Steering Rack Replacement -oh boy

[rav8]

Get this to Missouri and I'll swap it for you for $1,000 in labor .

In the case it was mine, I'd take your offer and assist if it meant the girls could spend time with Gramps in Lebanon, Il.

 

[rav8]

I just got a quote for labor from a local Toyota dealership. They quoted me 2K for the labor and said I could get the part from Bell Lexus, which was about 700 bucks. So probably 3K out the door.

I think I’ll probably have them do the high and low pressure lines and maybe the steering intermediate shaft while they’re in there if it has any play. I guess motor mounts makes sense too. I’m guessing that’ll add another 1K if I do everything. Keep me, honest here, but I think that’s everything that could fail and cause a headache later.

Anything, I’m missing here that I should tack on while they’ve got the engine hoisted halfway out of the truck?

List looks good. I'd aim at replacing any consumable/corrosion-prone part in contact with rack. Mounts and lines at that mileage is smart.

 

[rav8]

Oh Man. You gotta tell me your secret if this happens. I can’t get my girls to take the slightest interest in a wrench. Not for lack of trying begging.

They are still in the 'wanting to help' phase. I'll report back in 3 years.

 

[Acrad]

Here is an older TSB for 2010 to mid year 2012 460s for a steering flutter concern

It does document removal of steering rack with some pictures as well. Mine within VIN range but I never noticed the issue on mine.

“Some vehicles may exhibit a steering flutter condition while driven at approximately 55 – 70 mph. In some cases, this concern is caused by a wheel imbalance or RFV (Radial Force Variation) that is out of range. If the tire and wheel assembly is satisfactory, a steering control valve preload spring is available to reduce the steering flutter felt through the steering wheel.”

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/attachments/gx-2nd-gen-2010-2023-219/tsb-misc-tsbs-free-access-via-nhtsa-861145/l-sb-0020-12-2--476849d1537717127dl

 

[Rednexus]

In the case it was mine, I'd take your offer and assist if it meant the girls could spend time with Gramps in Lebanon, Il.

Not terribly far from here .

In all reality I'm guilty of spending way, way too much time in the shop myself. But, it certainly can be a stress relief and a break from a behind-the-computer day job (while that pays well, it's not as satisfying as working with my hands ). My kids have been helping a bit lately, but still require forcible removal from their electronics to do such.

 

[Rednexus]

I appreciate the offer but getting it to Missouri would cost more in BOTH time and money (not to mention sanity, I've been to St., Luis before ; )

I didn't expect it to be an offer that was accepted . I do free work for a pretty small list of friends/family members. Such as bailing out my niece when a couple mechanics jacked up her Outback badly. I also saved my buddy an easy $2K+ in labor by helping him do a T-belt and baseline all the fluids on his Tundra, and then lift it a year after that. But, that's not the same thing as doing it for non friends/family, on a paid basis.

 

[WTITW]

Wrenchen ain't easy but it sho is fun.

Until it isn’t.

 

[r2m]

Oh Man. You gotta tell me your secret if this happens. I can’t get my girls to take the slightest interest in a wrench. Not for lack of trying begging.

When my daughter had her first Toyota 4x4 pickup (Hilux), it needed a new alternator. So I told my daughter she was going to help me.
She was actually kind of excited about it. So I had her d most all the work, while all I did was basically break loos the bolts so she would bust any knuckles trying. But I actually have photos of her under the hood, lifting out the old alternator!

 

[re_guderian]

Did you get a quote from Desert Toy Shop up in Mesa? They do good work, and usually significantly cheaper than the dealer.

100 series had rack and bushing problems. Bushings were do-able by yourself, but had to be cut out. Made a big difference in steering play. I had both my 100 series racks done by Camelback Toyota back when Murf was there. Labor was much less on the 100 series.

 

[Washingtontaco]

It definitely doesn’t look like a fun or easy job

#Steering #Rack Info / Questions / Problems - ClubLexus - Lexus Forum Discussion

GX - 2nd Gen (2010-2023) - #Steering #Rack Info / Questions / Problems - I've got a 2013 GX 460 on the hoist that had been in a wreck and broke the steering rack where the inner tie rod attaches. I've done many many racks but, by looking at this, I honestly don't see how there's physical space...

www.clublexus.com

View attachment 4040154

Thanks for posting this! Its very much like the second gen Taco. On the Taco if you removed the inner tie rods you can get the rack out.

 

[suitcase]

Is the steering rack replacement on a GX460 more involved than a LC 100 series? I helped a friend with a 100 series replace his. It required jacking up the engine too. I recall it being an all day job. Unfortunately we had to do it twice but the second time we completed in half the time.

 

[WTITW]

Did you get a quote from Desert Toy Shop up in Mesa? They do good work, and usually significantly cheaper than the dealer.

100 series had rack and bushing problems. Bushings were do-able by yourself, but had to be cut out. Made a big difference in steering play. I had both my 100 series racks done by Camelback Toyota back when Murf was there. Labor was much less on the 100 series.

Yeah, DTS was the first place I pinged but Justin hasn't responded. Probably still catching up from the long weekend. I'll follow-up today. They do 90% of what I don't do myself. Justin did my Alternator and valley leak and just did the intake on my wife's 3rd gen. He's actually a bit pricer than Toyota in my experience, but I always know it's done 100% right.

Big Two is pretty good though. They can get me in whenever and are always willing to negotiate.

I just want to do the entire rack. With this much labor at my milage and use cases, I'd rather pay the extra $700 and get a whole new OEM rack. If this was a weekend truck I'd be doing the bushings only and doing it myself in the garage. My off-road trailer is heavy as hell. I'm sure the inners would go next. BY the time I do those and the bushings I'd only be saving myself a few hundred dollars.

 

[WTITW]

Is the steering rack replacement on a GX460 more involved than a LC 100 series? I helped a friend with a 100 series replace his. It required jacking up the engine too. I recall it being an all day job. Unfortunately we had to do it twice but the second time we completed in half the time.

Yeah, bolts captured between lower engine accessories and the rack. Have to be cut off if you don't lift the engine the length of the bolts. Not sure that's possible without disconnecting the trans. It's a lot of V8 in a small space. 200 series is supposed to be easier too.

 

[Rednexus]

It's drastically easier to just R&R the rack. Pushing out the bushings would add hours to the job, and then you're left with a rack that likely has worn internal seals and/or metal parts. My rack was leaking out both ends and full of small metal pieces when I replaced it. They don't last forever.

 

[r2m]

Did you get a quote from Desert Toy Shop up in Mesa? They do good work, and usually significantly cheaper than the dealer.

100 series had rack and bushing problems. Bushings were do-able by yourself, but had to be cut out. Made a big difference in steering play. I had both my 100 series racks done by Camelback Toyota back when Murf was there. Labor was much less on the 100 series.

I replaced the rack on my old Hundy once, but no memories of it being too much of a hassle. I'm pretty sure I'd have remembered if I had to raise the engine. But it was a while ago.

 

[Acrad]

I notice Lexus lists around 4 hours in that TSB I linked to

If you haven’t looked this is a 33 page TSB PDF of Steering Rack removal above what is in the FSM.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/attachments/gx-2nd-gen-2010-2023-219/tsb-misc-tsbs-free-access-via-nhtsa-861145/l-sb-0020-12-2--476849d1537717127dl

 

[Acrad]

 

[Arailt]

Oof. My 2019 recently started making some odd noises and clunking when I turn at slow speeds. I had to have a steering rack replaced on my 470. I remember it being around 2500 around 2018. Not looking forward to 3k+ on the 460.

 

[re_guderian]

I replaced the rack on my old Hundy once, but no memories of it being too much of a hassle. I'm pretty sure I'd have remembered if I had to raise the engine. But it was a while ago.

If you didn't use split poly bushings on the new rack, you would've had to raise the engine. But poly bushings saved so many other issues.

 

[HVLA]

Those instructions actually make it seem like it isnt that tough. To me at least. Of course there is now way I could do it in 4 hours.