How To: Replace your own steering rack (6 Viewers)

[MarkTR]

OEM racks are 800 now? I think I paid ~550. I can answer you this way: I have a reman'd sitting in my garage because I bought one then decided against it. This is the worst thing I have replaced on the entire vehicle, if it died in a yr and I had to do it again because of the reman'd rack I'd want to murder someone.

Which leads me to the second part. I'd pay 700 FOR SURE.

That is my first choice- but I had heard good things about AS rebuilt racks so I had to check with members for the latest opinions.

Just to make sure I am not imagining this---somewhere I read that the OEM racks from Toyota are also rebuilt-- but since I cannot pin down where I read this I am assuming that this is something that I had misread.

 

[Eyedaho]

That is my first choice- but I had heard good things about AS rebuilt racks so I had to check with members for the latest opinions.

Just to make sure I am not imagining this---somewhere I read that the OEM racks from Toyota are also rebuilt-- but since I cannot pin down where I read this I am assuming that this is something that I had misread.

I believe they recently implemented a core charge and are starting to build an inventory for remanufacturing, but the OEM ones being sold as new racks are new. I'm not sure if the remans are available yet. I got lucky when I bought mine a few months ago, and found an online supplier who wasn't collecting the core charge yet.

 

[MarkTR]

I believe they recently implemented a core charge and are starting to build an inventory for remanufacturing, but the OEM ones being sold as new racks are new. I'm not sure if the remans are available yet. I got lucky when I bought mine a few months ago, and found an online supplier who wasn't collecting the core charge yet.

Every site I checked is collecting the $150 core charge.

Makes the LC rack (44250-60100) in the $800 range. and the Lexus rack (44200-60120) in the $1200 range.

This thread LC versus LX Steering Rack ? - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/lc-versus-lx-steering-rack.951503/ indicates you can use either number for an '05 LX470. The only difference between the LC and Lexus VGRS rack is the steering ratio which no LX owner felt the LC (non-VGRS) made much of a difference. The VGRS function is in the steering shaft and is not part of the rack. A savings of over $400 going with the LC rack.

I went to one Lexus parts site and it said 44200-60120 is discontinued but other sites are still using it for the Lexus rack.



What part number have members recently used on a '05 without issues?

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[Eyedaho]

Every site I checked is collecting the $150 core charge.

Makes the LC rack (44250-60100) in the $800 range. and the Lexus rack (44200-60120) in the $1200 range.

This thread LC versus LX Steering Rack ? - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/lc-versus-lx-steering-rack.951503/ indicates you can use either number for an '05 LX470. The only difference between the LC and Lexus VGRS rack is the steering ratio which no LX owner felt made much of a difference.

I went to one Lexus parts site and it said 44200-60120 is discontinued but other sites are still using it for the Lexus rack.



What is the part number for an OEM VGRS rack that will work on my '05?

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I got mine from Salinas Toyota for $501 with free shipping and no tax, but that was for a '99 LC. I just checked, and it's now up to $676, but still free shipping. I don't know what rack you need, but they have one for an '05 LC for $643 with no core charge.

 

[MarkTR]

I got mine from Salinas Toyota for $501 with free shipping and no tax, but that was for a '99 LC. I just checked, and it's now up to $676, but still free shipping. I don't know what rack you need, but they have one for an '05 LC for $643 with no core charge.

Thanks-- no core charge at least makes it feel much more affordable.

The next question I need more input on--is the '05 LC rack a transparent substitution for a '05 Lexus rack?

 

[PabloCruise]

OEM racks are 800 now? I think I paid ~550. I can answer you this way: I have a reman'd sitting in my garage because I bought one then decided against it. This is the worst thing I have replaced on the entire vehicle, if it died in a yr and I had to do it again because of the reman'd rack I'd want to murder someone.

Which leads me to the second part. I'd pay 700 FOR SURE.

I would not want to give up the $700.
If my rack died now I could replace it in probably half the time. Plus none of the original issues would be a struggle, like the high pressure hose fitting, the TREs, the sector shaft…

 

[PabloCruise]

That is my first choice- but I had heard good things about AS rebuilt racks so I had to check with members for the latest opinions.

Just to make sure I am not imagining this---somewhere I read that the OEM racks from Toyota are also rebuilt-- but since I cannot pin down where I read this I am assuming that this is something that I had misread.

I am pretty sure the rack I got from Toyota a few years ago was a reman, but they did not want my core.
I found an outfit in Denver that rebuilds them, so I asked if they wanted it. They did, but the woman on the phone said she couldn’t pay me for it. I told her to just send me a shipping label and it was hers.
I will go back and look to see if mine is a reman.

 

[MarkTR]

I would not want to give up the $700.
If my rack died now I could replace it in probably half the time. Plus none of the original issues would be a struggle, like the high pressure hose fitting, the TREs, the sector shaft…

I fully agree- I have never had anyone wrench on my cars and bikes except for me-- I am way more anal than most "book time" driven mechanics. So it would drive me crazy if I saw missing or broken clips or wrong wire or hard line layouts.

But my broken back is now the issue-- laying under this truck removing this rack for the first and perhaps the last time would cost me more in the end than paying someone else. The problem is finding an indie mechanic I can trust.

 

[PabloCruise]

I am sorry to hear about your back.
Are there some Cruiser Brothers in the area that would help you?
A few guys, combined with this thread and your supervision should be able to knock it out quickly.

 

[Roosevelt T]

I would not want to give up the $700.
If my rack died now I could replace it in probably half the time. Plus none of the original issues would be a struggle, like the high pressure hose fitting, the TREs, the sector shaft…

I had the front diff out and it still took me and a buddy (both wrench on cars a bunch) 12-14 hrs.

As I said when I first did the job: To all those saying they did it in 6 hrs in their driveway, I dont believe you.


(Please nobody taking this personal, I'm saying it in jest... I just dont see how this is a 6hr job unless you have a lift and have done 20 of them).

 

[Roosevelt T]

I fully agree- I have never had anyone wrench on my cars and bikes except for me-- I am way more anal than most "book time" driven mechanics. So it would drive me crazy if I saw missing or broken clips or wrong wire or hard line layouts.

Its not always easy, but find a better mechanic. I pretty much only like to DIY my vehicles as well, but there are people you can trust out there.

 

[Eyedaho]

I had the front diff out and it still took me and a buddy (both wrench on cars a bunch) 12-14 hrs.

As I said when I first did the job: To all those saying they did it in 6 hrs in their driveway, I dont believe you.


(Please nobody taking this personal, I'm saying it in jest... I just dont see how this is a 6hr job unless you have a lift and have done 20 of them).

Maybe it's easier on the early 100 series? I did the rack, hoses, fixed a leak in the oil cooler, replaced motor mounts and transmission mount on my '99, and it didn't seem like it took very long. I have no issues with frozen fasteners on my rig though, which could add a lot of time.

 

[MarkTR]

I am sorry to hear about your back.
Are there some Cruiser Brothers in the area that would help you?
A few guys, combined with this thread and your supervision should be able to knock it out quickly.

Pablo-

This cruiser is new to me and it is an addition to my 2000 P38 Range Rover which I have spent many hours under it on my back- and in multiple contorted positions under the dash. Most of the guys up here overland with Jeeps and US trucks.

Mostly I know them-- but not good enough to ask them to wrench on my cruiser. A friend is going to stop by for a few days but I am not sure he would be up to doing all of the wrenching himself. We are both in our 70's-- and "remember the days" but we are not as nimble under trucks as we used to be.

 

[Roosevelt T]

Maybe it's easier on the early 100 series? I did the rack, hoses, fixed a leak in the oil cooler, replaced motor mounts and transmission mount on my '99, and it didn't seem like it took very long. I have no issues with frozen fasteners on my rig though, which could add a lot of time.

I have a 98... Everyone is different, hence why I said it in jest, but IMO theres a reason this thread is littered with people cursing how hard this job is. @Somebodyelse5 is great at wrenching on vehicles, and he warned me it would be the worst thing I've done on this truck, and he was right LOL.

I had 2 buddies over when it was finally time to pull the damn thing out, and we werent dealing with the front diff. That alone still took 45 damn minutes. And there was no trick to it that I could explain to anyone else, we just finally wiggled it out.

Would I do it again? For the first time yeah, just to do it... but I have since become buddies with a local mechanic who is a great guy and if he wanted to charge me 6 hrs of his time I would def jump at it (if it were to, god forbid, start leaking a second time). I should hit him up and ask him what book time is on it, now I am curious.

 

[Somebodyelse5]

I have a 98... Everyone is different, hence why I said it in jest, but IMO theres a reason this thread is littered with people cursing how hard this job is. @Somebodyelse5 is great at wrenching on vehicles, and he warned me it would be the worst thing I've done on this truck, and he was right LOL.

I had 2 buddies over when it was finally time to pull the damn thing out, and we werent dealing with the front diff. That alone still took 45 damn minutes. And there was no trick to it that I could explain to anyone else, we just finally wiggled it out.

Would I do it again? For the first time yeah, just to do it... but I have since become buddies with a local mechanic who is a great guy and if he wanted to charge me 6 hrs of his time I would def jump at it (if it were to, god forbid, start leaking a second time). I should hit him up and ask him what book time is on it, now I am curious.

Man, that rack replacement was stupid. Hands down the most difficult thing I've ever done on a vehicle. Personally I think a big multiplier on the difficulty is how heavy the rack is and having to shimmy it around, while on your back, is tough.

 

[medtro]

I got mine from Salinas Toyota for $501 with free shipping and no tax, but that was for a '99 LC. I just checked, and it's now up to $676, but still free shipping. I don't know what rack you need, but they have one for an '05 LC for $643 with no core charge.

Price went up quick. Steering rack for 2005 LC is $997.77 now.

 

[MarkTR]

Price went up quick. Steering rack for 2005 LC is $997.77 now.

Just ordered one--- add shipping ($73) and it is killer expensive.

 

[Eyedaho]

Price went up quick. Steering rack for 2005 LC is $997.77 now.

I literally got that other price on their site yesterday when I posted that, and they had code FREESHIP for free shipping on orders over $75.

 

[Eyedaho]

Price went up quick. Steering rack for 2005 LC is $997.77 now.

Parts.salinastoyota.com and it still shows the free shipping with code FREESHIP.

 

[medtro]

I literally got that other price on their site yesterday when I posted that, and they had code FREESHIP for free shipping on orders over $75.

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