How To: Replace your own steering rack

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Mine is RHD so it might be different but I got to all of my bolts from either the side by removing the plastic covers behind the wheel or from underneath.
 
AimCOtaco said:
If you are smooth but sloppy I wonder if you have tried replacing the rack bushings with urethane copies yet? That is a cheap way to tighten up the steering and the urethanes could be re-used if you went to a new rack in the end anyway. You can get it ridding nice but it will still be a body on frame truck so it won't handle like a sports car no matter what you do...
Click to expand...

Wouldn't this require removing the rack anyway? At that point I would think I would go for the new rack if I had gone to the trouble of taking it out.
Maybe I am not understanding. I was looking at the new rack and it felt like it would be a real chore to get the OEM bushings out to replace with poly bushings. I will use a poly bushing on the passenger side where the u-clamp goes around the rack.
 
bluesquirrel said:
On my '98, the bolts are both 14mm heads, and the front nut was fixed to the frame side mount
Click to expand...

Thanks Squirrel. That makes me feel a little more normal. '99 LX here, I had to get the forward DS engine mount bolt out by reaching up, having the wrench forward of the mount.
 
Has anyone pulled the rack with the rear fitting and hard line still attached? I am thinking about trying it...

The rear fitting for the low pressure return line is fighting me now. I have some Kroil penetrating oil on there currently.

I thought I might be able to spin it off from above w/ a crow's foot and 2' of extensions and a breaker bar, but not yet.

This is taking longer than I thought. I was planning on having her on the road tomorrow, I have an alignment scheduled for Monday morning.
 
Going to be tough, but might be possible if you lift the engine enough. However, it felt to me that the engine could not go higher than about 2 inches
 
mwengr said:
Update, I found the aftermarket hose from Sunsong on e-Bay, PN 3402991. It came yesterday and I put in this morning, pic of the new hose below. It seems to be of good workmanship and had all the right bends in all the right places and fit with no problems. Best of all, it cost me 35 bucks...hopefully it lasts a good long time. Here's a pic of it as received.
Click to expand...

Low pressure hard line NLA on eBay.

Rock Auto carries this p/n, but they are out of stock, as is all the local parts stores. I am getting pretty close to cutting this, but would like to be able to get a replacement. You can get both lines on eBay for $122:

Power Steering Pressue & Return Hose Assembly For 98-02 Land Cruiser LX470 | eBay
 
PabloCruise said:
Low pressure hard line NLA on eBay.

Rock Auto carries this p/n, but they are out of stock, as is all the local parts stores. I am getting pretty close to cutting this, but would like to be able to get a replacement. You can get both lines on eBay for $122:

Power Steering Pressue & Return Hose Assembly For 98-02 Land Cruiser LX470 | eBay
Click to expand...

Looks like maybe Amazon:

Amazon.com: Buying Choices: Sunsong 3402991 Power Steering Return Hose Assembly (Lexus, Toyota)
 
PabloCruise said:
Low pressure hard line NLA on eBay.

Rock Auto carries this p/n, but they are out of stock, as is all the local parts stores. I am getting pretty close to cutting this, but would like to be able to get a replacement. You can get both lines on eBay for $122:
Click to expand...
Whoa there! I too had one heck of a time getting the low pressure hard line fitting to break loose. What I did was remove the rubber low pressure hose from the metal line on the passenger side and then snaked a flex head ratcheting wrench back to the fitting. Doing this allowed me a firm grip on the fitting and with a little heat it finally broke loose.

FYI - Reattaching the low pressure line was equally as frustrating on the new rack :eek:
 
87warrior said:
Whoa there! I too had one heck of a time getting the low pressure hard line fitting to break loose. What I did was remove the rubber low pressure hose from the metal line on the passenger side and then snaked a flex head ratcheting wrench back to the fitting. Doing this allowed me a firm grip on the fitting and with a little heat it finally broke loose.

FYI - Reattaching the low pressure line was equally as frustrating on the new rack :eek:
Click to expand...

Thanks. I can try that tonight. The fitting is pretty fuq'd up at this point, so not sure if a ratcheting wrench will work.

I tried some Freeze-Off product on this fitting, the fitting just laughed at my attempts.
 
Now I am thinking about why the '98 to '01 return lines are not in stock anywhere...

I wonder if the low press return line from '02 to '07 will work?

Has anyone tried this?

The rack is the same for '98 to '02, yes? So maybe a return line good for an '02 will work on a '99? My local O-Reilly and Auto-Zone have them @ $72 ea.

'02 to '07 return line:
80655.jpg


'98 to '02 - both lines:
3401246.jpg
 
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