Failed steering rack. Should I rebuild?

After some offroading yesterday, I noticed power steering fluid pouring out of my inner tie rod boot. Should I rebuild the rack, or get a new/reman one??

 

Going through all that work I’d prefer a “Toyota” rack assembly going back in

 

Is changing the rack that bad?

 

It’s just time consuming and putting one back in that’s rebuilt... just not my thing. I’d rather not do it twice especially if it’s your DD.

 

Prerunner or a 4wd with a drop bracket lift is not to bad. A 4wd without a drop bracket lift is a bitch.

 

Cool, just a 4wd with a 3" lift. Oh well, I'm sure I've done worse jobs on this truck.

 

Here is a good resource for the process.
General consensus says “No, do not rebuild it your self”
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/how-to-change-the-rack-and-pinion-steering-2nd-gen-v6.293781/


IIRC, there is a trick with 2 long bolts.
Flip them on reinstall?
I can’t remember. It’s probably in the link above?

 

I saw that in the link. Thank you. I've seen recs for detroit axle, and A1 Cardone racks. Any other recommendations or endorsements?

 

Not really, I haven’t had to R/R one on a Tacoma yet.
The last one I had was involved with was on a Lexus car.
I know the job itself sucks, and OEM is Expensive.

I’ve had pretty good luck with Napa parts.
And I’d probably look at them if I were not going OEM.
And that’s only my opinion, based on my luck with their parts.

I honestly don’t know what to tell you.
Pick one and hope it works?

 

Just be careful with "recommendations." Lots of folks recommend something that replaced an OEM part with 100,000 miles on it after some ridiculously short period of time. I only listen to folks who've put serious miles on something.

 

yes, always with a grain of salt. I tend to take recommendations seriously only when there's an overwhelming lean towards one mfg. I'm thinking no matter which way I go it's going to be a crapshoot, because I'm not spending OEM money.

 

I haven’t seen a replacement Toyota oem rack fail....

 

All parts fail - eventually. Even OEM Toyota parts fail eventually. One needs to look at percentages and longevity here.

 

I agree, especially with a job like this.

Unfortunately, sometimes in life we can’t afford OEM.
When this happens, it like OP said. “It a crap shoot”.
All you can do is pick one, then Hope and Pray it works.

 

Guess depends how long op wants to keep his truck and how often he beats it in the trail...

 

Oh I hear ya, and fully understand and agree. I work in a Toyota dealership and get to see OEM parts fail every single day. I also get to see aftermarket junk that somebody "saved money on" get replaced with OEM stuff after the aftermarket part failed in short order. I'm just cautioning the OP (and everybody else) on the dangers of buying parts purely based on price.

Now a qualifier. If it's something like a gas cap, there's little risk (and cost) involved if an aftermarket part fails. If it actually works, life is good. With a Steering Rack though - especially one that's a PITA to install like the Tacoma 4x4 one is - one should be extra carful. This is especially true if you're paying somebody else to install it. If it goes bad within the warranty period, they'll only replace the part. They won't pay for the labor - which is significant.

Like they always say, buy once, cry once.

 

BTW, if I were to pick my worst and best aftermarket brands, NAPA would be on top and Dorman would be on the bottom.

 

No don't flip them on reinstall that's just as dumb as flipping the UCA bolts. If the nut ever comes off the bolt is dropping out of the rack and it will no longer be attached to the truck. At least with them in the stock orientation if the nuts come off the rack will shift around some but not be completely useless and you can get off the road safely.

I have one of the cardone new racks not the reman and it's been holding up to my abuse for a year now. DD and wheeling on 35s now. I blew up my stock one wheeling too. Now I have a tundra modified rack from Basikbiker that I need to install. The job really isn't that hard. If it weren't for a stubborn and rust seized intermediate shaft on the rack I would of had it done in 3 hrs. It just takes a little patience and finesse getting the DS bolt out and then fishing it out of it's home.

 

Dorman makes a lot of the stuff that is rebranded NAPA, belts and hoses are gates, filters are wix, etc. Lots of house brands are like that made by another actual manufacturing company and just rebranded.

 

Changing a rack is no biggie, cut the driver side bolt out and it will wiggle right out. Just pay attention to the steering spline shaft when reinstalling