Power steering recall

Agreed

 

Send me your vin and I'll check

 

If your rack was to fail, they'll cover it. It's a know problem, and there is no reason they won't repair it. This is going to be a Special Service Campaign, and SSC, so if your vehicle falls into the VIN range it'll get a new rack regardless of whether or not it's leaking.

 

How do you know this?

 

I had the build date in my phone after the dealer texted me that day and I started to anxiously wait for it to arrive…

 

08/21 build date

 

I have the same but have not received a notice yet.... the wait continues...

 

Did you try searching for your VIN?
https://www.toyota.com/recall

 

Do you have access to a different lookup tool? I have checked on the Toyota site and via my app.

This is what I see when I punch my vin into Toyota's site

 

Try this.
https://www.toyota.com/recall?srchi...djATE6r8IwII4n8ztPEaAgkXEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

More info

 

That's probably accurate, but yes I do have a different way of looking it up.

 

I have talked to several people at Toyota, including a few field engineers. I suspect this was a manufacturing problem with the power steering gear/rack. From what I have learned, one of the end seals leaks and the system loses all the power steering fluid, rendering the power steering system inoperable.

 

Its almost always a parts supplier issue that causes these problems.

 

Does anyone know the procedure to replace the rack? Is it done from the top or bottom of the engine bay? I just bought a TRD sway bar and skid plate and may hold off the install until there is more info ion this recall, since the hardware is not be reused on skid plate if it is removed and reinstalled. If I do decide to put it on prior to the fix, I wonder if Toyota will cover the cost of the new hardware if the skid plate needs to be removed/reinstalled.

 

It’s done from underneath mostly.

 

Most likely a single line. It would not make sense to have multiple lines in different areas to do the same process. For proper process flow and Kaizen, the same process is generally in one area where possible. That would in general be bad Japanese manufacturing form to separate them out. It would require twice the operators, maintenance, calibration, manufacturing engineers to oversee, etc. If they were producing thousands a day maybe, but they arent.

 

From the bottom. Front diff has to come out.

 

I bet Toyota (Dealership) would try and reuse the skid plate hardware to help keep their costs down.

 

All the parts I ordered were ready today. Now I need to decide if I want to install the skid plate now or wait. Opinions?

 

I’m at 40k miles on my 21 built in October 2020. No issues yet.

 

What hardware are you referring to? The skid plate is made to come off. You have to do it every oil change unless you have a TRD or aftermarket skid plate with the access hatch.

 

TRD Skid plate hardware. Per Toyota, some of the hardware is not to be reused.

 

Looks like it’s just the 2 rear locking washers. I wouldn’t expect the tech to read the skid plate instructions after an all day steering rack install and see that it says to replace them. He’ll probably reuse them. If you install it now, you could get 2 new washers and replace them or ask the tech to do it. The locking washers should be less than a dollar or 2.

 

Do you know the estimated time (hours) to replace the rack?

 

When mine went out on my 2010, I think when they started on it to finish was a day. Maybe a little over a day. The truck was there longer as it wasn’t drivable so I had it towed there. They told me the Toyota manual says to pull the engine but they did it from underneath as someone said above.

I think the issue right now would be them getting a rack.

 

I experienced a power steering rack failure while in my buddys F150 this week, do not think for a second that you can handle it. He’s 6’3 275 lbs (big man) and it was all he could do to steer the truck even when we were moving. It is NOT like manual steering of yesteryear you will have to stop where ever you are and hope like hell it doesn’t happen while you need to turn. It was scary as shit.

 

There's a lot that can go wrong with removing an engine and if there's a problem later due to poor workmanship, it's probably on us to prove the issue is due to the rack being replaced. I don't think I'll be raising my hand yelling, "Pick me. Pick me" to get it done ASAP. Right now I'll just keep an eye on the fluid level and take it easy on the steering. Let the pioneers get the arrows in the back.

 

I'll venture to say that nothing on the input side of the rack is designed for the torque required to steer the truck with the PS inop.