WTH? How do you go from dirty steering fluid to rack and pinion replacement?

[Lewis&Clark]

I brought my 2008 Ltd V8 T4R into the Dublin, CA Toyota service center this morning. 150,000 mile inspection and some miscellaneous service items. I knew it'd be expensive, but I was willing to pay for the service for convenience. No problem.

The report just came back. And aside from a long list of things I know I've been putting off for a while, there's a couple items that caught my attention.

In particular, their observation of the power steering fluid is that it's dirty/contaminated. Okay...but their recommended solution is a $2,381 replacement of the entire rack-and-pinion assembly.

I don't know much of anything about how cars work, so I'm curious to hear from the more mechanically inclined here in the forum. How do you go from power steering fluid being dirty to needing to replace the entire damned system? Is this reasonable? May be a stupid question...but why can't you just replace the fluid? How critical is dirty fluid to the operation, reliability, or performance of the truck?

They also want $30 to replace a license plate bulb, $300 to do the rear brakes and rotors, $300 to resurface the front rotors, and some other stupid s**t. As I said, I expect absurd prices going there. I'm not so much curious about the cost they're offering as I'll go elsewhere for any big ticket items. But I don't know enough about how/to what extent the problems and solutions they're suggesting are legitimate.

 

[Inv4drZm]

As long as the steering feels fine, no need to replace the steering rack. Just flush out the fluid and keep an eye on the level and color in the reservoir.

 

[99Runnr]

I bought front an rear brakes for $175 with rotors and pads/clips. Or $600 to re-use rotors is cool I guess lol.

If it's not leaking, sloppy, why would you replace the rack? You can do brakes and power steering flush EASILY in say 4 hours yourself. Compared to just under $3000 in parts/labor, I think it's worth the savings.

 

[RobD]

Is there any leaking from the rack itself? Are you using fluid? Any excessive play?

I'd go to a different dealership and have them look at it without mentioning anything about the previous dealership's estimate.

To me, it looks like they're padding their bill. But that's just me.

 

[AuSeeker]

I have been doing mechanic work on all kind of vehicles and heavy equipment for more than 45+ years and unless as mentioned you're having steering issues, just do a power steering fluid flush and don't worry any more about it, if the rack and pinion goes bad later which I highly doubt it will, it will be evident and will not cause you to wreck your T4R or cause any other damage.

I wouldn't let the dealer do any of the work, ask around with friends and family etc. for a trustworthy and reliable local garage and give them all of your business from here on out!!!

If their reasoning was warranted, which it isn't, why wouldn't they also say you need to replace the power steering pump as well, it and the rack and pinion are all apart of the same system, if the fluid being a bit dirty would cause one to need to be replaced the other would be just as susceptible and I would suspect the pump to go bad first if at all, damn bunch of idiots trying to take advantage of someone without knowledge of the subject, makes me mad enough to spit....BRB....Ok I'm all better now just went outside to spit!

 

[j4run]

Find a new mechanic - no question about that. This stinks.

Changing steering fluid is a very easy and requires less than $10 of fluid. Brakes can be expensive, especially if you replace calipers use Toyota parts.

 

[ElZilcho]

Sounds like you're being taken for a ride. Take it elsewhere.

 

[Atlanta_man]

Must be a common money maker for the shop.

Couple years ago I took my 4R in for something else and the shop manager phoned and told me I needed a new steering rack. Urgent, leaking profusely he said. Odd since my driveway/garage never has any drips and my fluid stays full.

Still OK now years later. Lot of nerve to tell an easy to spot lie.

Plan probably is to just clean it up and charge for a new one.