Steering Rack Upgrade? (1 Viewer)

[RMTWELL]

I've upgraded my 2003 Land Cruiser to run longer travel suspension, and bigger 35" tires (285/75R18). Modifications include the Just Differentials kit (including upper control arms), SLEE DIfferential drop, regeared differentials, seam weld mod, & trimming. It's all good until I hit up the trails. With some serious rock crawling the steering rack and tie rods were severely damaged. I believe this is due to extremes of articulation between driver and passenger front tires pushing the rack beyond its range of motion limitations.

What options do I have to address this failure mode?

Maybe a rack from a different OEM application? Or an aftermarket rack?
Should I start to practice changing steering racks after every good trail? (that sounds awful).
I could run limit straps and reduce droop, but that's no fun!
I've seen a great-looking kit from Marlin Crawler for other Toyota IFS vehicles, but not for my beloved Land Cruiser.
Solid axle swap seems like way to much work and expense!
Have I simply maxed out this vehicle platform?
Or yeah, I could stick to the mall parking lots...

 

[Mike NXP]

I'll be almost zero help here as I have no experience with this type of setup on the 100 BUT could it be as simple as your steering stoppers on lower control arm are missing and maybe it pushed the tie rods a bit too far. That + more extreme angles maybe just over stressed it?

Then again what the heck do I know???

I'll give some advice that noone else on this forum would dare give to someone, just go buy an old jeep lol . Tow it to the trails with your cruiser, beat the piss outta it, rebuild it, do it again. You'll have a lot more fun.

 

[abuck99]

“the steering rack and tie rods were severely damaged.”

Can you explain what specific damage- broken outer tre? Separated inner TR?

There’s many here running 35” tires and 2”lifts that haven’t had steering rack failure from crawling rocks.

Driving technique has a greater effect on drivetrain longevity than the terrain alone. And the 100 series is a heavy ifs -such a great travel wheeler-but not an ideal rock crawler-

 

[RMTWELL]

“the steering rack and tie rods were severely damaged.”

Can you explain what specific damage- broken outer tre? Separated inner TR?

There’s many here running 35” tires and 2”lifts that haven’t had steering rack failure from crawling rocks.

Driving technique has a greater effect on drivetrain longevity than the terrain alone. And the 100 series is a heavy ifs -such a great travel wheeler-but not an ideal rock crawler-

Yes, separated inner tie rids, and sloppy outer tie rods.
The recent trail running was done at very low speeds, and low power, but frequent full articulation while turning to the steering stops. Avoiding these types of trail situations would certainly help reduce service intervals!

Back to my original question- What options do I have to address this failure mode?
So far I've gathered two strong suggestions 1) Avoid these trails features. 2) Drive a different vehicle on those trails.
I'm considering a third option- installing limit straps on the front. This will reduce my hard fought articulation, but should be gentler on the steering rack/tie rods, and shocks.

 

[4Beast]

Reviving this thread. Is this one of the items, like CVs where it is always best to go OEM? I'm not necessarily looking to save money, like a budget rack, but if there are a good aftermarket upgrade for roughly the same price, I'd definitely consider it. OEM MSRP is about $860, and Serra has them for around $450 plus shipping.

 

[hoser]

A new OE rack would be the best choice. Get it while it is still available. The upgrade rack would be the OE LC200 rack.... but I haven't heard of anybody tackling that for a 100 series yet. It would require fabrication. But it has been fitted on many FJC, Tacoma, 4runners.... with likely narrower crossmembers.

200-series Land Cruiser Steering Rack for use with RCLT HD

Genuine Toyota 200-Series Land Cruiser Steering Rack: The Core of MarRack Transformation Elevate the strength and reliability of your vehicle’s steering system with our 100% brand-new Genuine Toyota…

www.marlincrawler.com

 

[4Beast]

A new OE rack would be the best choice. Get it while it is still available. The upgrade rack would be the OE LC200 rack.... but I haven't heard of anybody tackling that for a 100 series yet. It would require fabrication. But it has been fitted on many FJC, Tacoma, 4runners.... with likely narrower crossmembers.

200-series Land Cruiser Steering Rack for use with RCLT HD

Genuine Toyota 200-Series Land Cruiser Steering Rack: The Core of MarRack Transformation Elevate the strength and reliability of your vehicle’s steering system with our 100% brand-new Genuine Toyota…

www.marlincrawler.com

Thanks for this. Given that you can't even put a LC rack on a LX, (VGRS etc issues?) I can't imagine what issues you'd run into putting a 200 rack on.

 

[hoser]

I believe you can put an LC rack on the LX, if you wanted to. The ratio might not be what you want though. The VGRS stuff happens in the steering column.

 

[4Beast]

I believe you can put an LC rack on the LX, if you wanted to. The ratio might not be what you want though. The VGRS stuff happens in the steering column.

I don't have a dog in the fight, as I have a LC, but have heard other people have concerns/issues.

 

[4Beast]

FWIW I am impulsive and wanted to move things along so I just ordered from Serra. It was under $450 with the Serra 25% off and (somehow?) free shipping which was less than half of what my mechanic could get it for ($909). And for those that aren't aware, the post facelift 100s have an updated part number for the racks (now 44250-60100 was 44200-60100)

 

[Dan240]

A new OE rack would be the best choice. Get it while it is still available. The upgrade rack would be the OE LC200 rack.... but I haven't heard of anybody tackling that for a 100 series yet. It would require fabrication. But it has been fitted on many FJC, Tacoma, 4runners.... with likely narrower crossmembers.

200-series Land Cruiser Steering Rack for use with RCLT HD

Genuine Toyota 200-Series Land Cruiser Steering Rack: The Core of MarRack Transformation Elevate the strength and reliability of your vehicle’s steering system with our 100% brand-new Genuine Toyota…

www.marlincrawler.com

The only post I have ever seen regarding this indicated that the LC100 diff and LC200 diffs are not mounted the same.

Can you put a 200 rack into a 100?

Having owned three LC70's that are 35+ years old, I'm always in the habit of seeing what newer parts can be retrofitted in the older LC's. I happened to be looking at 100 series 03'+ steering racks and the possible substitution part is the 200 series rack. So, I take a look.... '03 LC100 rack...

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