New 2006 DC Owner

Yeah, I'm not too sure. I do remember seeing that the two times I've wrestled with my steering rack so pretty sure that's normal.

 

CVJ Reman does the steering rack rebuilds also, but last I looked they were fairly expensive. I'd call a Toyota parts desk and ask about the different racks. The hardlines seem fine and the pump should be ok, I'd replace the rack first and see what happens.

 

Ended up going with an OEM Toyota rack. My mechanic ended up being able to get one cheaper than I could so I just had him do the work and it almost evened itself out. Kept the pump and hopefully it holds up. Also had the car undercoated to deal with the not so ideal conditions here in Vermont. Oil changed and greased up the slip yoke last night, still need to do the U-joints, headed in for an alignment today. Hoping they can let me know if anything looks overly worn in the suspension, but my mechanic did a look over and didn't really have much to report. I got a puff of white smoke a couple times on start up but haven't seen it since. Truck is just over 150k miles.

Service history of note (all dealer done):
-Entire transmission transfer case replaced @60k due to a failure where all the fluid drained out and it locked up. Replaced under warranty with OEM transfer case.
-Struts/shocks replaced in 2015 at 100k miles (2 different service notes for this for some reason - generic struts/shocks writeup at 99k and then 4 new shocks with part numbers at 103k)
-Timing belt/water pump/alternator belt done at 108k
-Rear brakes "cleaned and adjusted" 12/2015 @ 104k
-Front brake pads done and rotors resurfaced 10/2017 @124k
-Called the dealer to get more info on a service done and apparently rack and pinion had already been replaced in 2019? Only 8k miles ago. My mechanic said it was aftermarket. Weird, but I guess that's what you get.
-Code P1445 "Air Inject Vacuum Switching Valve Stuck Close" reported by dealer but owner opted not to fix

Anything I should be on the lookout for to replace coming up? I know the entire front suspension is a big one around this mileage. Thinking I should be able to get more life out of the struts/shocks done at 100k though. One lower ball joint was replaced 120k miles ago and that's about it. Definitely going to address rear/front brakes fairly soon. Also likely going to get an extra set of wheels for winter tires, which we have on about half the year here. Looking at just getting some OEM steelies straight from Toyota to be on the safe side. Looking to keep everything as close to stock as possible. The most off-roading I'll be doing is driving on the dirt roads of Vermont.

Finally, here's the truck!

 

Ran out to pick something up an hour away. Stopped at Habor Freight after. When I turned the car back on power steering was whining...another power steering leak. Rack was replaced at 138k and again at 150k. Pump was replaced just before I bought it. What is going on here?? Really hoping its not a bad pump that destroyed another $$$ rack. Looked at what I could at the gas station but couldn't see anything obvious.

 

What parts did you go back with that are failing? Brand New OEM, New Aftermarket, or Rebuilt Oem?

 

Never mind. I’ve read your opening. This is a bummer man.

 

Yeah, mechanic said he sourced a Toyota rack that fit my VIN. "Toyota rack" is on my invoice. Pump is from NAPA which worries me. I have the receipt the seller gave me and could probably warranty it but not sure I want to. Just hope it's something simple or the pump and not the new rack. But if it's the rack it seems I would have something else causing this. 3 racks and 2 pumps in 10k miles is crazy.

 

Yeah. Something is awry.

 

How much do you want for that $3,500 truck with messed up steering?

 

Appreciate the advice, Max. Enjoy your night.

 

Hello there tdrich7, that's not a ding, it's a factory mark, mine and all my fiend's Tundras have it. BTW, I hope you've solved your issue with the R&P