Power steering.
Some may have noticed I didn't post much of anything on power steering.
I've actually done some interesting and extensive work on the entire steering system. I've a little more yet to do, but that is in interior with column motor extension issue. So I may just edited end of this steering section later with that.
Here's a partial list:
Removed the steering rack & pinion.
Installed new OE rubber rack mounting bushing. "No poly bushings for this baby."
Test HP line for leaks.
Installed vane pump.
Replace gasket of HP line at vane pump and gearbox.
Replace vacuum hose assembly.
Cleaned out reservoir and it's screen.
Replace suction hose (reservoir to vane pump)
Replaced return hose on reservoir.
Filled with M1 full synthetic ATF.
I did this without a test drive, just going on age and miles. Some static test done, didn't reveal a big need but I know from past experience I'd gain incremental improvement and buy years of new form factory driving feel and get ahead of leaks. That feel of wandering side to side down the HWY, if any should be 10 years or more away now.
DS bushing can be seen here with some minor cracking in rubber. This doesn't mean bushing is shot, but indicates it's on the way out. It's really what one would expect to see for a 2007 w/127K miles. Camera hung upside down and is swing, but you'll get the idea!
First off I'll pulled the steering rack and replace the mounting bushings. Only instead of the common poly bushings I and others here have used, I found rubber OE bushing. I purchased from three different sources for comparison. Two are the same from rebuilders of racks & CV's of unknown manufacturer, that I like the look of. The third was from Febest, junk I sent back.
IMHO rubber is a better choice. Where poly's will out last rubber, they have there bad side.
1) Poly bushings needs greasing or oiling during install and every-so-often or they squeak.
2) Poly's are very stiff. This not only transfers more shock (road vibration) to drives hands on steering wheel, it send more shock through the front end i.e TRE. ball joints, LCA, rack and pinion, steering column. This reduce life of components and may find weak parts/components in a hurry.
Mr T design with rubber for more than just comfort for driver hands on steering wheel IMHO. So I'll follow Mr T's lead here and use rubber. Unfortunately Mr T feels the job too difficult, and so will not sell us the OEM rubber bushings. So must find OE (Original equivalent) rubber bushing with steel cup and center shafts bushing.
Found some on ebay out of CA and locally at CVJ. CVJ said they get theirs out of CA, and is a change from what they've used in past do to issue in the 4runner racks they've seen. CA supplier is also a rebuilder and has used same supplier for 18 years, with zero issues reported.
Here's the Febest junk I sent back. This company beats the drum of being a "German Co." But the quality control from there China manufacture is poor. I'll not be using their junk ever, if I can avoid it. The center was tack welded off center, speaks poorly of manufacture process.
Center four are the OE's I did used, and are what the "Steering Rack" rebuilders are using. Outers are mix of old ones from The Unicorn and Snowy (06LC w/200K that I did with poly last year).
Steering Rack was so easy to remove with engine out. Doing the job on the bench made it a snap to replace bushings.
I started removal, by marking position of steering column to rack gearbox.
Also marked once half way out as guide for install.