Is it normal to have oil leakage in Rack & Pinion packaging like this?

Just got a remanufactured rack and pinion direct from Toyota. It was well packed and even was plastic wrapped inside the box.

However I noticed some oil leakage on the inside of the box and am wondering if this is normal? It smells like some kind of gear oil or maybe ATF.

The rack was double boxed, it was packed inside a box inside of a larger box. Exterior of box seemed OK but hard to tell if it got banged around in transit. Transit time took 10 days from Kanas to California and it went FedEx ground! Why is there all this oil?

Is my rack bad???

Also I can easily move the outer tie rods, here I made a video too:

Are the outer tie rods supposed to be able to be moved like this?

Hope I'm just worrying for nothing, but if not please let me know.
Also any thing else I should check on it before install?















Thanks
-prerunnersd

 

Do the ends have any play in and out? Like push in then pull. Remove boot and inspect inners. The shaft connection, is that metal shavings? Overall seems a little off

 

I have installed dozens of reman racks that appear like that, especially if they are shrink wrapped like that. Its just oil to keep it from corroding or the oil they used to assemble has seeped out. Nothinf to be worried about.

 

That’s reassuring, thank you.

 

I’ll check on that and see. By metal filing do you mean up top at the input shaft?

 

Yea or is that just grease. Also that shaft seal. It that silver spray paint I’ve aleays seen then black

 

If the oil smells like ATF or power steering oil I would suspect that one or more seals were boogered during rack assembly. I would carefully photograph everything, then clean all the oil off of the rack, then hang the rack in various positions over the course of a few days and see if I could locate the leak.

The rack that I bought new last year from Toyota came without a drop of oil anywhere. The inner tie rods moved smoothly and they stayed wherever I put them. They weren't loose like the one shown in your first video.

 

Just curious. Would you mind sharing the price of this Rack and Pinion? Mine, on my 2003 Tacoma, is leaking on the right side boot, So I assume the seals on that side are shot. It has been leaking now for 5 years and I've just been refilling.

I don't think I have the tools and most importantly time to fix the existing myself. So I just started looking into just getting a new Rack that my mechanic would install for me. But the price I just got from Toyota is over $1000 with tax.

The mechanic I use for jobs I don't have the time for or want to myself said he has not rebuilt one before. So I would have to search down someone that would.

Problem this is my work truck. I have a pool service business and use this truck 5+ days a week. So I am looking to have my mechanic do the job. His price for the Toyota Rack was also $1000. He did say he could get an aftermarket but I'm leary about that. I personally am looking to keep this truck for another 10 years at least. These older trucks with the lower bed are the best to work out of. I don't want a new truck that I cannot easily grab thing out of from the side.

 

You can get an OEM replacement for about $400.00. standard price anywhere you check.

 

I just replaced the entire bottom of my Tacoma..

 

Its a reman, maybe it was tested before being shipped out. Doenst look like it was installed and returned.

 

My local Toyota dealer is saying over $1000 with the tax. Do you have a part number? And where are you checking?

 

Hey check out: https://parts.olathetoyota.com/ - Thats where I got mine.

Part No:
44250-35042-84

-prerunnersd

 

This would be the one..

 

I paid $590.60 to Swope Toyota in June of 2020 for a new Genuine Toyota Parts rack.