Guidance? Prep for Steering Rack Replacement

Preach brotha. I think the initial cost is hard to swallow sometimes regardless of what the total cost may end up being.

While you might think labor is free, it certainly is not. I charge a 50% premium for my free time and still don’t quite hit the local hourly cost for labor.
I don’t know what the price of a D.A. rack is but I was seeing oem racks for sale for $620.

 

$200


The only reason I went with Detroit axle is because of the difficulty in getting a new OEM at present and That most others were remans I prefer you to make sure the warm gear was new

and the fact that I've spent a small fortune fixing up this truck over the last 8 months and still have more to do.

but it is a very good point about OEM and the price being worth it in most cases

 

Ok, one more question:

So the first step is to secure the steering wheel to keep it straight. Well my wheel is currently a little off (see photo) so, my question is, should I straighten the steering wheel (meaning the wheels and tires may be a little turned) then do the rack replacement with the hope that when I put it back on it will be closer to center…

or,

should I secure it with the wheels and tires straight (meaning the steering wheel will be a little off center) and then do the swap and hope it can be fixed with alignment…

curious your guys’ thoughts.

thanks!!

 

What caused your steering wheel to be off?
I would probably have wheels straight and then change rack. Wait for some others who are more knowledgeable than me to chime in.

 

You can set the wheel straight and use your TREs to get the tires straight. That's what we did to mine.

 

^^This^^
What bmf said.

Center your steering wheel and secure it before disassembly. When installing your rack, turn the shaft (the pinion, of your rack) your coupler goes on both ways lock to lock. Count how many revolutions it is. Mark it if you have to. Now rotate the shaft back 1/2 of those rev's. For instance if you got 3 1/2 turns out of it, turn it back 1 3/4 turns. That should be centered for your new rack. Install it like that. It wont be perfect. When it is aligned they'll get it right on. This way both of your outer tie rod ends will be threaded on roughly the same amount. Also when taking your old TRE's off the old rack measure how many threads from the end of the threads to the jamb nut on the threads of your inner tie rod end shaft. Your want that to be approx equal on each side. The two sides may not come off and measure equally but they should be close. Alignments, etc could make them slightly unequal. Just add the two measurement and divide by 2. That is the measured distance the jamb nut needs to be screwed down on to the inner rod end shaft. Easy stuff. Makes the alignment easier and more equal.

 

I remain glad I haven't had to do this job since it sounds like a royal PITA. Following the thread though...because inevitably it will come.

 

no clue. It was like that when I bought the truck. I’ve only had it for 3 months and wanted to get the rack done before an alignment since I’d need one anyway.

 

That's how I bought mine. Rack and alignment will make a big difference.

 

I had the dealer replace mine last December (2023). New OEM racks were not available at that time, only a Toyota remanufactured unit. I haven't heard anyone else mention Toyota reman units, but that is what my invoice shows.

Regarding the job, I replaced my bushings about a year before my rack blew out and I found that a long 1/2" ratchet (like 18") with a swivel head was hugely helpful in removing the top bolt that threads downward into the cross member. Not sure if your swivel sockets will work as well for that bolt.

 

Looking at replacing my rack (2001 4wd V8) pretty soon, as the rack seems to have a lot of play in it. I can generate a loud clunk and get a lot of play be shaking the tire back and forth with the front end up in the air.

Any opinions on Toyota remanufactured steering racks as 2003DC mentioned?

Anyone use a Toyota reman with success? Failure?

Thx

 

Is it a bad rack or are your bushings shot?

 

Someone needs to rebuild their rack and post a video. It would be so worth it.

 

Are all the steering racks the same?

i think i have bmf’s old rack i could do & get pics.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/EDD-8946/applications

 

I believe it's the rack itself, not the bushings. Steering rack bushings do not move at all when having a helper turn the wheel side-to-side with tires on the ground.

Clunk from the front end while hitting bumps at low speed while turning. Side-to-side play in the both front wheels with truck in the air. When I remove the steering rack bellows and have a helper grab the tire to rock it back and forth I can visually see no play in tie rod ends, but can see the ~1" shiny metal shaft that comes out of the steering rack clunk up and down or side to side within the steering rack body.

Yeah, a video would be cool! I heard on here that all girls garage has an episode where they rebuild a tundra rack, but it only seems to be available for purchase on youtube.

 

All girls garage - S12E8

 

Shifty, months ago I created a thread on this. I have seen so many pics of FGs that the bed is a different shade...or more like two shades..including mine. MIne has never been in an accident. I work with a guy that has a white 03..bed is way off..never been in an accident..and a guy I know that works at local oreillys has old man gold one..the bed is a different shade...never been in an accident. Its a thing. My wife and I will spot them now when driving around town. I wish I knew why this was so.

 

Its quite possible it's because the truck was damaged in shipping, or lot damage. Or it was repaired without an accident report. It should never happen on a non-metallic (i.e. white or black) truck, though. With metallics, there's an argument to be made about panel shape and how the sun catches it. But given the trucks are all painted same time/same factory, it should be identical in color pigment/tone/variation unless one panel was painted on Friday, and the next on Monday? I dunno.

If I ever see it, I assume it's been repainted. I look at these trucks all the time, I have a Craigslist and Facebook tab open with recent ads, in case some stupidly-smoking deal pops up. I'd say about 1 in 200 have deviation between the cab and bed.

 

look at this one i saw browsing one day

 

Yup, it looks like that's been repainted.

Although it's curious, from the mirror forward it nearly matches the bed.