Well I've really been hampered from doing any kind of wheeling activity due to the Inner tie rods that I found needed replacing. I was afraid to add any additional damage wheeling might cause, if I did.
I ended up having to also replace the Rack Guide, guide cap, spring and the nut, which I ordered from Toyota Parts Cheap. I ordered the parts off of a 2001 4Runner. 01-02 models came with the newer style Rack Guide. And while in the process of tryin' to fix the rack, I also ordered some Polyurethane Steering Rack Bushing Kit from Wheeler's Off-Road, Inc.
The tie rods by the way were ordered from Napa boasting a Ltd. Lifetime warranty.
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The steering rack has no leaks whatsoever so replacing it would've been out of the question.
With the guiding instructions of my mechanic friend and following some of the How-to's and write up's others have already laid for us, tackling the job can actually be straight forward. Sorry no repeat write ups here.
Only pic....Right side Inner tie rod.
Old Rack guide cap..
Yummy rack...Ever notice the
TOYODA stamp on the rack housing?
New style guide cap w/ locktite'd cap nut. Also seen is a new replacement ITRE boot clamp from Toyota.
Roller type guide
01-02 4runner parts
I took no pictures of the new steering rack bushings but here's what I replaced, along with the old miscellaneous rack guide bits and old ITRE's.
Minor snags I ran across..
The 19mm bolt in the middle atop the rack housing was a pain to remove at first but it gave eventually. And ofcourse removing the Diff drop was an extra step as well.
Doing the rack guide adjustment can be abit frustrating..atleast for me. I just went by feel according to the steering wheels stiffness and adjust accordingly, while also avoiding slop on the steering rack, seen inside the Inner TRE boot/bellow..That meant adjusting the guide cap, driving, adjust more till i get the right feel on the steering wheel.
ALL fixed!! Now the steering definitely feels more responsive and everything was history..Thanks for all the wonderful write ups and tips that saved me from spending big on a new steering rack.:guitar2:
While awaiting for the parts, i snagged a set of 97 LC 8wrap coils and shocks for $50 Cad...now that's not a bad price at all for the set. The LC owner ordered a set of OME kit including 861's for the front. He owns a dual locked, solid front axle monster. I'm hoping to be wheeling with him come next year.
Here's when I got 'em..Double purple-light blue-white(passenger) & purple-green-white(driver).
I painted them red and since I still have the front OME struts in yellow, I closely matched the shocks the same color.
Height comparison shot with the 890's
890's with one on top of a 1.5" Cornfed spacer....MY old set up.
And during the LC set install..boy, do those 6Ton stands help aton? he he!
After all was said and done, the LC coils netted 1" taller than my previous set up..Holy! it was too tall, so for the next two days I loaded the rear cargo with 4 stock tires on wheels, 2- 90lb power blocks I use for working out...oh yeah the 2 jack stands too! Gotta settle those springs down from being unloaded.
So, my usual wheeling buddy and I went farther east to Chiliwack and found us some nastier than usual logging roads and I tell ya, those coils and shocks didn't disappoint. I felt alot cushioned on long rocky-trail runs....flexes too!
Flexing it...Sure I can do better!
Also painted the trac bar red..
.......and replaced the ARB's amber signal light cover to clears.
Glad to be back out there!
