steering shaft

does anyone of there’s supposed to be a rubber boot there?lol been noticing a humming when i turn.

 

4WD, 2WD? In any case yes, the output shaft/valve should look something like this. The first pic is not a tacoma rack but it still has a boot at the shaft. Second one is the rack I installed and is a tacoma.

I don't think the humming wouldn't be related to the missing boot, it will probably be related to the PS pump or fluid, have you checked the levels? Flushed the system?

 

4wd. am i just able to replace the boot? or do i have to replace the entire rack?

yes it is 4wd. will not having the boot cause damage to rack later down the line? if so am i able to just replace the boot or do i have to replace the whole rack?
i also checked fluids they seem to be good but never flushed it out since i got the truck.

 

Will it damage the rack? Don't know, you have a grease point open to the environment, maybe, maybe not. It's obviously not leaking PS fluid there.

Replace the whole rack? I couldn't tell you for sure, someone here may chime in. This member replaced the seals in the output shaft, he calls it a control valve (maybe he's correct,) what he's doing and his pics might give you some insight. If I had to guess I'd say you should be able to do it without completely removing the rack, but the real question is how it got that way. Wild guess is it rotted or got damaged and someone just pulled it off.

One way or the other at the very least you're going to have to disconnect the steering shaft from the rack to get a new boot on (if you can find one.) Before doing this, strap your steering wheel at dead center! Unlock the wheel with the key so you can perfectly center it. I use ratchet straps to the seat frame. Mark the position of the output shaft before removing.

You may get away with just removing the lower pinch bolt but may have to separate the rag joint. Hopefully the pinch bolt only will work, the rag joints bolt can be "lots of fun" on a 19 year old truck.

You may need to pull the sway bar to allow the rack to move back enough to get room to work (if so replace the sway bar bushings, they're like $15 I think.) If you do need to move the rack back for room, I'd take a good look at the rack bushings, if they're oily or cracked, replace them as well if it works out fixing it on the vehicle.