Rackdoctor steering rack

I bought a remanufactured steering rack from Rackdoctor.net for 264.95+100 core + shipping.

Received it a couple days ago and was disappointed to see what arrived. Here are the main points:

• Not smooth. Very 'notchy' feeling
• Input shaft torque varies from 10-30 in-lbs (it is not consistent)
• Old style rack guide
• I do not know what brand inner tie rods are installed (but I didn't ask)
• Has red polyurethane bushings installed, but one is torn and not seated well
• corrosion under silver spray painted finish, which is flaking off
• It is a Toyota rack
• The box had holes in it from the steering rack mount dragging along shipping trucks/conveyors

Here is a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLsR7pV7FRY

The site advertises a 'Lifetime' warranty which sounded great to me. However, upon closer inspection:

I don't have much confidence in the steering rack or company and will be contacting them on Monday to return.

 

Looks like a Cardone rebuild. Spray paint and throw in a box

 

Did you some how miss the fine print in the warranty disclaimer ??

Most all rebuilt parts carry that same disclaimer unless built for off road use then they often state not legal for Street Use.

 

Sorry to hear the shit luck. I held onto my core so I could rebuild it in my spare time. I havent rebuilt it yet but one day!

I forget the exact brand, But i went to a local parts store that caters solely to dealers and mechanics shops, and bought a unit that came with a decent warranty. Its been doing me good for 3 years now.

 

That's the reason why I'll buy a Toyota rack from Toyota when the time comes. Yep, they are outrageously expensive but I'll have to worry a lot less getting a factory part. Just the time and labor and hassle of having to replace a cheap one makes the $1000+ price tag worth it to me. Rebuilt parts from "elsewhere" can do just fine and last a long time but I've very rarely had any luck with cheap rebuilt parts on any vehicle I've ever owned. I either go to the supplier that built the parts for the company or the company itself.

Case in point. Before I got this Taco about 4 years ago I owned a '73 Cadillac Coupe DeVille for 18 years. The only car I had and the best car I ever owned. I replaced a starter on it soon after I first got it. It lasted about 10 or 12 years before it blew. It was an AC/Delco starter and it cost me around $200. Insanely expensive compared to going to NAPA or somewhere else and getting a rebuilt one with a warranty for half the price. Or even less. I went through 5 starters on that car before I dropped the money and got another AC/Delco starter brand new made by AC/Delco. I had to special order it because they had to make it. No need to go through the various nightmares the cheap NAPA starters (2) and others caused me. $250 for a new AC/Delco and I would have been money ahead. Way ahead had I just done that when the other blew. Not a problem with the AC/Delco and it still worked perfect when I gave that car away after getting this Taco. It had about 3 years of use on it.

Warranties on cheap parts are great until you take into consideration how much of your time is spent taking the crappy part out and putting the replacement in. Then there are the tows and the motel rooms along with other problems a break down can cause in the wrong place at the wrong time.