2001 Tundra 4.7L - Is steering rack leak a deal breaker? (pics)

Would you avoid this one? It's ~135K miles and asking for ~12K?

 

Steering rack wouldn't be a dealbreaker for me. Seals start to leak after 20 years.

Have you read the first two replies of this thread? It'll tell you what to look (out) for: https://www.tundras.com/threads/so-you-wanna-buy-just-bought-a-1st-gen-tundra-eh.115928/

Clearly you'll be needing new struts ... those lower bushings are fucked. The pics are potato, so it's really hard to see more. Looks like they were taken with a zoom lens or something. We need some overall shots too, not everything zoomed in. And you totally failed to include any shots of the frame, which is the most important issue with these trucks, besides the timing belt, and the lower ball joints are not aftermarket, and also not more than 150k miles old.

 

For $12k and expecting not to have to replace anything right away, yes. Keep looking.

 

I would say negotiate the price due to items.

 

@shifty` - thanks for the reference to that article, it was helpful.

 

^ This.

If you start itemizing needed repairs and deduct them 1 by 1 from his asking price (all within a face to face conversation), many reasonable sellers will be willing to come down on their asking price.

 

I'd do the same. Stealership put in a Trugold (?) steering rack due to mine leaking (which I believe it was leaking pretty badly). In the future I hope to replace it with an OEM Toyota unit but for now, it's doing fine.

First Gens are going on 20 years old minimum so things are going to be worn out.

You can also, like stated by others, pick a seller's price down by pointing out needed repairs.....to a point that is.

Good luck!

 

The boot was leaking on mines almost identical. I waited 6 months before I replace it. I brought a remanufactured one from EB toyota. I paid about $500 back in 23. I went and did some upgrades on older parts. I purchased new ball joints, Billstien Struts and JBA UCA and just timing belt. I had the truck down for a weekend but she ready for another 100k.

 

@shifty` what does this lingo mean? slang for poop?

 

Definition and source.

 

Learn something new here everyday. Funny.