2005 Single Cab just about to hit 100k

Well I took my truck in for the first 90k service since new and take care of a couple outstanding TSBs. So far had nothing wrong with it. I did notice a small drip up front and couldnt see where it was from. The service started out at $539 for complete 90k checkup and scheduled repair from Big 2 Toyota here in Chandler.


Well, that $539 has just become $2550, Ug!!

Front brakes are bad, along with wheels bearings (Never heard anything)
Steering Rack was leaking, $1400 to replace?!?!
Belt needed to be replaced as expected along with the hoses.

Whats the deal with the steering rack, that thing made of gold, lol..

 

ouch....

* front brakes, yeh, could be, I was on set #2 by then. Expect rear brakes and drums to be gone at 125K.
* wheel bearings, you did good if you made it to 100K on original wheel bearings. I lost one at 40K and one at 99K.
* I've heard of racks leaking before although rare
* serpentine belt, yep time to change it, don't forget idlers too

What about trans flush, rad flush, diff oil change, transfer case oil change?

All but the rack is pretty normal and all part of "pay to play"

 

A new OEM steering rack is about $700 online at VillageToyotaParts (either http://www.villagetoyotaparts.com/p...ERINGFOR-RACK--PINION/2071235/4425004020.html or http://www.villagetoyotaparts.com/p...ERINGFOR-RACK--PINION/2071236/4425004030.html depending on if your truck is 5-lug or 6-lug), so expect your local dealer to mark it up to $900-$1000, plus labor and an alignment. If you want to do it yourself, you can follow the video below (4Runner is similar). A lot of the labor will be finagling with rusted steering column joints (EricTheCarGuy had to use an airhammer).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSFLIt05YBU

If you do it yourself, another option is to buy a remanufactured rack from RockAuto at about $350 net cost after sending back your old unit as core.

 

For $2550 in repairs you might want to consider trading it in.

 

I have a 2005 access cab with 130,000 miles. I am on the original brakes, front and rear...plenty of material left tho get me to 150k.

Other than fluid changes, and standard wear items (shocks, tires, spark plugs, one serpentine belt and one battery, and a couple wind shields). My truck has had ZERO mechanical issues...no leaks, squeaks, vibes, etc. No bad wheel bearings, no bad tie rods, no bad steering racks...nothing.

Only thing I've had to 'fix' was the compass display.

 

I did all the fluids and flushed as well. I thought of a trade in but I love this truck and love no payments even more.

 

I do a lot of work myself as well Berk and dont like having a dealer do work with exception of a few things. Steering and alignment was one of those and I think the price was steep, but when I called around to a couple other local shops I know hey couldnt do it for much less and would have had my truck a week to order the parts and install it.

As for the rest this was my last scheduled maintenance for this thing and well i should have known better than to trust the dealers price of $500 and expect that was the end. I did get everything else done at a very good price. The flushes done to the AC system, cooling system, oil and fuel systems alone would have cost me more than the $500 since i would have to pay for much larger amounts than I needed.

I will say the 2014 fully loaded 4x4 they let me use for two days made it hard to take my little base model back though!!!!