Rack and Pinion replacement 03 TRD

Just had the timing belt replaced on my 03 Tundra TRD. 105,300 1 owner miles. The Toyota guy behind the counter told me I need to to replace the rack and pinion when we were going over the paperwork prior to payment etc.
This truck has never been off road and all the miles are city/freeway miles. Just hard to believe that I need the repairs.

 

Is it rusted out or leaking?

 

That Toyota guy is full of crap unless they inspected the truck and found something. Which is extremely unlikely at 100k miles

 

whothfat.....the dude said it was leaking. My truck is only driven 800 miles per year average for the last 7 years. The Toyota shop said cost of replacement rack and pinion + new fluid is around 1200 bucks and then another 120 bucks for a front end alignment.

 

14CRWMX...
The Toyota man said they inspected and found fluid in behind the boot.
I've had this truck into the same dealer now twice. First time was last month for air bag warranty repair ( passenger side) and then today for the timing belt. Both times they come up with crap they try and scare me into paying for.

 

Classic dealer stuff. A little seepage isn't a big deal, my rack has had that for years without a problem.

 

If it’s leaking bad you can get a re mand rack for $250 or so and install yourself or pay a shop a few hundred to install. An OEM rack runs like $500 or so if you like brand new Toyota stuff

 

Over 355,xxx miles on my original. If it's not leaking, when why? Is there some play on the left side? Then adjust it. That's what that big allen bolt is for on the left side. Unless your from England, then the right side.

 

It's possible that the relative inactivity contributed to the leak...seals of moving parts don't like long stretches of inactivity. Keep an eye on the fluid level and carry on. Something like this, the rate at which you are replacing fluid determines whether you need to replace it or not as long as it's functioning as intended. Think of it as a slow continually power steering fluid flush...

 

I can't believed I space brained this..........Last spring I did have a leak on my R&P, right on the top section. I had to fill it every day, and only drove a few miles, mostly leaked out over night. Now normally I dont do this, but I happen to have this quart of thick power steering fluid with leak repair in it. I dont buy into this shit, but someone gave it to me, and I figured why waste my stuff...................and Holy Carp it worked. After a few fills, I have not added anything since then. I am beside myself. New rack eventually, they dont last forever. Just 300,000 miles +.