So I was wondering if anyone in here had tackled this yet. I just got my new poly bushings in and would like to do it myself, in the driveway if possible. I don't have any jacks or jack stands, however. Is it particularly hard to get done? Maybe there's a DIY out there that I haven't been able to find? Any help would be great! cheers
New steering rack bushings
- Thread starter McFly2003
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4-Ripcord
New member
Actually, i just checked and that thread doesn't have the thread for JUST the bushings.
This is what you want:
Toyota Maintenance: Steering Rack - Bushing Replacement
This is what you want:
Toyota Maintenance: Steering Rack - Bushing Replacement
scottyb
New member
You're probably going to need a jack and jackstands. I tried to do it without and I couldn't get the steering rack to move enough to get the old bushings off and the new ones on, so I had to put it on stands. It would suck to take it apart and realize you need it on jack stands so then you'd have to put it back together, go get stands, and then start over. Good luck with the job, it's not too bad. It's definitely one of those jobs you really appreciate when you're done with it.
nice. they both seem to cover it pretty well. I'm going to try to tackle this myself...should be interesting. hopefully I wont have to remove my diff drop like it says, I have that thing on there good and tight.
Sidenote, for most of my DIY's I actually use your build thread, ripcord haha
Sidenote, for most of my DIY's I actually use your build thread, ripcord haha
4-Ripcord
New member
Nice! Glad I could be of some use.
And you're going to need to take out the diff drop. I tried with it in and there's no way. Also, you might want to change out the sway bar bushings while your down there.
PitbullRescuer
New member
We did mine two months ago. The one is a pain in the *ss but all in all it's not too bad. Definitely tightened things up a lot.
+1 about doing the sway bar bushing too. Just remember when you do the sway bar, don't tighten up the end links until it's back on the ground.
+1 about doing the sway bar bushing too. Just remember when you do the sway bar, don't tighten up the end links until it's back on the ground.
SCRunner12
New member
I just did mine this last weekend. It was a PITA. If you read the ih8mud write up you'll know which bolt is the difficult one. Steering rack bushing replacement Jack stands are a must since you have to move around the steering rack and it would be difficult with the tires on the ground, plus the added room under the 4runner is nice. Definitely create the homemade puller like in the write up. It helped a ton. Also remove the sway bar. I tried to do it with it still on and it gets in the way.
Air or power tools are a huge help. I had to borrow some air tools from my neighbor. I unfortunately forgot to put my diff drop on when I was under there so I have to do that in the near future. It was extremely worth it though. Tightened up my steering a ton. I plan on replacing the sway bar bushings next.
Air or power tools are a huge help. I had to borrow some air tools from my neighbor. I unfortunately forgot to put my diff drop on when I was under there so I have to do that in the near future. It was extremely worth it though. Tightened up my steering a ton. I plan on replacing the sway bar bushings next.
I wish I'd known that Wheelers had this stuff, I would have ordered everything and done all of my bushings. I just googled poly steering rack bushings. It's sounding like I may have to source a shop to do this in since I dont have any air tools, a jock or stands. :redbrick:
haha i would but I just moved into my wife's parents house since I am shipping out in a week and a half, so I don't know any of the neighbors and they're all sketchy. the upside is that my brother in law owns a shop so if it's not to busy, i can probably talk him into letting me use his stuff.
tbst
New member
And people with crap tons of rust that don't like to break bolts. Even with PB blaster and breaker bars, I have found an impact wrench works MUCH better with rust, IMO.
Did the job today on 1998 4Runner
Taking the four bolts/nuts off was fairly quick and easy - and i didn't even need PB blaster to loosen them. I used a couple of sprays of simple green on one end of the rubber bushings and moved them around with the long bolts and they slid right out.
Now the hard part: getting the long blot on the driver's side in was very, very difficult. I finally had to use a belt to pull the rack towards the cross members, then slid the bolt in (with some force).
The steering is nice and tight now...no more clunks! Thanks for all the advice and comments on this thread.
Taking the four bolts/nuts off was fairly quick and easy - and i didn't even need PB blaster to loosen them. I used a couple of sprays of simple green on one end of the rubber bushings and moved them around with the long bolts and they slid right out.
Now the hard part: getting the long blot on the driver's side in was very, very difficult. I finally had to use a belt to pull the rack towards the cross members, then slid the bolt in (with some force).
The steering is nice and tight now...no more clunks! Thanks for all the advice and comments on this thread.
You can do the change out without a jack and jackstands. All you have to do is remove the outer tierods ends from the lbj. This will allow you to drop the rack a bit and manipulate it for the necessary working room to get the bushings out.
On getting the bushings out, a c-clamp was a big help in getting that one bushing out on the rack. It was in there way to tight to be pushed out by hand.
Other than that the whole job wasn't too bad and can be done in your driveway like I did mines.
On getting the bushings out, a c-clamp was a big help in getting that one bushing out on the rack. It was in there way to tight to be pushed out by hand.
Other than that the whole job wasn't too bad and can be done in your driveway like I did mines.
