Advice on new Rack and Pinion?

[Langcow1]

In case anyone else is looking, I ended up with this OEM rack, $500
1995-2004 Toyota Steering Gear 44250-35042 | Toyota Parts

 

[Langcow1]

I don't know that they are better, as they are stiffer. Less give than the OEM rubber bushings (which are still great by the way). This has been my experience and opinion:

Poly are great for the sway bar bushings and sway bar end link bushings. 4Runners have a lot of body roll especially when cornering so the extra firmness of the poly bushings provide extra stability.

Thanks for the advice. This is what I decided too - OEM for everything but the Energy Suspension for the sway bar.

One question though: since I’m going to have the Energy bushings in the front sway bar, would it make sense to do the rear sway bar Energy bushings at the same time so front and back match? I’m not planning on doing anything to the rear end right now otherwise.

 

[gamefreakgc]

Thanks for the advice. This is what I decided too - OEM for everything but the Energy Suspension for the sway bar.

One question though: since I’m going to have the Energy bushings in the front sway bar, would it make sense to do the rear sway bar Energy bushings at the same time so front and back match? I’m not planning on doing anything to the rear end right now otherwise.

Yes, but not the end of the world if you don't. The front seems to see more movement and stress than the rear. But if you do decide, do the sway bar end links as well. That makes a big difference.

 

[Langcow1]

Ok makes sense to me!

 

[3bears]

I don't know that they are better, as they are stiffer. Less give than the OEM rubber bushings (which are still great by the way). This has been my experience and opinion:

Poly are great for the sway bar bushings and sway bar end link bushings. 4Runners have a lot of body roll especially when cornering so the extra firmness of the poly bushings provide extra stability.

I prefer the rubber bushings on the steering rack. I put poly ones on and noticed I felt a lot more vibrations and feedback through the steering wheel. I didn't really like this so when my rack leaked and needed to be replaced, I went back to OEM rubber. Some may prefer the extra feedback as it's up to each driver and what they like.

I have not replaced my control arm bushings so I cannot comment there.

when you say you went back to OEM bushings....are yuou talking about toyota or did you find aftermarket acceptable ? I did not notice any more vibration when I went to energy suspension rack bushings on my past rig. Not ripping on you...just trying to think of best options when I rebuild my front end this summer.

 

[gamefreakgc]

when you say you went back to OEM bushings....are yuou talking about toyota or did you find aftermarket acceptable ? I did not notice any more vibration when I went to energy suspension rack bushings on my past rig. Not ripping on you...just trying to think of best options when I rebuild my front end this summer.

The new rack I bought came with OEM Toyota bushings. I haven't tried aftermarket beyond Energy Suspension's poly bushings.

It really is a matter of preference though. I'm one of the few that didn't like the poly rack bushings.

 

[hanks4runner]

My all original 250k '98 SR5 steering would get stiff in cold weather and the power steering would squeal like crazy pulling into a parking spot, and I was told it was a stiff joint on the intermediate steering shaft. I read somewhere to soak the joint with a penetrating type oil, maybe not good advice, but when it gets loud, I hit it with a can of 3&1 oil and it fixes the problem that goes away in the warm weather. I have done this during the last few winters. I originally thought it was the rack..FWIW...

 

[dmppdx]

My all original 250k '98 SR5 steering would get stiff in cold weather and the power steering would squeal like crazy pulling into a parking spot, and I was told it was a stiff joint on the intermediate steering shaft. I read somewhere to soak the joint with a penetrating type oil, maybe not good advice, but when it gets loud, I hit it with a can of 3&1 oil and it fixes the problem that goes away in the warm weather. I have done this during the last few winters. I originally thought it was the rack..FWIW...

How could squealing be the result of the intermediate steering shaft? Squealing noise would either be generated by the rack, or the possibly the belt slipping. When its cold, the fluid is thicker, and this requires more force to move the oil through the system, so increase squealing makes sense, but the intermediate steering shaft just transmits leverage to the rack, so that seems odd.

 

[hanks4runner]

How could squealing be the result of the intermediate steering shaft? Squealing noise would either be generated by the rack, or the possibly the belt slipping. When its cold, the fluid is thicker, and this requires more force to move the oil through the system, so increase squealing makes sense, but the intermediate steering shaft just transmits leverage to the rack, so that seems odd.

The intermediate shaft has a flex joint that can get real stiff and feel "lumpy" when steering into a parking spot or making a sharp turn, which I assume puts a load on the PS pump. There are some posts on here about that issue. I read one where the old one was dropped on floor during replacement and broke in half, so I will look into fixing mine.