Steering Rack Replacement on Toyota Tundra + Front End Work
0:00 Intro
2:20 Removal
6:44 Installation
14:01 DIY Alignment
16:17 Leaking After 500mi Trip
18:01 Discussing Options
20:20 Welding Rack
20:45 Control Arm Bushings/Brakes
31:38 Rancho RS9000XL Struts
33:14 Alignment/Outro
I have never had good luck with aftermarket or remanufactured steering racks. But when a company offered me one for free I couldn't say no. needless to say I should have went factory OEM from the get-go. Lots of wasted time here. this video is an overview of the process on how to replace a steering rack on a first generation Toyota tundra. should work for a 2001 to 2006. also some information on replacing the lower control arm bushings, front struts, and rebuilding the brake calipers. `
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I am a 54 year old female. I was quoted 3500. In Hawaii to do this and struts. I watched this bought parts and was able to successfully change my rack and pinion. Excellent video very appreciated Tracy Rice Terhorst
Awesome I am proud of you!
Excellent Good for you!!!
That's awesome! Good job and that's a testament to how well Chris explains things.
I paid my brother 60$ and helped him lol
💪💪💪
I came across your video while searching on KZhead. This is a very interresting video you made, really appreciate the details you pointed out that we would probably missed. And you're right, oem parts for your Toyota is always the right choice. Again, great video, new subscriber here in Quebec!
You’re the only person other than myself that I have seen who puts the removed tire under the truck.
A tip for steering rack replacement. If you have the steering tires up in the air and fill the p/s reservoir with fluid and turn the wheel lock to lock it primes the lines and rack to get most of the initial air out of the rack and pinion and pump. I do it at work and saves a bit of time. Hope that helps
Learned a ton. Great Instructor!
Awesome to hear that. Thanks
I really liked this video, dude I'm telling you if you keep uploading on a regular basis your channel is gonna blow up!
Called my local dealership and was told they use reman Napa racks. They wanted $700 for the part. Went to Napa directly and paid $450 for it. So far so good. Also, had the shaking steering wheel for the first few miles. Topped off the fluid after a few bleed cycles and it went away.
Damn that's crazy, can't believe they don't use OEM
how is that part holding up so far? still going strong? Thanks
interested to know how it is going with the napa one? I need one for my 2005 Tacoma along with new lines probably or have to flush them.
Toyota just quoted me $1500 for "steering gear replacement"... $900+ for just the part
Great job, I pray for God to reward you for sharing your knowledge and experience.
Thanks for the video, I just replaced my rack. Saved me $1200!!
Great video, you're a fantastic mechanic.
Thanks man I appreciate the kind words
Thank you Chris for all the details. I have a great appreciation for your skills and knowledge.
great video, I love how in depth you went with centering the rack and checking alignment. for a second I thought you had a manual V8 Tundra :O tackling this project this weekend, thanks for the video!!
I like all the details.. much value… much appreciated!
Your the number one master mechanic man..
i did this job on my 03 tacoma he has alot of good info here.he's a great mechanic.
Great info. Just a little info for ya. I’ve had bilsteins in the front of my Tundra for 15 years and its lifted slightly. No bushing issues. Love the videos. Keep it up !
U deserved a like more like a love, just straight forward and edifying
While I am adamantly opposed to content providers accepting FREE stuff from advertisers and then doing a "objective" evaluation, at least you rejected the first one I have ever seen on KZhead! Congrats for that! Thanks for posting and take care! P.S. I use only OEM every chance I can afford to do so! Also from experience!
I got so good at changing racks on my honda civic I could do them in 45 min.....three auto parts store junkers, I finally bought a factory OEM an no more problems! I definitely would go OEM!
Hi love all your videos learning a lot
I like the way it seemed to convert to a right side driver at the end. 🤣
Great video. I agree on the cheap parts. I've been burned before.
I bought some front air struts for a mercedes from them cheap price but good quality .Been on the car for 4years no problems.
Great interesting video as always ! 👌👍
Definitely a keeper video! Without a doubt the best I've seen on the subject. I've got two torn boots but barely any leak in the rack. Gonna try Lucas snd get new boots. But if that doesn't work new Toyota rack UNLESS that welding trick worked on the aftermarket rack and otherwise it's been good for you. I'd appreciate knowing. Thanks
Thank you for sharing. I’m a DIYer and your video convinced me to get the Toyota OEM rack and outer tierods instead of the generic ones I was planning to buy from eBay. OEM is a bit expensive but will hopefully save me from aggravation from a substandard part later on. That slight tap of the hammer and broke the stub off did it for me.
Good choice! OEM definitely the way to go
Nice truck looks just like mine
dude ur tundra is sick
I could watch you fix a toliet 😂😂😂 love the content man
What I do is measure the toe-in with a tape measure and paint stick. Before I remove the front wheels I center the steering wheel and I pick a reference spot on the tread, mark it and measure the distance between the wheels on the front. When I re-assemble, the wheels have a reference to adjust to. Makes it easy to set the toe-in back to where it originally was
Great video NNKH! Surprised to see your check engine light on...
This throw-away economy has gotten us into a parts crisis. The original manufacturers are supporting their machines for fewer and fewer years, and the aftermarket parts are Chinese junk. Pretty soon we won't be able to keep our older stuff running anymore. It's not just car parts. I tried to buy seals for a blown 15-year old Kubota backhoe cylinder. Was told it's not available, the local dealer said Kubota quit supporting it years ago. Was lucky to find a kit 1000 miles away---"NOS"---that they kindly shipped to me. We're all gonna have to be more clever.
Dude right?! Just imagine if China got into a massive war with the USA and we stopped buying anything and everything from China... Almost every car part is gonna be impossible to get parts for. Also not all Chinese car parts are bad. China is actually starting to make extremely high quality everything nowadays
I have had great success with Moog front end parts over the years. They compare well to OEM.
You're a pretty good wrench. I think i am too. I love cheap Chinese parts. But i don't usually keep stuff too long. I like variety. If it's at my house for a year it was here a long time. That being said, i have used cc wheel bearings on a couple vehicles and had them last longer than the originals though that was a Chevy and well. My current dd is an 08 ford edge awd. I just put struts, ball joints, tie rods and sway bar links on it, I'm all in for $250. I like the car but it's got 206k miles on it and i don't think the trans is going to make it much longer. Great vids btw.
Great video bud!
Independent front suspension definitely handles better off road at high speeds but you just cant beat the durability of a straight front axle. Thats why I bought a 97' ram 1500(aside from it being cheap). Everyone says the ball joints go out after 5k miles but if you use quality joints, and don't run super big tires and spacers it not an issue. Everything on straight axle is heavier duty it seems, bigger tie rods, strong control arms, no cv joints, etc.
Another tip for lifted vehicle especially Toyotas. In my job were we specialize in lifted vehicles high-tech auto and truck center. We recommend setting the caster high as it helps with steering and keeps the truck from having uneven tire wear, which we have experienced on a lot of lifted 4Runners, tacomas and tundras. You can use factory specs if you have adjustable upper control arms like SPC or other quality brands. If it’s 2 inch lift it should be fine with factory specs, but anything more we recommend after market upper control arms. Rancho shocks are cheap and bottom of the barrel. Most customers get them for a more affordable lift, but the quality is not great. I recommend toytec or king suspension if you want some good lift suspension. Do not recommend rancho. They are oem on a lot of GM, Chrysler vehicles, but are not great.
Good job!
Great vid! Anyone have advice on why my first gen Sequoia still pulls slightly right after alignment?
Thumbs up 👍 thanks for the share 😊
I don't agree with grease on the callipers bro apart from that you are the man👍
love the random load tests lol
My thrust line. Bang on perfect. Every time. Right down the middle 🤣🤣🤣
probably not the same designed pump, but my 96 12v leaks like a sieve around the steering box.. i run the pump dry all the time and drive it around dry if i dont have fluid in the truck the pumps going strong no issues, i run automatic trans fluid in it aswell.. had a similar leak on my 05jeep tj and it seemed like switching from PS fluid to ATF slowed or solved the leaky steering box bushings.. Chrysler really cant choose parts manufacturers that dont leak so i wouldnt tow the truck over it being out of fluid if youre semi close to home
To find rack center : can you measure the total rack length,find the center,then simply have equal distances to center to inner tie rod ends ? Racks are normally mounted centered to the body/chassis,so the center axis of the rack is the reference for everything.
cool video....as usual
Am a steering engineer by profession I work and repair all kinds of steering pump and racks for all kinds of cars..
Just watch the video excellent commenting, Id like to know where did you buy the phone holder
I couldn't possibly assemble anything dry like that..Have to put some grease/copper slip on it..Taken to using aluminium grease now..like copper slip but aluminium..good stuff.
I'm not sure which part you're referring to but I probably did it for a reason would be my guess. It's been awhile since I did this video. If you're talking about the big rack bushing, you can't lube those. The rack will wiggle around. I found that out when I lubed it. But I don't know which part you're talking about
Just CURIOUS,,, youseem to be Very Pro American and I DO Stand with you on that !!! Why then do you AND JEN even Drive Toyota's ?? If your gonna be Patriotic why not go ALL the way man ??? I know it's difficult and sometimes more expensive but isn't our country worth it ? Our trade deficit is horrible and ONLY we can change that brotha ))) LOVE your vid's !!!! even the long one's,,,, ED
My Toyota tundra is made in USA with more USA components than most modern trucks these days. I understand it's not a US company however Toyota built what I want. A midsize truck with manual transmission, 4x4, manual transfer case, and extreme reliability. Also Jen doesn't drive a Toyota
And thanks, I appreciate you tuning into the videos. I'm All about US made stuff but I'm also all about quality and I buy things that make sense.
Fair response,, lets hope American manufacturers will soon have that market covered also,, I DO think buying american on as many "big ticket Items" as you can is the only thing that will keep america strong. Watch all your vids, doing the KZ 1000 one now,,Man BUY A TIRE !! last thing we want is you injured from shit rubber dude hahahaha And ya sorry about jens car I just KNEW it was also an Import. best of luck and continued success man,,Be the American drean for yourself !!! )))
Can I swing by for some help on a front end refresh for my 2000?
I like your style keep it real you ever changed a bed side on Toyota truck?
No I have not
OEM mo' better. Very good vid , tks
I will take one please and thank you
Enjoyed the video. Jealous of the manual transmission. I'm thinking the vibrations are probably friction from cheap seals in the rack or a less than smooth surface inside the rack.
That's great to hear, I appreciate you watching.. And yeah I absolutely love manual transmission. Although I will say the automatic does better suit the Toyota 3.4 l. It lacks low end torque. No problem though since it has the low range transfer case. Which I have rigged up to be able to use as two-wheel drive when needed
And yeah you're probably right about the surfaces on the inside of the rack
The Ol Chinesium steel strikes again.
I allways shake my head after a job outside of how many tools I use lol 🍺
Any update on the rack and shocks. Ironically I also have a set of ranchos 2 1/2 years old that look about the same. Other then the poor weld on the rack has it continued to work ok? Cheers
I ended up going with a factory rack. This one was junk and started leaking again.
I did buy Amazon/ebay parts for My car 97 Acura CL/96 Accord (same) 200,000 miles don't go far but shopping an Dr I got Detroit brand Chinese a-arm Ball joint kit with tie rods everything for $80. But not on a truck that you use for work/towing etc use the best you can buy NAPA maybe USA/Japanese only
👍
I wonder how long the rack lasted. My 2005 Tacoma needs a new rack I think, I have very poor power steering, tried replacing the pump and it didn't help much. I'll do the rack and new lines probably.
found an update below, he went back to a factory rack for anyone else who may see this. I might try to pull my lines off and see if they're not clogged or something then, but my rack is probably shot.
One thing you fail to mention was the price of the labor added for labor for a shop to press the Old and new bushings in and out nearest shop to me charges a $189 an hour
Other than OEM would you recommend a good place to find a new steering rack? Thanks
I honestly wouldn't waste your time with anything but OEM. Too much of a Gamble and too important of a part
You saw how much time I wasted in this video. That being said, I have used aftermarket racks plenty of times without a problem
i have to do this on my 94 toyota previa. not looking forward to it
Factory rack in my area is $968 USD. I'll tig weld my oem rack seems after markets are total junk.
It's been a couple years, did the aftermarket rack work out and what happened with the bottom strut bushings, did they send you new ones?
Aftermarket rack was junk. Had to get an oem. They warranted the struts all complete. Bushings are doing the same thing again though
i have a 99 tacoma with the 3.4 auto and its got 345000 im getting nervous
If you see the part such as the junk Rancho shock bushing not lasting why did you go back with the same junk only to see the same thing. Spend a little more and go with KYB or Bilstein struts/shocks, They are what Toyota uses when new.
Because they have a lifetime warranty on them so a few bolts to swap them out. I like the way they ride too
Arrrgh stuck with a stuck steering shaft rag joint 12mm bolt out Not budging
When you replaced the rack did all the power steering fluid all fall out? I had mine done and fluid still looks dirty.
a lot will stay in the reservoir, have to flush it all one way or another. Its not that hard to do.
Any that part damage from when it went in the water with boat trailer ?
This video was before that
And no it didn't harm the rack
the only you should change the fluid.
It seems like Rancho is pretty much junk. I've always been an OEM guy myself, but..... several years ago a buddy of mine who owns a land cruiser wanter to get a factory replacement radiator from toyota to replace his 15 year old leaking radiator. Long story short, the factory OEM toyota radiator had a hairline crack in the bottom tank and could not be used. We boxed it back up and got a rad from napa for much cheaper and installed it and it worked great. this is also after he ordered a replacement tailight for his 02 firebird and it came cracked in the box. and also after toyota told him if he didnt run their 40 dollars a gallon engine coolant his engine would "blow up". its a hard gambit to run out there, seems we all have to look after ourselves.
Hahaha It happened 2 times to me off a caddy and honda . Amazon buys LOL
Yeah. I wish they would get their shit together with these aftermarket racks.
22:52 Have you heard the term Tofu building? Well, you just had a taste of the quality of the steel used in Tofu building. (In fact, some of steel are so hilarious, that a man can easily break a one inch thick Rebar just by giving it a light smack on the ground.)
9:25 If you have a better then use yours That's funny right there...
Do you ever order from Rock Auto?
No I haven't tried their parts ever
That is scary how shitty those cheap ass parts are! Looks like OEM is worth the extra money for safety and longevity. Great video as usual!
Yeah unbelievable right! I'm going to leave this one in and see if it gives me on the other problems, but yeah definitely OEM all day long when it comes to a steering rack
New SUBSCRIBER. I need some man-knowledge. I have a question...My 20 yo son is about to freak the fuck out over the car he's rebuilding. Many of the "parts" are "welded" together with grime and road gunk. When he tries to take stuff apart, he ends up breaking stuff b/c of the force required, and a general lack of patience. Any tips? Solvent or lubricant of any kind ? For plasyic and rubber?
thanks for the sub Amy. Hard to give any tips on that w/o seeing it. patience is key for sure.
1 part acetone mixed with one part ATF makes very cost effective penetrating fluid. It's cheap enough that you can dump it on with a paint brush (with a collection pan underneath) multiple times before resorting to riskier strong-arm or heating methods. Also make sure to get the area as clean as you can beforehand.
lol i bought some lower ball joints from napa theyre going back as soon as i heard evryone haveing problems with em oem or no em
Good move for sure
If it was leaking the fluid should be new any way.
I don’t know where you New Jersey guys get your energy. Check out James Prigioni on his gardening channel
Bruh the moment I heard Maxpeedingrods i fucking died... Dont buy their coilovers they sell either LOL
Yeah definitely junk. But I figured if they wanted to send me a free rack I'd give it a go. The quality actually seemed pretty great overall! It's a shame it ended up leaking
chynuh
This repair really escalated
Dammit China!!!
Never use chineesium
Yeah I will buy parts from our local salvage yards before I buy that cheap made Chinese stuff, They just worry about how a part "looks" not how strong or functional it is from my experience.
The sad thing is all those old metal parts find their way to a scrap yard and eventually on a boat to China-where they become more substandard parts to be sold in the US and recycled again…and again etc .,,
Ranchos are some of the worst shocks/struts in my opinion! Everyone thinks they are getting something great, but they are crap like any other aftermarket part!
After market parts lol ..that why fords are built with aftermarket parts ..so ppl like punishing them selves
Rancho is junk. Old Man Emu for the win if you want to spend ten times the amount.
Very poor demonstration. You show step by step procedure
They can keep all that Chinese junk. So you pay $2000 for all the OEM parts. Think about it……how long did the OEM parts last? Also, $2000 ever so often……is a hell of a lot cheaper that $60,000 for a new truck. Your not throwing away money repairing a truck like a Toyota.
Why not just spend the money on OEM that lasted almost 200K? That china crap won’t last near that long.
I'm already dreading about how much is this going to cost me for parts and labor. I wish I knew how to fix cars. Now I have to cut back on some things and work some OT 😔
Didnt work thanks alot for nothing
Lol