Found cause of p/s leak. Not good :(

Decided to start a new thread instead of thread jacking SouthWestGA's thread:

https://www.tundras.com/threads/rack-and-pinion.33255/

Week 2 of ownership and already finished 2 quarts of Dexron III. So finally got some time and crawled under and found the problem. The actual steering rack is rusted and leaking. Problem is where the rack and pinion is attached to the subframe. Same location where bushing clamp surrounds the rack.


Mustie1 (awesome video!) Video screen shot:

My 2001:

What I need:

 

I like the hack stands

 

Junkyards always preaching: safety first!

 

That's gonna be fun

 

Not sure what approach I'm going to take. Replacing the entire subframe means cutting it out and welding in a new one to the ladder frame. But I'm also thinking on keeping the original subframe as it is and taking it to a body/frame shop and have them fabricate a bracket where the old one rotted. No matter what, this is going to suck.

 

My intial thought was like you said, to fabricated a new bracket. Thanks for the new thread and pics as they are helpfull for us others here. Glad you figured out the problem.

 

That there is some funky rust. The picture of the Junk yard doner is hella clean compared to your ride. To bad the bracket was gone.

 

I say find a good donor in the junkyard and bring your grinder or sawzall. Cut the bracket off of the donor truck and bring the truck to a welding shop.

 

Crawled up mine today to check that post support. Its like it should be. These rust pictures get me paranoid a bit.

 

I think the flash made the photos look really bad. Don't get me wrong - its ugly. But the rest of the truck is actually pretty good. At least the rust is getting lubed by Dexron III
The rack is also being held by the two other attachment points. But not planning on going wheelin any time soon until this is fixed.

 

Just a quick update. Toyota records show truck was inspected in 2010 for frame recall. No issues found. Re-inspected in 2012 and frame was replaced at dealer.

 

Wow

 

Glad there’s no rust in Cali.

 

Wonder if they will replace frame again? This is a first time hearing a replacement went bad.

 

Wow that’s nuts. So much for the replacement frames solving the rust issue...

 

I called Corporate. Only one frame replacement during the recall campaign. You don't get a second frame

 

Wow! Thats terrible.

 

Damn. So now what?

 

I’m afraid for those stands

 

That’s what they said

 

I'm taking her to a shop and welding a new bracket on. I'm probably not going to bother cutting one off from a donor. Just have the shop fabricate a replacement as close as possible to factory.

 

I’d like to see the work when they are finished if you could.

 

@Shellback , how did it turn out?