockauto and it failed in under a year (started leaking). To their credit, Rockauto made the warranty process extremely easy, but it was still a PITA to get the work done twice at my friend's shop.

So if (aka when) the rack goes on the current rig, I'll probably price it out again and lean towards OEM.

 

3 years on a $200 detroit axle rack & pinion so far and it's still perfectly fine. That's with 33" tires and spending a significant amount of time offroad. I will not pay expensive OEM prices unless I have no choice.

 

Yes. Those smaller-than-a-postage-stamp plastic covers. But much to my surprise, a call to the dealer proved successful. Dealer quoted $0.60 each so I ordered four of 'em. At least I think the call was a success -we'll see after I see what comes in.

 

Hows it going? Its a daily driver, 250k on her. light off roading, really light. use to go to the desert , snow when it was new. I run 275 / 65 / 16 and the rack is leaking. The truck feels like shes floating / dancing a little on the highway with out steering wheel shake. I know it will come though! I just replaced front shocks, lower ball joints, rack bushings, alignment. Which made it better, but still there and slowly coming back. its been about 2 weeks. The shop I trust , said replace it - its leaking. No mention of tie rod issues or? So I am wondering, replace, after market or oem? Or just replace the seals and hope for the best?

 

Thanks I appreciate the feed back. Gives me a ball park $$$.

 

I had an OEM reman that I bought from the Toyota dealer for around $560 shipped with $150 core. After return shipping fees, I was in it for $460 or so. There were only 3 racks left in the US via Toyota dealers

 

I replaced mine about 6 months ago, I went OEM. I got it from Thousand Oaks Toyota with outer tie rods for $640 shipped. And I didn't have to return my old one. Someone else on here said that LCE sells one that they believed was actually stronger than OEM. However there wasn't much information about it and for it being so similar to the price of OEM I figured the old one lasted 220,000 miles so I'm hoping the new OEM one lasts the same. Heres the link to LCE if you want to take a look. I will try and see who said the LCE was better than OEM.


https://www.lceperformance.com/Rack-Pinion-Kit-Tacoma-4wd-01-04-p/2055582.htm

 

Here is the thread I was referring to:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-first-gen-tacoma.656073/page-2#post-22920142

 

Turns out that the a$$hole is... ME!
I just happened to glance at the plastic gear shift cover and... there it was!

(Good thing too, 'cause the dealer just called me to say that the part I sought has been discontinued. No longer available. SOL.)

 

Hey hey everyone
Just want tot say thanks for all of the feed back on here! Decided to go with an OEM reman $ 800 complete install.

 

I'm NEW at this,.....Thank you all,....... It's been GREAT! This TOYOTA SITE is filled with GOOD people, and lots of information. I'm going with the OEM also, I guess the Hoses, .... should be changed also? Or do they come with it? Skeezix ......Hamburgler .....Thanks, for that listing of the prices, you guys really helped me out!

 

Hey all, I'm trying to get a handle on what the approx. cost would be for a SOLID AXLE as I need the rack & pinion replaced as of now. (2003 TACOMA)- 5-speed 4/4 extended cab. 3.4 motor) Love the Truck, money is tight..

 

I would not change the hoses until one of them starts to leak. I assume that the rubber hoses run from the pump to a bracket on the frame where they connect to steel pipes that go directly to the rack.

 

Thanks much, for that quick response,.....GOOD PEOPLE, ALWAYS, FIND GOOD PEOPLE!