Thinking about getting a new steering rack with the July 4th sale...

I ordered a larger 31.75mm front bar for my 2002 Tundra this morning.

 

My truck is a 2WD so technically I should get the more expensive one. But Im probly gonna risk it and go with the cheaper one. I did that with my radiator which showed a couple different matches and the cheaper one ended up being perfect. Pretty sure they are both the exact same part. Hope it works out for me.

 

I do get the point, my local dealer is less than 5 miles away. But I'd only use them for bolts as they charge over MSRP and they also do a credit/debit card surcharge. Also, 3.5 gallons is more like $10. My last fillup was last week and $2.599 a gallon. Even at $4 a gallon you'd only be at $14.

 

@Alltimehigh and @Bought2Pull...I believe I answered your steering rack part # questions over here in Post #s 29-32.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/tie-rod-ends.123690/#post-3934978

@fishordie...I believe your steering rack part # is the one ending in -0C010 but will verify tomorrow around noon when I have computer access. Do you have the production date in month and year found on the VIN label located on the driver's side door?

Last year, when steering gears were on national backorder, and while pulling together an order for my own new R&P, I made a spreadsheet that lists all TMC steering racks manufactured for 1st Gen Tundras along with fitment info derived from multiple sources. Maybe I'll post it in the forum for peer review and use. Not sure where it would go, though.

Anyway, I'll take a look tomorrow if interested.

 

If you did, I appreciate it. I'm just too tired to do more than reply and thus, "tag for later."

Been a long day........

 

Hey man, been working 12s...thanks a million for reply. Here is my VIN 5TBRT34182S299300.

 

what part number is your new one? do you know if these are rebuilt? I have heard yes and no.

 

def interested and thanks for help. Im looking to order it today..no getting around it. its leaking everywhere it can.

 

so yo uwent wiht the 0c030? i have 2wd, too.

 

It's a Hellwig bar from Michigan Truck Spring.

It should match up very well with this huge TRD/Hellwig bar I installed on the rear 22 years ago.

 

This is good info but how do I know if I have a "rear stabilizer bar"? I definitely dont have a rear sway bar. Is that the same thing?

I havent put the order in quite yet. Waiting for some more info to make sure I get the right part. Leaning toward the cheaper 44250-0C030 so far.

 

Yes...Toyota refers to the sway bar as the stabilizer bar, so I just use their terminology for ordering OEM parts to avoid confusion. Since your Tundra is not equipped with the rear sway bar, it is a safe bet that the 44250-0C030 is the correct part for your Tundra - unless yours has been removed by a PO. It's clear from the original part numbers from 2000 on that Toyota assigned two different part numbers for the Tundras and Sequoias based on the presence or absence of the rear sway bar. Based on conversations with Toyota Parts Departments, the two racks are different when ordered new, but no one has explained the specific differences. Maybe some TMC guru on here knows.

I never got to the next level of conversation since it appears that Toyota came up with some post-design and engineering changes that alter fitment to allow remanufactured steering gears to fit across different models while remaining in spec [e.g. 44250-0C050-84]. This remanned unit can be used to replace both the 44250-0C030 and 44250-0C041 TMC racks. Maybe someone can chime in with an answer there as well. Maybe that's why the failure rate is so high with TMC remanned racks...who knows...just speculation...of course.

If in doubt, call the local TMC parts department with your VIN #. I knew the history of mine which was never equipped with a rear sway bar.

 

Just saw from another thread there is a part number 44204-0C011 which also shows as fitting my 2004 AC 2WD. Its labeled a sub assembly rather than a gear assembly. Anyone know what the difference is?

The sub assembly option is quite a bit cheaper.

 

See my reply in that thread...

Look at what the lines for 44204 are pointing to in the diagram...this is a sub-assembly and does not include the entire steering gear [rack and pinion].

 

Did you ever look up the production date found on the VIN label on the inside of the driver side door? Yours should be the 44250-0C010 Gear Assembly UNLESS it came off the production line in August 2002. If 08/02 is the production date on the label, the correct part number could be either the 44250-0C010 or the 44250-0C030 since that is the changeover month for this part. In that case, call and check with a Toyota Parts Department. Toyota will tell you that, in general, if a vehicle is manufactured in a changeover month, the rule of thumb is to use the newer year for model and specified part numbers, but that is not always the case.

Also, to be clear...I am assuming that you don't have a rear sway bar installed on your Tundra. If you do, then the 44250-0C041 rack is your part. It is my understanding that very few of the early Tundras were equipped with a rear sway bar. If yours did and you have the original steering gear, your current rack should have a label with part # 44250-0C050 which was later replaced by the part number in the previous sentence.

If you don't know or if the label is missing from the door, there is a way to find the manufacturing date through the Toyota Owners website. Maybe someone can fill you in on how to get that info online from the Toyota site. Good Luck!!!