[meazz1]

I think it's time to replace the rack and pinion in my 2007, 151k miles on the clock.
For last couple of years the steering wheel has been showing some play, always needs to turn the steering wheel little to the right or left for it to keep the car straight.
Also, many trips to couple of different alignment shops could not fix the issue of the steering wheel not centered or the play.

Finally, two different shops told me I need rack and pinion replaced.

Has anyone done the replacement? How much should it cost?
These shops quoted me between $900.00 to $1000.00.
Any advice?

 

[paul r]

Rackdoctor in South Carolina offers lifetime warranty on their rebuilt racks. Check them out. You can have the option of the tie rods included as well. Find a shop that will install this at a reasonable cost. Could save you some bucks

 

[meazz1]

Rackdoctor in South Carolina offers lifetime warranty on their rebuilt racks. Check them out. You can have the option of the tie rods included as well. Find a shop that will install this at a reasonable cost. Could save you some bucks

Thanks. it's $249.00.
Let me find a place who can install it.

 

[paul r]

That price is about correct. Now , that price may not include the core and the cost will be refunded once it is received IIRC. There are conditions to be met with your core , basically it has to be rebuildable . Keep the box the "new" one came in as you will need it to ship your old one back. Finally you may ask Rackdoctor what fluid they recommend to use . I used Valvoline Max life synthetic trans fluid only because another member recommended it on the forum and I now see that probably was not the best to use even though I have not had any problems so far ( 31k miles now).

 

[bencahill]

I used Valvoline Max life synthetic trans fluid only because another member recommended it on the forum and I now see that probably was not the best to use even though I have not had any problems so far ( 31k miles now).

Why do you see now that it was not the best to use? I also have in my mind that Valvoline Maxlife would be a good power steering fluid for this van, although I haven't touched ours yet.

 

[paul r]

Why do you see now that it was not the best to use?

I tried to find the link but could not. It might have been external to Siennachat. In any case the argument was that the Maxlife tranny fluid might have been on the thin side. I have had no issues yet.

 

[bencahill]

I tried to find the link but could not. It might have been external to Siennachat. In any case the argument was that the Maxlife tranny fluid might have been on the thin side. I have had no issues yet.

No problem. Thanks!

 

[meazz1]

I'm gonna get the rack from Rackdoctor. But I just wondering a brand new one from Rockauto by Cardone $370.00 and limited lifetime warranty(whatever that means).
Would you still recommend the one from Rackdoctor? I know it's $120.00 cheaper than the one from Rockauto.

 

[NW404]

I'm gonna get the rack from Rackdoctor. But I just wondering a brand new one from Rockauto by Cardone $370.00 and limited lifetime warranty(whatever that means).
Would you still recommend the one from Rackdoctor? I know it's $120.00 cheaper than the one from Rockauto.

I am looking at replacing the rack in my 2007 sienna. Wondering what you ended up using and how it has been?

 

[Rojeda1217]

Aae from rock auto does not last long. Even with toyota fluid.

Baught the first aae in 2017 in summer. By 2018march it was leaking through both bellows and by where intermediate shaft would connect. Also shuddered and clunked when turning the wheel. Got it replaces sinve it had 2 year warrantee. Used toyota fluid. Lasted until this week. Started to make noise turning the wheel right going over bumps and leaking out the driverside bellow. I put 35 to 40 thousand miles on that rack.

The pump leaks now too. Was thinking of buying pump rack and pressure hose from same company for better hopes. Any thoughts from past experience?

 

[BillG]

Aae from rock auto does not last long. Even with toyota fluid.

Baught the first aae in 2017 in summer. By 2018march it was leaking through both bellows and by where intermediate shaft would connect. Also shuddered and clunked when turning the wheel. Got it replaces sinve it had 2 year warrantee. Used toyota fluid. Lasted until this week. Started to make noise turning the wheel right going over bumps and leaking out the driverside bellow. I put 35 to 40 thousand miles on that rack.

The pump leaks now too. Was thinking of buying pump rack and pressure hose from same company for better hopes. Any thoughts from past experience?

I've never heard any bad reviews of the Rack Doctor racks. For hoses, I'd buy from the Toyota dealer directly to ensure proper fit, quality and performance. If the pump has a problem, I'd consider a junkyard pump. I've only ever read a few cases of people replacing the pump, and they were ALL from running it dry from an unknown leak (from the rack or hoses). Before doing that, though, I'd consider if it's actually the pump leaking or the hose fittings. I don't know if the Sienna has o-rings on the hoses, but, if it does, those probably just need replacement. I'd also check with a mirror to make sure it's not the hoses connecting to the reservoir leaking down onto the pump. That's certainly something I've read before. I've also seen people complain about the reservoir cracking/leaking down too, but I would think you would notice that.

 

[supra129]

The pump leaks now too. Was thinking of buying pump rack and pressure hose from same company for better hopes. Any thoughts from past experience?

If the pressure hose leaks the fluid will fall down onto the pump, so make sure to confirm before you start replacing parts. I also recommend the Toyota pressure hose if you don't want to replace it again in 40k miles like the Aae rack and want to keep your vehicle for a long time. I went cheap and got the Gates hose($80) instead of the Toyota hose($400), it lasted 37k miles before it leaked again. Of course it happened in the middle of a mid-west winter so laying on my back to replace it was not fun. The original Toyota hose had 173k miles on it.

 

[Rojeda1217]

I checked yesterday as best as I couldwith the wheel turned to the left with the phone camera. The top of the high pressure banjo bolt looked dry. The top of the pump looks like its beeb leaked on, the bottom of the return hose had the most fluid on it. The return hose part looks as if it is wet as well. Im going to clean it up and see if I can trace the leak better. Need to buy another mirror. I braught the mirror to work and left it there. I will retake the video now that I have more memory and try to post.

 

[Rojeda1217]

Id rather go dealer (assurance of reliability)but was considering an alternative and possibility of eliminating the need of buying the dealer parts by going with a good company for all components instead(pump rack lines)and have a system that will last just as long because of all components being made by the same company. Again in theory, the powersteering system will operate to its full potential( again im probably wrong but its a shot in the dark)

 

[BillG]

It's probably a false conjecture to assume a company that makes a decent high pressure hose will also make a good aftermarket mechanical pump. Beyond that, there's probably only 1 source (China) for aftermarket pumps, which will just be branded as other specific names. As I mentioned above, get a rack doctor rack, junkyard pump and reservoir (if needed), and dealer hoses.

 

[blah415]

I think it's time to replace the rack and pinion in my 2007, 151k miles on the clock.
For last couple of years the steering wheel has been showing some play, always needs to turn the steering wheel little to the right or left for it to keep the car straight.
Also, many trips to couple of different alignment shops could not fix the issue of the steering wheel not centered or the play.

Finally, two different shops told me I need rack and pinion replaced.

Has anyone done the replacement? How much should it cost?
These shops quoted me between $900.00 to $1000.00.
Any advice?

It is most likely the steering rack bushings. Which most people change the entire rack to resolve. It is hell trying to replace this with air tools on an awd version. 1000 is about right. Took me 9 hours with air tools. Suppose to be a 3 hour job.