Redid my upper lower balljoints, inner outer tie rods and sway bar links the other day then limped it to the alignment shop for an alignment and they say my steering rack bushings are bad. It drives true now but the wheel is at like a 30 degree angle to drive true, the shop quoted me 400 bucks for bew bushings and instal and another alignment after wards, whats my best option here, Do it my self for 30 bucks and get them to do the alignment or just let em have it for the 400 bucks? Is it a PITA? Anyone have a write up for them? 1996 sr5


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Do it yourself. It isn't that bad. The worst part is getting on the upper steering rack bolt and slipping the rack around, but if you have a second set of hands it isn't that bad...but you can do it solo for sure. Check out some of Timmy the Toolman's videos on Youtube... He is a member here @mtbtim

They are not really that hard to replace. When they are bad the rack will move around and makes it very hard for them to set the toe. I would replace them and bring it back. Most places give you a free alignment within a period of time.

I also had them say the same thing to me after I already replaced my bushings. The rack bolts had just loosened up. You may just need to tighten the rack.

I had good luck with these:

https://wheelersoffroad.com/product/...96-02-4runner/

My favorite DIY, and it still has PICS!!!!

https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/ste...6/#post5867828

Here is another one:

http://www.parksoffroad.com/tacomamo...ckbushings.htm

$22 + alignment vs. $400. DIY!!!!

Did they do the alignment with known bad bushings? If so then they technically didn't do an alignment, as there's no way to dial in a solid toe setting with sloppy bushings. I mean you can on an alignment rack while the truck is not moving but as soon as the truck starts to roll and steer, it will change. No way they should double charge the alignment, IF that's what they are going to do.

Secondly, all but one of the four bushings are easy (and the bushing kits are cheap $20-30) The hardest part is getting the one bolt out that goes vertically but if you did all that other work, you shouldn't have too much of a problem doing the bushings. It's a shame because having the driver's side tie rod end disconnected makes the job significantly easier.

There are many videos on how to replace them but this one is my favorite, only due to the killer Doors remix. Plus the author uses the bottle jack in the center of the 4runner to jack it up. A little overkill with the silicone grease but it gets the job done:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lSj8WMKfEs

I haven't watched the DIY vids, this is how I do it.
Remove power steering hard line mounts, two of them.
Remove driver side OTE, remove all rack mounting bolts.
Doing the above gives you enough room between rack and frame to use 1/2" all thread with various 1/2" drive sockets as a puller and pusher on the worst of the bushings which is the drivers side.
A swivel head 3/8" drive ratchet makes short work of center bolt after breaker bar.

Well I was always suspecting my rack bushing were bad, all the fixed was my tie rod alignment, cause I ****ed that one up. I ordered bushing Ill throw em in and get them to align it again. They charged 30 bucks for that only so whatever really.


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