Rack and pinion difference between 2WD vs 4WD

Hello, I have noticed when I steer, my rack and pinion is making a little bit of a popping sound and when I get under the truck and have someone steer the steering wheel back-and-forth, I can notice that there is what I would assume to be too much play, which is then causing the Rack and pinion to hit metal on metal. Now, where my problem lies is from what I can tell, there are different versions of the rack and pinion for the 98 Tacoma. I have a five lug non-pre-runner 2 Wheel Dr. model and when I try to buy new bushings for my rack and pinion assembly , I am finding that an overwhelming number of trucks come with a different type of rack and pinion than mine does. I’ve also watched a few videos that I’ve found in this forum from threads that others have posted and almost every time, the rack looks very different from mine. For starters, The location of the mounting bolts is different. On the driver side, the mounting bolt for mine is vertical and not horizontal like the videos and pictures I have seen. So I am quite confused. I bought a set of bushings from AutoZone, and I’m really believing that it is for the other Style of rack and pinion And not for the style that I have. I have gone onto This website for diagrams and upon looking at the diagrams, there is three styles of rack and pinion for my truck. The style that I have, if you go onto that link and look at the three that are on there, matches the first two, but the third style on there is the one that I see everybody else working with on all the pictures and videos that I have seen. So I am just trying to pinpoint the exact bushings that I need to get for the style of rack and pinion that is in my truck and not keep buying the wrong ones because that happens to be the most common style that is found in these trucks. I am really NOT trying to replace the entire assembly just to remedy this issue so if anybody has any light they can shed on me for this particular issue, I am all ears and would absolutely appreciate it.

Here are the diagrams if you can’t click the link

The first diagram is the style found in my tacoma:


The second diagram is the style found in what seems to be almost all other tacomas:


They look fairly similar, but the major difference is that the rack on mine, the mounting Bolt on the driver side is vertical, and the other style of rack has a horizontal bolt on the driver side as well as a vertical bolt more towards the center(from what I can tell, on the passenger side, both look to be very similar as far as how it mounts up)

 

I have uploaded a video of the drivers side of the rack and pinion showcasing the amount of movement it has when moving the steering wheel back and forth.

 

Yeah, all the kits will have the wrong bushings for you. Except this one. The D bushing is right. The other bushing confuses me because I don't see how it goes in without having taken it apart yet. Maybe easy.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/224574951889

 

Yeah bro, I’m not buying that. That honestly look hella scammy to me. No offense. The whole thing is a red flag.

For one, the part number on the item is non-existent aside from that singular eBay post and there’s not even any info there either. I’d rather go with something that comes from a reputable retailer and not someone’s eBay listing.
For two, the pictures are basically all just generic ass stock photos with one single “photo” of the bushings but there’s no specs or anything that leads me to WANT to risk paying for anything from your link. Sorry guy, I’m not stupid and I know my way around the internet and scams and that shit screams scam.

now, if anyone’s got a real product you can suggest from either Toyota or a reputable manufacturer, let me know.

 

^ he's right ya know.

 

You know your just replacing a dumb bushing on an old truck....

its not a Kidney transplant....

 

You basically have two choices.......

go with the original rubber one....

or go poly.


One is gonna be soft(er) and one is not

 

So you’re saying that part from that sketchy eBay post is legit? It’s just not where I feel comfortable putting my money.

Yeah. Clearly. I’m not that dumb. I know the difference between different materials. The issue is which set of bushings to buy because my rack is different than most of the racks on these trucks. It mounts differently thus using a different amount of bushings and different configurations needing more or less pieces than the other style of rack that can come on these trucks.

does anyone have some sort of Toyota part numbers for the two styles of power rack and pinion? Or at least some form of official designation for them to differentiate between them?

As far as I can tell, one only comes with the 2rz 2wd models and the other comes on the pre runners and the 4wd 3rz and 5vz models and I’ve already purchased sets that all so far have been the incorrect bushings and most of the parts stores don’t seem to have any meaningful way to filter between the styles because it still comes up with just the 4wd ones.

 

In a dealer's parts book ( mcgeorge)

they have a part # for everything on that rack....

except for that one vertical bushing.......they list the other donut one ....#3..

aint that a bio tch.....





Neither version of the rack lists that one part......

 

Must be a conspiracy going on here with toyota....
.....maybe they're getting even for the war......

 

I mean, it's a $25 part from a seller with a 99% rating. Worse case scenario you return the part. I've spent $25 on dumber shit

 

I could be wrong .....Ive slept since then...
but when I took out the old vertical bushing, it was jacketed with a metal sleeve...

The poly's are the correct diameter to fit in there without the outer metal sleeve....

that's the reason I just burned out the original center metal core/sleeve,
and just reused that with the poly ones height shaved down a touch.


I say all this.....because the one in ebay ....has no sleeve.....

so.....we need a guinea pig,,,,,,


Ive been sporting the poly one for three years now.

and just like the new design rear axle seals......they get inspected often....


And I didnt get the E.S. ones.....I got the blue Prothane ones made in Australia,
they're made from a proprietary higher quality synthetic rubber......twice as expensive.

 

I have found the correct bushings on eBay here. It’s for the 5-lug models. Seems they are hard to find. Maybe I’ll buy two. I’m not going to buy this exact set from this eBay listing but I’ll be looking for a reputable retailer to get them from but at least I know a lot more about the ones I need and how to refer to the specific rack I have.

 

I suspect the poly ones will not outlast the rubber ones.

Unless your on the roads way north.....the poly's may escape rot longer...

So its really what your need is.


It'll be interesting to see how the polys hold up over time and abuse...