Steering rack upgrade for 2nd and 3rd Gens?

There may finally be a bolt in steering rack that will offer a significant upgrade in strength and durability. The original application is another Toyota vehicle, and it shares some internal parts and architecture with the steering racks on 98 - 07 100 Series Land Cruisers, along with some 1st Gen Tacoma Trucks. Everything is larger... with some minor modifications to the assembly, along with hydraulic tubes, and custom passenger side mount.... it could be a winner. Things look really great on the bench, but until I get it in the truck, we won't have a 100% yes for an answer.

Pics, black painted is the stock unit. Gold unit is a cheap aftermarket... no sense in doling out the relatively hefty sum an OEM rack commands, until we know it will fit.


New unit has 35mm rack bar, stock is 30mm. New has about 158mm stroke, stock is 167mm, not sure how much they can use in vehicle. The new rack bar is shorter by about 16mm per side (32mm overall). While this will place the available inner tierods too far inboard for proper geometry, it will allow plenty of room for a double shear mount, which will allow the position of the joint to occupy the proper location.




Body is larger and more robust.



Tiny 30mm stock rack guide, OEM 35mm, cheap aftermarket rack plastic piece.

 

I'm watching for your results!

I just noticed a slight leak and torn boot on my passenger side rack and am watching the removal/ replacement videos now... doesn't look too fun, but doable...
since I am going to jump up to the 35" club soon, I think it would be wise to just improve the entire system while i'm at it....

 

@ovrlndkull might be of interest to you as well

 

What vehicle. And for a truck that's lifted, big tires, and a trail limo that extra travel in the stroke is pretty important. Even for the 127" WB trucks you'll probably loose a good bit of turning radius. I am sure there is a calculation for that.

 

I will share all info after we see whether or not it will work.... the source is pretty comical, a total fluke. It would be nice if OEM racks were not so expensive, and the inexpensive knock offs not complete crap.

I'll check the rack stroke in truck to see if the loss is significant enough that it needs to be dealt with.

 

Well, it's sooo close, yet so far. It easily bolts into the frame, but the angle of the spool valve to steering shaft is just too steep. This creates several problems.... a lengthened steering shaft with a double cardan joint is probably required, not enough clearance between the diff and spool valve for the hydraulics lines to and from the pump, and a little closer to the CV Joint than I would care to see. A 2WD truck could probably use this with the longer shaft and DC. A, gulp, diff drop may also give enough clearance.

In the end, there's just too many little things to keep it from being an easy bolt in that all could easily partake in. So back to the drawing board... if we could turn the rack up, and place the spool valve higher, things will be good.

 

What’s the difference between this and the first gen tundra rack solo motor sports uses?

 

Solo uses a 2nd gen Tundra rack... it's even larger, a total beast... with a 38mm bar, single piece cast housing, etc. it requires the rack to be narrowed, and as far as I'm aware, the mounting points need to be moved, which requires some fab work and welding. The hopes here are to produce some thing we can bolt in.

 

Ahh. Bolt in is always nice.

 

I have some ideas that could make this work. Off to the machine shop.

 

Is this what you’re looking to accomplish?

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/modified-tundra-rack-swap-preorder.625844/

 

No, please see post #8. I have both a Tundra and the even cooler 200 Series Land Cruiser steering racks on the shelf here...

 

Bolt in rack beef would be fantastic. The Tundra conversion is good, but unless you cut the front off your truck the install is a bitch. Getting the bungs for the rack moved is the worst part.

 

What ever happened with this?

 

Lol, didn't think there was much interest.... Still working, picked up parts, need to get back on it.

 

I can speak for a bunch of guys that are still very interested.

 

Yea, me too!

 

Any updates?

 

No updates. The required adapting parts are in a long line of work at the machine shop... shock parts, transmission parts, oil coolers...

 

What is your expected timeframe to have an concept to gauge interest for purchase?