How To: Replace your own steering rack (5 Viewers)

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I bought my Toyota brand TRE's for much cheaper than $81 each, and the rack I was quoted with shipping at about $960
Good to know. A quick search online came up with similar price for the rack from Longo Lexus.
Gonna see what kind of deal I can make with the local dealer. I like to throw business their way when I can.
 
I'll add my experience in here too. Sorry if it was covered between page 20 and 30 of this thread, I didn't have time to read them all.

2001 LC, rack was leaking but otherwise worked well. I finished getting it out last night. I didn't have a replacement low pressure return line and wasn't able to remove the existing one from the rack prior to removal. I was able, however, to remove the driver's side inner tie rod and and get the rack out without damaging anything while the low pressure line was still attached (disconnected at rubber tubing). I lifted the engine from below and didn't loosen the fan shroud bolts but that didn't cause any issues (edit: realized after replacement that the shroud had been cracked a long time already. You should loosen the fan shroud before lifting the engine). Once the rack was out I was able to remove the low pressure fitting using a large adjustable wrench.

I'm picking up the new (reman) rack from CVJ this afternoon. I'll report back if there's anything interesting, but I wanted to let you guys know it's possible to get the rack out without disconnecting or damaging the return line if you remove the inner tie rod end.

Oh, and while we're here, any favorite methods of cleaning ATF off a concrete driveway? I've used a deck brush with a purple power solution and a power washer, but neither work great.
 
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I'll add my experience in here too. Sorry if it was covered between page 20 and 30 of this thread, I didn't have time to read them all.

2001 LC, rack was leaking but otherwise worked well. I finished getting it out last night. I didn't have a replacement low pressure return line and wasn't able to remove the existing one from the rack prior to removal. I was able, however, to remove the driver's side inner tie rod and and get the rack out without damaging anything while the low pressure line was still attached (disconnected at rubber tubing). I lifted the engine from below and didn't loosen the fan shroud bolts but that didn't cause any issues. Once the rack was out I was able to remove the low pressure fitting using a large adjustable wrench.

I'm picking up the new (reman) rack from CVJ this afternoon. I'll report back if there's anything interesting, but I wanted to let you guys know it's possible to get the rack out without disconnecting or damaging the return line if you remove the inner tie rod end.

Oh, and while we're here, any favorite methods of cleaning ATF off a concrete driveway? I've used a deck brush with a purple power solution and a power washer, but neither work great.
Nice bit of info there!

As for the ATF, I just embrace the suck and roll around in it…
 
I'll add my experience in here too. Sorry if it was covered between page 20 and 30 of this thread, I didn't have time to read them all.

2001 LC, rack was leaking but otherwise worked well. I finished getting it out last night. I didn't have a replacement low pressure return line and wasn't able to remove the existing one from the rack prior to removal. I was able, however, to remove the driver's side inner tie rod and and get the rack out without damaging anything while the low pressure line was still attached (disconnected at rubber tubing). I lifted the engine from below and didn't loosen the fan shroud bolts but that didn't cause any issues. Once the rack was out I was able to remove the low pressure fitting using a large adjustable wrench.

I'm picking up the new (reman) rack from CVJ this afternoon. I'll report back if there's anything interesting, but I wanted to let you guys know it's possible to get the rack out without disconnecting or damaging the return line if you remove the inner tie rod end.

Oh, and while we're here, any favorite methods of cleaning ATF off a concrete driveway? I've used a deck brush with a purple power solution and a power washer, but neither work great.
To clean up all things oil based I start off with clay cat litter, and really stomp it in and work it around for a few days. Then I work on the residual stain with concrete cleaner. Then I give up and let the natural elements work their magic.
 
Mucho Sorry.
Zero issues, just letting you know. Theres still a bunch of people on the forum that would prefer to get OEM ones from Toyota that haven't been refurbished, and the prices are going way up.
 
2000 LX 343k miles
Replacing Rack this weekend with New OEM.

2 questions: I
1. Should I replace the lines on a vehicle this old with this many miles. I have no reason to believe they are failing, but should I do it as a preventative measure? The 3/8 and 5/8 hoses at reservoir are quite hard, maybe brittle. I assume I could just grab some bulk hose from the auto parts store to replace them. Sunsong lines aren't too expensive and available on Amazon. Just didn't know if I should leave(OEM) well enough alone.

2. I ordered the rack from a dealership on ebay. Description stated it was new. Item in picture is not what arrived, thankfully. It wouldn't have fit my vehicle. Is there any way to know for certain that the rack is new, not reman. It looks new, no sign of wear and no "reman" stickers.


Thanks!
 
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2000 LX 343k miles
Replacing Rack this weekend with New OEM.

2 questions: I
1. Should I replace the lines on a vehicle this old with this many miles. I have no reason to believe they are failing, but should I do it as a preventative measure? The 3/8 and 5/8 hoses at reservoir are quite hard, maybe brittle. I assume I could just grab some bulk hose from the auto parts store to replace them. Sunsong hoses aren't too expensive and available on Amazon. Just didn't know if I should leave(OEM) well enough alone.

2. I ordered the rack from a dealership on ebay. Description stated it was new. Item in picture is not what arrived, thankfully. It wouldn't have fit my vehicle. Is there any way to know for certain that the rack is new, not reman. It looks new, no sign of wear and no "reman" stickers.


Thanks!
I can't speak to the condition of the rack, but I have a good friend who is, for the most part, a Land Cruiser-exclusive mechanic, and he constantly complains about people who choose aftermarket over OEM hoses. He said they never fit right, and are always a PITA!

I've not done this job myself, but I trust what I hear from him 100%
 
2000 LX 343k miles
Replacing Rack this weekend with New OEM.

2 questions: I
1. Should I replace the lines on a vehicle this old with this many miles. I have no reason to believe they are failing, but should I do it as a preventative measure? The 3/8 and 5/8 hoses at reservoir are quite hard, maybe brittle. I assume I could just grab some bulk hose from the auto parts store to replace them. Sunsong lines aren't too expensive and available on Amazon. Just didn't know if I should leave(OEM) well enough alone.

2. I ordered the rack from a dealership on ebay. Description stated it was new. Item in picture is not what arrived, thankfully. It wouldn't have fit my vehicle. Is there any way to know for certain that the rack is new, not reman. It looks new, no sign of wear and no "reman" stickers.


Thanks!
I believe the product is required to be labeled as a reman if not new.

That doesn't mean that a low quality vendor will not skirt this.

Does it look like OEM Toyota? Search the p/n - I think Toyota p/n's add an "R" to reman'd parts...
 
I can't speak to the condition of the rack, but I have a good friend who is, for the most part, a Land Cruiser-exclusive mechanic, and he constantly complains about people who choose aftermarket over OEM hoses. He said they never fit right, and are always a PITA!

I've not done this job myself, but I trust what I hear from him 100%
I used the Sunsong hoses and they worked great for me. No fitment issues whatsoever. YMMV. I couldn't justify the cost of new OEM and I wanted to replace them with my rack on a vehicle that was manufactured 24 years ago.
 
+1 for the Sunsong hoses from Rockauto. A littttttle tricky getting the one hose connected to the rack. I almost stripped it, but after that, smooth sailing.

@whereeaglesdare Reman's have -84 on the end of the part number. So, 44250-60050-84 is the reman unit. Seems like you got the non-reman unit. :beer:
 
Amazing thread! Thank you all. Looking at jumping into this shortly but cannot find the part number for the below. Does anyone have the PN handy?

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I replaced the steering rack in my 2000 100 for no real reason back in November. Took about 2 hours total, I jacked the motor up and removed the oil filter - made it easy.

I bought a new OEM rack locally, was $670. The local dealer did not have a core charge like all of the online dealers did, so the price was much better for the early rack. The reman rack is a different part number.

If anyone needs a good non-leaking take our rack in Arizona, I have one for cheap.
 
In case if anyone near Northern California is looking for a new in box 03-07 steering rack assembly (44250-60100), please let me know. It was on back order and took a while to arrive. But turns out my truck didn't need it, confirmed by a Toyota specialist. I listed the rack in the Classifieds.
 

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