User Tag List

Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 01-21-2014, 10:11 PM #1
1dr1s 1dr1s is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Oakland
Posts: 4
1dr1s is on a distinguished road
1dr1s 1dr1s is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Oakland
Posts: 4
1dr1s is on a distinguished road
Replace Front Rack and Pinion because of valve oil leak?

I am considering buying a 1998 4runner 4wd with 180k miles and took it into a mechanic for a pre-purchase inspection.

There is an oil leak from the valve gasket cover and this has caused oil to saturate the rack and pinion. The mechanic said that some bushings need to be replaced in the r&p, but that some are only available by purchasing the entire r&p assembly, which seems odd.

The total cost for the replacement and the wheel alignment is $1100 with labor.

Does this sound right? Anyone have experience with this?

Thanks
1dr1s is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 01-21-2014, 10:40 PM #2
nissanh nissanh is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Odessa/Midland TX
Posts: 3,711
nissanh has a spectacular aura about nissanh has a spectacular aura about nissanh has a spectacular aura about
nissanh nissanh is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Odessa/Midland TX
Posts: 3,711
nissanh has a spectacular aura about nissanh has a spectacular aura about nissanh has a spectacular aura about
You can get a used motor installed for this price.

It is very easy to install the rack and pinion in a 4runner. Try to find a different mechanic.
Get a low mile used rack and pinion (about $100).

Also get a life time alignment plan from firestone for $180. This is good for years as long you own the 4runner and unlimited alignments per year!
nissanh is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 01-21-2014, 10:48 PM #3
TXRick TXRick is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 550
Real Name: Mr. Allen
TXRick is on a distinguished road
TXRick TXRick is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 550
Real Name: Mr. Allen
TXRick is on a distinguished road
You can replace the bushings with these

Search Results

I did mine myself but a mechanic could do it very easily.

The valve cover gasket should also be pretty easy and replacement gaskets shouldn't run you too much.

Find another mechanic.
TXRick is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 01-21-2014, 10:59 PM #4
1dr1s 1dr1s is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Oakland
Posts: 4
1dr1s is on a distinguished road
1dr1s 1dr1s is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Oakland
Posts: 4
1dr1s is on a distinguished road
Yeah, it seemed pretty expensive.

The price for fixing the gasket oil leak was $425 and the price for replacing the rack and pinion was $1100, both with labor.

Is it true that the whole r&p needs to be replaced just because some bushings were damaged by the leaking oil? Would anything else in the r&p be damaged from the oil leak?

Thanks in advance
1dr1s is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 01-21-2014, 11:22 PM #5
Grenvilleter Grenvilleter is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Woods of E.Ontario/Ottawa Valley
Posts: 289
Grenvilleter is on a distinguished road
Grenvilleter Grenvilleter is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Woods of E.Ontario/Ottawa Valley
Posts: 289
Grenvilleter is on a distinguished road
Are you sure the garage said the leaky rack was from leaky valve covers?

You are probably dealing with 2 completely different issues here. Regardless, sounds like a lot of coin.

I just replaced my rack last week due to the original starting to leak a little but it had 190kms on it and I had an almost new rack to put in from my "donor" truck.
In lieu of having a spare rack, I would attempt to put a bushing kit in the rack and have it re-aligned but I don't know if it would have cured the leaky rack problem.
Good news is there are many topics of discussion regarding bushing changes in these racks and I would have dug a little deeper to see if it would have cleared up the leaky rack part as well as tighten things up.
Grenvilleter is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 01-21-2014, 11:26 PM #6
PitbullRescuer's Avatar
PitbullRescuer PitbullRescuer is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 3,921
PitbullRescuer is on a distinguished road
PitbullRescuer PitbullRescuer is offline
Senior Member
PitbullRescuer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 3,921
PitbullRescuer is on a distinguished road
Replace Front Rack and Pinion because of valve oil leak?

If the rack isn't leaking, no need to replace it. The bushings are external and are both available and replaceable independent of the rack. Most likely doesn't need valve cover gaskets either. The bolts get loose. 9 times out of 10 you can just retorque the valve cover bolts and they'll stop leaking.

If your mechanic doesn't know that, find a new one.
__________________
'98 SR5 4x4, cheap DD http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-ge...im-addict.html '99 SR5 Highlander 4x4/5 Speed... http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-ge...eed-build.html '97 SR5 4x4/5 speed, another new project... http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-ge...new-build.html '00 SR5 4x4, new project, stay tuned... http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-ge...ld-thread.html '97 Limited 4x4, freshened up quite a bit... http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-ge...d-3rd-gen.html '99 SR5 Highlander 4x4... http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-ge...ce-thread.html
PitbullRescuer is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 01-21-2014, 11:46 PM #7
Grenvilleter Grenvilleter is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Woods of E.Ontario/Ottawa Valley
Posts: 289
Grenvilleter is on a distinguished road
Grenvilleter Grenvilleter is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Woods of E.Ontario/Ottawa Valley
Posts: 289
Grenvilleter is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by PitbullRescuer View Post
If the rack isn't leaking, no need to replace it. The bushings are external and are both available and replaceable independent of the rack. Most likely doesn't need valve cover gaskets either. The bolts get loose. 9 times out of 10 you can just retorque the valve cover bolts and they'll stop leaking.

If your mechanic doesn't know that, find a new one.
So...if a rack is leaking oil, the rebuild kit won't help ? No seals to replace or stuff like that ? Glad I had a donor but I was considering rebuilding my old one "in case" I would somehow need another down the road.
Grenvilleter is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 01-22-2014, 12:52 AM #8
PitbullRescuer's Avatar
PitbullRescuer PitbullRescuer is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 3,921
PitbullRescuer is on a distinguished road
PitbullRescuer PitbullRescuer is offline
Senior Member
PitbullRescuer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 3,921
PitbullRescuer is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by Grenvilleter View Post
So...if a rack is leaking oil, the rebuild kit won't help ? No seals to replace or stuff like that ? Glad I had a donor but I was considering rebuilding my old one "in case" I would somehow need another down the road.

No, they can be rebuilt. I just think its a lot easier to replace it if it is leaking. Rebuild kits can be fine buy God forbid you bend, twist, pinch or improperly seat one of the replacement parts or seals, it's a nightmare. Rebuilt unit from Cardone is $260. That'd be the route I'd go.
__________________
'98 SR5 4x4, cheap DD http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-ge...im-addict.html '99 SR5 Highlander 4x4/5 Speed... http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-ge...eed-build.html '97 SR5 4x4/5 speed, another new project... http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-ge...new-build.html '00 SR5 4x4, new project, stay tuned... http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-ge...ld-thread.html '97 Limited 4x4, freshened up quite a bit... http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-ge...d-3rd-gen.html '99 SR5 Highlander 4x4... http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-ge...ce-thread.html
PitbullRescuer is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 01-22-2014, 08:43 AM #9
TXRick TXRick is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 550
Real Name: Mr. Allen
TXRick is on a distinguished road
TXRick TXRick is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 550
Real Name: Mr. Allen
TXRick is on a distinguished road
OP never said the rack was leaking.
Get the bushing kit from wheelers and tighten your cover.
TXRick is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 01-22-2014, 08:58 AM #10
kernel.panik's Avatar
kernel.panik kernel.panik is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 322
kernel.panik is on a distinguished road
kernel.panik kernel.panik is offline
Member
kernel.panik's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 322
kernel.panik is on a distinguished road
My Dealership wants $1200 for a new rack, installed (I laughed)
Your mechanic wants $1100 for a cheap re-built that costs him about $200...do the math and find a new mechanic.

At 180K, make sure the TB and WP have been done recently, or there's another grand if you don't do it yourself.
__________________
2011 SR5 Premium
Blizzard Pearl
5100s, TRD Wheels, 265/70/17 BFG KO2s
kernel.panik is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 01-22-2014, 04:22 PM #11
1dr1s 1dr1s is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Oakland
Posts: 4
1dr1s is on a distinguished road
1dr1s 1dr1s is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Oakland
Posts: 4
1dr1s is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by Grenvilleter View Post
Are you sure the garage said the leaky rack was from leaky valve covers?
Yes, the garage said that the leaking oil from the valve cover saturated the rack.
1dr1s is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 01-22-2014, 04:23 PM #12
1dr1s 1dr1s is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Oakland
Posts: 4
1dr1s is on a distinguished road
1dr1s 1dr1s is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Oakland
Posts: 4
1dr1s is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by TXRick View Post
OP never said the rack was leaking.
Get the bushing kit from wheelers and tighten your cover.
Correct. There is no indication that the rack is leaking.
1dr1s is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 01-22-2014, 06:40 PM #13
quicksilvr's Avatar
quicksilvr quicksilvr is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: St. Joseph, MO
Age: 41
Posts: 2,036
quicksilvr is on a distinguished road
quicksilvr quicksilvr is offline
Senior Member
quicksilvr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: St. Joseph, MO
Age: 41
Posts: 2,036
quicksilvr is on a distinguished road
Wow, this mechanic that you are dealing with is doozy. Like everyone else has pretty much said:

Oil getting all over the outside of the steering rack cannot hurt the rack. Maybe the bushings are bad because they are original, are also soaked in oil.

New bushings are $20.

I had good mechanic replace valve covers on one of my previous 4Runners for $230. That's parts and labor. Total. Which is why I didn't do it myself....it was cheap enough to pay someone else to do it.

Moral of the story, have a different mechanic look at the truck, because the diagnosis may very well be completely different.


If the steering rack does need to be replaced because it's loose or it is actually leaking too much, then you can find them for less than $400, and they are easy to install. For what it's worth, almost all original steering racks on 3rd gen 4runners are leaking by this point in time. It just depends on how much, and if the truck still drives and steers fine. My rack leaks a little, but not enough to replace the rack.
__________________
2001 SR5~Thundercloud Metallic~3.4L Auto~4x4~260k miles~TRD 2gen black Supercharger~URD AFR Calibrator~B&M 70264~Bilstein Adjustable w/ tall '99 fronts~ProComp 3" rear springs~Nitto Ridge Grappler 285/70R17's on 17x9 Enduro's~Yakima RailRider w/48" bars~ScanGauge II
quicksilvr is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Reply

Tags
gasket , oil leak , steering

Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Rear Differential Pinion Seal Leak Northland_Runner 3rd gen T4Rs 4 10-08-2013 01:40 AM
I successfully blew my Rack+pinion - going to buy FZJ80 front axle this weekend. cordrayj1 3rd gen T4Rs 39 11-13-2012 12:54 AM
Rack and Pinion leak Mano1124 3rd gen T4Rs 12 11-01-2012 01:13 AM
Rack & Pinion miikkeeb 4th Gen T4Rs 3 02-01-2011 12:02 PM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.2

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:47 AM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Feedback Buttons provided by Advanced Post Thanks / Like (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
User Alert System provided by Advanced User Tagging (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
***This site is an unofficial Toyota site, and is not officially endorsed, supported, authorized by or affiliated with Toyota. All company, product, or service names references in this web site are used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners. The Toyota name, marks, designs and logos, as well as Toyota model names, are registered trademarks of Toyota Motor Corporation***Ad Management plugin by RedTyger
 
Copyright © 2020