Where/Which Remanufactured Steering Rack?

[dontdo_that]

Is it a good idea to purchase remanufactured steering racks over new racks?

Has anyone had any negative experiences with remanufactured racks? if so, which brand?

The only brands of remanufactured racks I am familiar with are A1 Cardone and CVU. CVU is a bit cheaper than A1 Cardone. This being said, which brand, if any, is recommended over the other?

I have only really looked on partstrain.com for pricing and options, but this is what I've found:

http://www2.partstrain.com/store/products.php?year=1997&make_text=toyota&model_text=4runner&category=steering&subcategory=steering_rack&part_name=steering_rack


Thanks in advance, it's great to be apart of UltimateYota :)

[Lee]

you can do that, yes. heck, try junk yards too, you might find a low mileage taco or 4r steering rack. but hang on to yours, you may need to swap things as i know my ragjoint and outer TRE's did not match my friend's 01 taco.

[dontdo_that]

So it wouldn't be a bad idea to go with a new reman'd rack? Im probably going to go with the CVU.

[MTL_4runner]

I don't have any experience with the CVU brand but there's really only 2-3 companies which are rebuilding these racks and then they're sold under countless storefronts and secondary brands. Here's another one if you decide not to go with your other choice.

http://www.carsteering.com/addtocart/1997_Toyota/4_Runner/Power_Steering_Rack/80-00697.html

[dontdo_that]

thanks Jamie. The site you linked to sounds very professional.. have you had any experience with their parts as a mechanic? I think a 36month warranty is plenty, and if I can really get an upggrade to lifetime warranty for 30 bucks more that would be great.. I might go with the carsteering rack over the CVU now.

[MTL_4runner]

thanks Jamie. The site you linked to sounds very professional.. have you had any experience with their parts as a mechanic? I think a 36month warranty is plenty, and if I can really get an upggrade to lifetime warranty for 30 bucks more that would be great.. I might go with the carsteering rack over the CVU now.


I haven't used them personally (although I likely will in the future), but I know people who have and they had good results. The best part is that if you have an issue with one of their racks, they will send you a new one before the old one comes back......that tells you they are really standing behind their products.

[DNAhilux]

I just replaced my rack over the weekend with a reman'd one from NAPA. The price was decent and well the best thing is the lifetime warranty. The only catch was that a shop had to do it. This was fine since my mechanic has his own licensed shop at his house. The rack feels good, alot tighter esp since i put on the ES bushings. Now the only thing to take note of is to ensure the rack is centred before you put it in.

[Lee]

you mean that the ragjoint is centered with respect to the steering wheel?

[DNAhilux]

what i meant is that the rack is centred in respect to the steering. just to make sure that the steering wheel is centred with the rack centred. On the pinion toyota has 2 circular marks, one indented and one protruding a little (inny and an outy). now from the factory the one mark was in line with the notch for the clamp that the pinion goes into (connecting to the steering at the ragjoint) well sometimes on reman'd racks the persone building it does not pay attention to this and the mark may not coincide with the rack being centred. if your rack is not centred you will notice it right away since your wheels will kick in a direction and you wont have equal lock to lock steering. Toyota is interesting since nothing is blatantly indexed, like notched,. so just be careful to ensure the steering wheel remains dead centre,and the rack goes in centred.