Rack & Pinion replacement

Went in to get a wheel alignment after getting new tires but they said I need a new rack&pinion first. Anyone have any suggestions. I wont be installing it myself as I don't have the time and experience for that part of the truck. Not sure where they will get the new parts but they might go to the local NAPA as they are about a block away but NAPA is so expensive. There is also a Carquest / Advanced Auto nearby as well. Just looking for opinions on basic rack&pionions or if you have installed some better quality rack&pinions. I see RockAuto has some good options.

 

They take a beating and last forever. Maybe tie rod ends only?? Cant imagine the rack unless you have 400K miles

 

My rack was leaking a couple of years ago and I got a replacement from Oreilly's. A few months ago the power steering hoses started leaking around where they screw into the rack. Got an entire new hose assembly from Oreilly's again.

 

You should replace at least the high side hose every 6 or 7 years....
they deteriorate/rot from the inside out........
eventually you get little rubber balls all running thru your $500 rack and $200 pump...


And can order the gates equivalent thru napa/autozone/oreilly/advance...
usually takes a day from warehouse...$170ish....

 

OP any local friends into Toyota`s that could check this out for you??

2WD 5 lug Or 4x4 ??

Where does the Truck Live??

How many miles ?? Lots of off roading?? lifted with bigger tires ??

I can not see your Truck needing a Steering rack.

Tie Rod lock nuts seized !! The rack needs changed for that reason some shops might want to!!

Cam Bolts seized ?? So many things cause a shop to say the alignment can not be done.

I have been told so often I need this replaced or that in most all the cases it was employee up selling that tends to earn them big $$$

Just what problems are you having ?? Front tires being destroyed ?? Abnormal tire wear??

Changed steering or suspension parts ??

Since the alignment goes off the wheels in the newer systems the condition of your tires does not matter.

The old scuff alignment analog systems of my youth .

 

Did they say why you need a new rack? As mentioned above, there are inner rod ends, hidden inside the bellows, that wear and give a little play. This a driveway job if you have the time and tools, if you are at the mercy of a shop that is profit motivated…

How were the old tires wearing? If the wear on them is fine meaning that there is no obvious inner or outer tread wear signs or feathering of the tread then I suggest that an alignment isn't needed. You will get longer wear out of the tires by rotating them every 5k miles.

On a side note, alignment shops will show you a fancy colored picture with things in red and green and everything in degrees IN or OUT. The camber and caster are an easy thing to understand, the toe reading in degrees is something else. When you do the math it comes down to thousandth’s of an inch, there is no way for them to adjust the toe and keep it that way, say to .005”, there are just too many moving pieces.

 

Just replaced my r&p over the Labor Day weekend due to passenger side seal leak. I got the reman "dura last" replacement at auto zone. $500 with $140 core. No idea the long term quality but I would recommend buying the reman over brand new as brand new is prohibitively expensive and likely negligible long term quality difference. Might as well have them swap out the outer tie rods while they are there. You'll need a alignment after as well.

 

Rack and pinion leaks are very common on these trucks. Mine started dripping recently and I added some Lucas stop leak to slow it down before I get around to replacing it.

 

You know an alignment shop cant warrant anything if there is any play present...

The 'you need a new rack' could mean alot of things....

They cant do anything for you there....and just shoo you away....


It could mean alot of things, loose this or wore out that,

...... only the definitive thing they didnt say 'hey your rack made a mess all over our floor'......

you dont just go throwing parts at these trucks...you may even damage the new parts....if not careful...



For years my boss says 'get rid of that old truck....and start making payments on a brandnew one'

.........I never listen to him either....

 

I hate to be the one to tell you this, but you paid OEM prices for an aftermarket reman.

 

Check this out.......someone please buy and tell us your story....

wear your seatbelt just in case....

Brand NEW Toyota Tacoma Steering Rack and Pinion 4WD 1995-2004 2WD 1998-2004 | VEVOR US

 

HAHA NO WAY!

First be sure you need a rack, I was told this in 2018 and ignored it, replaced almost everything else first and turns out he was right. What are the symptoms? Mine drifted right slightly and couldn't be closely aligned. Clunks, noises, sloppy steering, anything else? It really could be something else.

It's not that difficult if you can get the TRE's out of the knuckles, but if you're not doing it definitely get a second opinion. I've heard mixed responses on aftermarket racks, I wouldn't trust such critical part to anything but OEM. McGeorge has them now for $495 It will be about $80 shipping, I recently did this among other things.

https://parts.mcgeorgetoyota.com/oem-parts/toyota-steering-gear-4425035042

That is for an 01-04, your rack may be different.

 

What sort of alignment shops do you deal with ?

That don`t give you a detailed quote to fix things needed to align your vehicle.

Parts can be here in this afternoon do you want us to do the work ??

Take your vehicle home do the work you already paid for the alignment .

My front end shop gave a free alignment buying 4 tires.

 

they said my rack &pinion was leaking

 

only 211k miles

 

I have not had the alignment done yet. They said I need a new Rack & pinion. Where is your shop?

 

The roads(asphalt) are so bad around where I am. Lower where the tires touch the asphalt so the truck will shift from side to side. I have to drive near the center line or next to the fog line on the right side. I am very curious how the truck will drive with a new rack&pinion. Will it still drift side to side? I have no idea. There is only one clunk noise that I can't track down and it is somewhere near the right front corner of the truck like maybe it is the Antenna but I checked that for tightness. The noise is more noticeable on rough or gravel roads. Other then the truck drifting side to side on these bad roads I had no clue that my rack & pinion was bad. I thought it was the bad roads. I'm getting a second opinion next week.

 

yep, I tried to get an alignment but they said they can't do that with my leaky rack &pinion. I will try and get what ever is bad replaced Thanks.

 

4X4
Oregon
211000 Virtually No offroading. No lift. 31X10.5's
No work has been done yet to see what is actually wrong but they said the Rack is leaking.
Roads are bad here but other then that the truck runs and drives great on smooth roads. I got new tires and went in to have the alignment checked.
I myself replaced both front struts like 3 years ago but the left drivers side is leaking. I have a new one but have not put it in yet.

 

Leaking Rack is a completely different story !

Had you never noticed the leak ?

Once the boot was moved the fluid came pouring out!

Best of Luck!