Steering Rack Replacement

[NEKExplorer]

I have a 97 V6 manual SR5 and I am pretty sure the fluid leakage I am seeing means my mechanic will tell me that I need to replace my steering rack. What can I expect to pay to have my steering rack replaced (OEM parts)?

Thanks

 

[rorybg]

I picked up a rebuilt Toyota steering rack from a local driveline shop, got new outer tie rods, and poly bushings. All in all, the parts were about 400 dollars. If you are paying someone to replace it, you will probably have a couple hours of labor on top of that, not to mention the mark up on all of the parts if you get it through someone.

You can do the job pretty quickly assuming you have the right tools and can get everything off without sheering any bolts!

 

[BamaDrewski]

I have a 97 V6 manual SR5 and I am pretty sure the fluid leakage I am seeing means my mechanic will tell me that I need to replace my steering rack. What can I expect to pay to have my steering rack replaced (OEM parts)?

Thanks

I replaced my rack with a brand new rack with 36 month warranty from Steering Rack and Steering Box at Wholesale Prices from Car Steering (2000*Toyota*4 Runner*Power Steering Rack from Carsteering)

I had a local shop with a lift install it and if I remember right - charged me $175. I have had ZERO issues out of the rack. No leaks. No squeaks. Nada.....

 

[etc.]

If you are able, can you clean the area around the rack and find the origin of the leak? Maybe its a line or possibly an oil leak from above.

 

[Rock_Rat]

I have a 97 V6 manual SR5 and I am pretty sure the fluid leakage I am seeing means my mechanic will tell me that I need to replace my steering rack. What can I expect to pay to have my steering rack replaced (OEM parts)?

Thanks

That's a common area to see fluid leaks. Residual fluid has a tendancy to collect in that area. I wouldn't be so quick to assume it's the rack unless you can feel or hear something wrong with your steering. I've got 320K plus on my original rack with new poly bushings. They last a long time.

If it is your rack, then I believe youre looking at around $500-700 for a new rack from toyota parts overstock and around 2-3 hours labor. Ball park - $800. Search this forum. A lot of guys on here have done rack bushings and full replacements.

 

[derpiful]

Basically what was said above, if you can find the source, you may have some more options. I replaced an oil seal in mine for a leak, something that was an $11 fix to avoid getting a new rack.

 

[JBurt]

If Safari LTD is still in business their racks are great. Around $300 and it's easy enough to install yourself. I heard someone say they were going out of business though.

 

[pluton]

Since yours is a 5 speed, the only system that uses ATF is the steering. Is it leaking ATF?...or motor oil?

 

[NEKExplorer]

I am pretty certain it is power steering fluid. It is definitely not oil. It is red fluid (my brake fluid is currently not red) and it seems to be dripping from either side underneath about where the inner tie rods connect to the rest of the rack. It would be great if it was an $11 fix, but I am seldom that fortunate. I did not see any fluid around the pump or reservoir area, so I am concerned for the worst.

Thanks again for all the advice.

 

[Algiers]

Basically what was said above, if you can find the source, you may have some more options. I replaced an oil seal in mine for a leak, something that was an $11 fix to avoid getting a new rack.

I just replaced my inner and outer tie rods and noticed some watery oil in the boots. Do you think this seal you replaced might be something that would help my situation? I'm pretty new to this so any extra info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[derpiful]

I just replaced my inner and outer tie rods and noticed some watery oil in the boots. Do you think this seal you replaced might be something that would help my situation? I'm pretty new to this so any extra info would be greatly appreciated.

Definitely not the same seal. Mine was the one at the top, where it connects to the steering shaft, which leaked all over the rack. Check out this picture though:

Yours might be that oil seal in the second row of parts... Hard to say!

 

[shizupple]

I replaced my rack with a remanufactured A-1 Cardone. $228 + $200 core charge that I got back. Me and a buddy installed it one day with his lift, so some wood smoker pellets and a bottle of jack was the payment!!

 

[Algiers]

Definitely not the same seal. Mine was the one at the top, where it connects to the steering shaft, which leaked all over the rack. Check out this picture though:

Yours might be that oil seal in the second row of parts... Hard to say!

Thanks I'll look into that. I'm hoping that it just happened over time and something got through the boot.

 

[etc.]

I just replaced my inner and outer tie rods and noticed some watery oil in the boots. Do you think this seal you replaced might be something that would help my situation? I'm pretty new to this so any extra info would be greatly appreciated.

What color was the oil? Tears in the boots? I poked a hole in mine and very little ps fluid came out. I recently did my tie rods and there was no evidence of a leak in the pleats.

 

[Algiers]

What color was the oil? Tears in the boots? I poked a hole in mine and very little ps fluid came out. I recently did my tie rods and there was no evidence of a leak in the pleats.

It was dark brown and maybe a slight bit reddish. It smelled like oil but was pretty watery. There is a pic below that came from the passenger side. The drivers side had less but seemed to be thicker.

I didn't see any holes or tears but there was a lot of old grease on the rack and on the boots closest to the rack. The inners were completely shot and I'm assuming they were original. I replaced the boots anyway but am concerned that if the leak is coming from the rack, it will mess up my expensive new inners.

 

[gamefreakgc]

I am pretty certain it is power steering fluid. It is definitely not oil. It is red fluid (my brake fluid is currently not red) and it seems to be dripping from either side underneath about where the inner tie rods connect to the rest of the rack. It would be great if it was an $11 fix, but I am seldom that fortunate. I did not see any fluid around the pump or reservoir area, so I am concerned for the worst.

Thanks again for all the advice.

If you can, try and remove the inner side of one of the boots. If when you take it off if the boot is filled with red/brown liquid, yeah, the rack is failing. However, I was able to use the power steering stop leak which actually kinda worked, it didn't get all goopy either. No more leaks! That is, until I spun out on a slippery road and hit a curb, which effectively ended the life of my steering rack. The way I see it, if you rack is failing, putting in the stop leak can't make anything worse at this point... I had tons of metal shavings in the fluid so I knew my rack was toast!

Even then, replacing the rack itself isn't that hard. The only hard part is if you have never touched the bolts or if you have rust, then an impact wrench is almost a must. I was able to man-handle it by lifting the front end up a lot and using a very long breaker bar but it was not easy. The rest is simple, a couple of hard lines, sway bar, take off the outers (I bought new ones though) and that's it. Only tricky part is to MAKE SURE YOU DON'T STRIP THE HARD LINE NUT. I almost did this by accident but was able to rethread the rack and saved it.

 

[4Runner4TW]

I also replaced mine with a new rack from carsteering.com with the 36 month warranty as mentioned earlier in this thread. No problems, nice rack, shipped fast. I hear the Safari LTD are the best however.

I replaced mine in my car port with basic hand tools and jack stands. Was pretty simple. Hardest part was getting the two high pressure lines back on and tight enough. Also keeping the steering wheel straight so that you don't damage the spring inside the wheel. I screwed this part up and had to fix it but that only took 10 minutes to straighten the wheel.

 

[gamefreakgc]

I also replaced mine with a new rack from carsteering.com with the 36 month warranty as mentioned earlier in this thread. No problems, nice rack, shipped fast. I hear the Safari LTD are the best however.

I replaced mine in my car port with basic hand tools and jack stands. Was pretty simple. Hardest part was getting the two high pressure lines back on and tight enough. Also keeping the steering wheel straight so that you don't damage the spring inside the wheel. I screwed this part up and had to fix it but that only took 10 minutes to straighten the wheel.

Unfortunately, Safari has gone out of business. I called them and they did not have any racks left back in November.

 

[JBurt]

I just got off the phone with Safari and they are very much still in business. Give them a call: 970-245-5898

 

[gamefreakgc]

I just got off the phone with Safari and they are very much still in business. Give them a call: 970-245-5898

Wow, that's really odd. The guy I spoke to said they were shutting down soon and not likely to have the racks back in stock again. Wonder why he would tell me that? Maybe things changed?