New OEM Steering rack is "off centered" Help

Hello Folks,

I have a 2003 Tacoma 250k miles and last summer my Steering rack started leaking from the top where the steering column connects to the rack. I had terrible vehicle control and lots of slop so it was time to be replaced.

I purchased a OEM rack and new OEM outer Tye rod ends.

Pulled out the old rack and dropped in the NEW OEM rack. I however neglected to measure the old rack and spin the new one to match. I assumed the OEM rack would be centered if i lined up the factory witness marks.
For example;
OLD rack was 10in on Driver side + 5in on passenger side.
(I measured from the end of the boot to the edge of the inner edge of the Jam nut on the TRE.)
New OEM rack came out of the box as; Driver side 7 3/4th + passenger side 8in

After this project was completed, I went to the shop to get an aliment. Upon getting my truck back the shop informed me the rack was not "centered". They said they did what they could to get it to drive straight but one OTRE is fully extend (driver side) while the other is fully threaded in (passenger side).







Last night I removed my OTRE from the knuckle on both sides and played with spinning the wheel, i learned the rack is off one entire Clockwise spin. When the wheel was spun one full rotation CW the measurements are 10in (driver side) + 6in (passenger side).

I wanted to ask about how to get my rack to measure closer to the old measurements so my OTRE are more evenly spaced on their threads.

I was thinking about the following;
Remove OTRE from knuckle
spin wheel CW one full rotation
Tread the OTRE back to a more central position.
Drive slowly to the shop to get an alignment again.
ask for straight wheels from the garage but not be concerned about the wheel being centered.
Get truck back and head to the home garage.
Disconnect rag joint and center the wheel to the fresh alignment.

What do you think? Has anyone else f**ed up a new steering rack install?

 

Thread your OTRE equally on both sides. Next, turn the wheel until you have equal length from center of rack to the left and right tierod ends. Next, disconnect your steering shaft from the rack. Then turn and center the steering wheel until you have equal amount of turns CW and CCW. Reconnect your steering shaft. Get an alignment.

 

What ever you do, dont spin that wheel and put the tie ends back on....

There is a clock spring in the column......what ever you do dont break that.....
by spinning the wheel bunch of times....

You're got to think....about every step....


Dont really understand what the problem is...your gonna have to make the new rack match the old...
very same rack goes into many different cars and trucks....all have different a home mark or center.....

and then you start checking for end range.....

Since that joint is freshly broke....should be no problem adjusting at the rag joint...

Make sure the steer wheel ends ups exactly where it started.......no extra spins...

If you have to pay for an extra alignment......too damn bad....

next time you'll watch several video's and learn on someone else nickle

 

And be careful over stressing the upper steering shaft in these old trucks.....
they're designed to collapse in an accident....
slip fit....sometimes tack welded....

and not easy to find....or cheap...
last one I ordered....came from Dubui....

 

Too me alignment shops just get me to the start point...

after that I feel the pull on level highways....and study the tire wear pattern every couple months...
just like on all those cars.... that rack is little different........so is everybody's truck.....A constant pull means your stessing your rack...and eating one side of the tire...

Just takes a twist here or there on the outer rods....

Takes 2 or 3 min....


This tenacity and changing the fluid regularly is how to get the most life out of a rack....


they say you can get a little more life out of them by using that

$15 AT205 ATP Automotive AT-205 Re-Seal Stops Leaks, 8 Ounce Bottle

AT205 reseal polymer when they first start to leak.....

 

My boss just got his 2017 tundra aligned at the dealership....

and yep it pulls, slightly to the right......and not from street drainage either......

 

Your posts….. need so many fewer…..pointless periods……

 

I was thinking about the following;

Remove both OTRE from knuckle
center OTRE treads
Disconnect rag joint. Breaking the connection btw steering-wheel and steering- rack. (This will keep wheel in its optimal center)
Spin the rack only to get equal or very close length in the Rack Driver side and passenger side.
reconnect OTRE
get an aliment

 

(14) Toyota 4Runner Steering Rack Replacement - YouTube

 

What folks are calling "witness marks" on the rubber shield above the control valve on newer OE service replacement racks are NOT to be trusted out of the box unless a manual centering of the rack has been done first.
Why? Because that rubber shield is NOT indexed to the control valve shaft in any way. It is just a slight "stretch" fit. Hence it can be rotated around the shaft with not much effort.
The spiral cable must be centered while the column is separated from the rack, then the "centered" column can be connected to the centered rack. Then always "start" the alignment process with equal threads on the outer TRE's. After alignment the OTE's should be within one thread of each other, assuming good rack bushings and nothing bent.



Smooth surface under the shield, no splines, flats or anything else to keep the shield from being moved. Once the rack is centered the shield can be rotated if necessary, so the marks, line up. That is if they are present at all.

 

You smart assed post....... does not detract one iota....... from Old Silver_Taco's continued generosity of posting here in an effort to simply help folks.........

 

It must be a key board issue !

I had a key board that did that when I hit the question mark.

 

Here's the deal, I just throw out a couple of sound bites; hoping the real experts will chime in..
The more I keep you irritated......the better.....
Seems to be working....

 

Another fine example of the hatred that has permeated this country.

 

Adding a link to a old tread.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/steering-wheel-off-after-rack-alignment.452922/