99 4runner Rack n Pinion loose and clunking
 

Hey everyone, my 99 runner has 278,000 miles and its original rack. I've been hearing a loud clunking noise as you drive over medium rocks offroad.
It seems to be the left /right movement of the wheels. I have tried to adjust the large pressure nut on the rack to reduce the left right play in the rack but its almost at its end.
Anyone ever hear this clunking and is a replacement rack the answer? What brand would be acceptable in a world where rebuilt parts generally stink?
Thx!!

Found the problem by googling and a yota related post popped up.
Its the steering rack guide thats behind the big adjustment nut and spring on the rack. Quick fix .....just have to order the part. Thanks again yota community!

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...468d08ac23.png

There is also an upgraded version of the guide available from Toyota, it has teflon wear strips instead of the roller.

Do you have an option or is the teflon version standard??
Aftermarket or stealership?? Thx!

Ok......so my local stealership here in phx just quoted me 117.00 for that part?????
Is that possible???

It might be that much, maybe not everywhere. What's the part number??

45504 - 35031

So what is the issue with the old one?
The roller has play in it?
Is it possible to shim the old roller to tighten it up?
117 bucks is beyond out of bounds!!

Toyota parts factory / camelback toyota has it for 53.00
Welcome to crazy town!!! How is toyota able to do this??

Quick googling of the part number reveals many different sellers at around $50

:coffee:

Toyota Dealerships are allowed to set their own parts prices. Toyota gives them a suggested retail price and the dealerships decide how much to charge based on this value. Dealerships that sell online typically have much lower prices than many local dealers, but it depends on the dealer.

The dealerships near me will charge full retail price. The Honda dealerships near me will charge more than Honda's suggested retail price. :eeek:

That is just how it goes.....

:safari:

And the Toyota owner loses because all he wants to do is buy a part at a reasonable price. Nice!!

Ok.....so here's how i bush fixed the worn roller.
Its held in with a steel pin and had movement up and down and in and out. With the pin out , there are 2 split copper bushings shaped like tophats.....one in each end with the flange between the roller and housing.
So....with a chisel, i compressed the flange of each bushing to tighten it up around the pin and also raised the flange to tighten it in the housing.
Repack with grease.....install.....no more clanking and tighter front end play.
We'll see how long it lasts but it was easy enough to do.
Kenny s.

My 99 got a clunky rack as well, replaced the roller adjuster with the solid adjuster, no issues since.

So what is the roller replaced with?? Is it a solid glide??
I'm still going to order the part since i found it for 55 bucks.

That's what I replaced my roller bushing with. The newer style solid bushing. I guess the roller was supposed to be better, but it just doesn't last as long as the rest of the rack does.

I don't believe you can get away with just the one part though it's been a number of years since I did this....
When I replaced my roller guide with the solid one I needed:
Part#
End sub-assembly, steering rack no. 2/ Guide sub/assembly
45504-35031-

Spring(for steering rack guide)/Spring, compression
90501-26074- (should be able to re-use old)

cap, Steering rack guide spring/ Cap, rack guide spring
45524-37010-

Nut(for steering rack guide spring cap/ nut
90179-48003- (should be able to re-use old)

And a threaded rod nut for 5/8" threaded rod from Home Depot that just happens to fit in that hex hole for the guide nut.

This thread was very very helpful and the above parts list came from it, thanks and kudos to Yukon for his thread:
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/h...ctures-215931/

Nowadays it's getting easier to find the newer 3rd gens in the junkyard, possibly with newer style racks......if you happened to have the tool to get the nut out and a big wrench for the retaining ring nut thing.......

PS. For me clunking has been
The steering rack guide
The rack bushings to a smaller degree
The a-arm bushings, lower and later, upper.

All of which I checked with the truck off but steering wheel unlocked, parking brake on making sure nobody would squash me as they moved the steering wheel back and forth while I listened and looked for the clunk underneath. Nearly every time movement has been noticeable enough to locate after a bit of looking.

Just called my other local dealer and they are showing part number 45504-35010 for the 99 runner. 35031 fits 2001 tacos and 2002 runners.

And we're back to $117.00
Could this be correct?

The spring has been discontinued according to him.

The 350031 part is showing about 53.00 but the 350010 part which shows fit to the 99 runner is 84.00 from the retail of 117.00 at Toyotapartsdeal.com

Best price i've seen so far. The 350031 showing not a fit to the 99 runner

#35010 does fit the 99 4Runner and is the original style roller guide. Personally I would NOT replace the roller guide with another roller guide.
IF you were to order a complete rack #44250-35042 for the 99 4Runner from Toyota it would come with a solid guide. At least mine did.....all the 3rd gens now have the same part number for the entire rack.

#35031 is the solid guide they switched to in the later 3rd gen. It will fit the 99 4Runner's rack with the addition of part #45524-37010 which is the corresponding cap for the solid guide.
You can re-use the spring and nut out of your rack. EB Toyota is showing the spring as still available from them online.

Yes, you are ordering the 'wrong' parts. That's what you want to do because you're trying to replace the roller guide with a solid one and why you have to buy the cap too. Tell them you have an '02 4Runner, get both cap and guide, the parts person will be happy and you'll have what you need.

EB Toyota online shows all 4 parts I listed as being still available though you really don't have to buy the spring and nut.

I found this awesome illustration of the two different styles together that shows caps and guides:
Attachment 208557
Which is from https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/...-build.507565/
because credit given where due.