My new baby needs a steering rack

[tiomateo]

Just got a 99 LC100 and it apparently needs a new steering rack. But I was about to start a 2000 mile road trip across the country. Curious what ppl have paid for this job and how much of a risk it is to drive it anyway and get the job done when I get home

 

[Malleus]

@tiomateo
Is this a Land Cruiser or LX470?

Is it leaking? How do you know it needs to be replaced?

When my rack bushings decide to wobble, the position sensors couldn't find their home position, and the VGRS started to steer for me, usually, right off the road. If they are worn enough, and the position sensors cannot be used to locate the actual wheel position, the ECU could steer you into a ditch, or into oncoming traffic. This isn't a possibility, it's a documented problem with the drive by wire system.

The bushings can be replaced without removing the rack, it just takes a little ingenuity and effort. And it's a whole lot cheaper than replacing the entire rack. You'll need a length of all-thread and a long nut (usually called a coupling, or coupling nut), a piece of tubing or pipe, a pipe cap (which need need to tap), a nut and a fender washer...and a powered means to turn the all thread - you don't want to do that by hand.

If you're going to replace the end assemblies, 45503-69015 (you need (2) - one for each end, you might consider replacing the interior seals and O-rings; they're all in the seal kit, 04445-60080. You can remove the ends while the rack tube is installed, but you have to remove it to reseal it. What you do depends on what your problem is.

 

[dbfw]

No VGRS or ATRAC on a 99 I think. But could still wander quite a bit with badly worn bushings, or if leaking badly could run the pump dry and kill it too adding to your eventual bill. I don't think any of us can make the safety determination at the far end of a keyboard from you and your shop. What are the symptoms, that may determine whether you think it can make it or not. Weeping slightly at the boots, or badly worn bushings and/or leaking heavily are very different things.

 

[tiomateo]

@tiomateo
Is this a Land Cruiser or LX470?

Is it leaking? How do you know it needs to be replaced?

When my rack bushings decide to wobble, the position sensors couldn't find their home position, and the VGRS started to steer for me, usually, right off the road. If they are worn enough, and the position sensors cannot be used to locate the actual wheel position, the ECU could steer you into a ditch, or into oncoming traffic. This isn't a possibility, it's a documented problem with the drive by wire system.

The bushings can be replaced without removing the rack, it just takes a little ingenuity and effort. And it's a whole lot cheaper than replacing the entire rack. You'll need a length of all-thread and a long nut (usually called a coupling, or coupling nut), a piece of tubing or pipe, a pipe cap (which need need to tap), a nut and a fender washer...and a powered means to turn the all thread - you don't want to do that by hand.

If you're going to replace the end assemblies, 45503-69015 (you need (2) - one for each end, you might consider replacing the interior seals and O-rings; they're all in the seal kit, 04445-60080. You can remove the ends while the rack tube is installed, but you have to remove it to reseal it. What you do depends on what your problem is.

Hi Malleus, thanks so much. it's a 99 LandCruiser. They showed me the rack wobbling while lifted, and it did have a small leak. But they said that it's not a surprise that the previous owner never diagnosed the issue, because it isn't quite noticeable yet while driving. They showed me some of the worn bushings as well. I can post some videos in a bit. This was at Cruser Matt's in Orlando, so very trustworthy, I'm just wanting to guage from the community how safe we think it is to drive... They cant get in to work on it for a few weeks so I would have to have another shop do it and possibly without OEM parts.. I guess the simpler question is is there a quick fix that will get me home and then I can save up for proper overhaul of the steering system..

 

[Malleus]

Simple answer - no, and Matt should have been able to tell you that.

Having done this already, I can tell you I'd never do it again. I'll drive on bald tires with no brakes before I drive a drive-by-wire vehicle with faulty rack sensors, which is what you have when the bushings start to fail.

Remember, the computer is actually steering the wheels, you aren't. You're just telling the computer which way to go and by how much when you turn the wheel.

And I would not, under any circumstances, use non-OEM parts on the rack. It's too dangerous.

 

[tiomateo]

Here is a video of the issues hopefully it makes more sense with this--

 

[SteveH]

I drove my '99 LX on a 2000+ mile trip with a input shaft slight leak and 325K miles (and surely worn bushings) with no fears. I later replaced the rack and outer TREs with OEM stuff (doing the labor myself) - most of $900, including the new D-shaped bushing. If your rack is not leaking a lot, I think you can make this trip without worry. All this makes me not want to buy a newer model with VGRS and more electronic crap.

 

[riffman12]

Simple answer - no, and Matt should have been able to tell you that.

Having done this already, I can tell you I'd never do it again. I'll drive on bald tires with no brakes before I drive a drive-by-wire vehicle with faulty rack sensors, which is what you have when the bushings start to fail.

Remember, the computer is actually steering the wheels, you aren't. You're just telling the computer which way to go and by how much when you turn the wheel.

And I would not, under any circumstances, use non-OEM parts on the rack. It's too dangerous.

Isn’t all this only valid if he has an LX with VGRS?