sjls400

I purchased a 1994 ls 400 off of E-bay, It has about 150K on the OD, which works and seems about right. The price was right for what the problems of the car had, that you could see. The bumber was broke and the left fender was dented, easy fit went back on e-bay. The real problem is I took the car to a Toyota dealer instead of a Lexus dealer because I know at the Lexus dealer your gonna pay more. Well the Toy. Dealer told me that "THE LEFT FRONT STEERING RACK WAS LEAKING AND LOOSE" and should be replaced at $1015, naturally customer declined. I have been looking at you tube and seen that the inner tie rod has the same problem that I see on my car. On the driver side you can move the wheel side to side, and when you apply the break you can hear a nocking sound, which makes me think that the dealer was full of bull. I saw another thread that the dealer told someone else that they need a rack and pinion change and all they needed was a tie rod change. If anyone has an opinion on my problem, please give me some of your views.

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

change the tie rod and check to see if its the high pressure power steering hose that's leaking instead of the rack.

sjls400

I have the car jacked up in the driveway with the tires off and I look at the rack and pinion, one of the boots was riped and they both have like a greasy covering on them, but I didn't see any fluid leaking. That is why I can't believe any thing the dealer tells me. I am thinking more about changing the tie rod.

BLKonBLK98

since the boot is torn you have to replace that regardless, assuming the rack isn't leaking in which case the entire rack needs to be replaced or rebuilt. this means you need to disconnect the tie rod anyway at which point you can check for excessive play.

RA40

iTrader: (6)

+1 Then monitor for fluid loss from the reservoir. It will be obvious and then you can decide what to do. 150K isn't high miles so if it takes a bit to TLC, you might well have a car well into the 200's. That is a nice return if you didn't get into the car for too much $$.

sjls400

I changed the tie rod with a used one from the junk yard, it cost $10. Just to see if that fixed the problem. It works, but I still feel some knocking when you hit the brakes, now the speed is about 50 mph. I order a new one, I gonna change it one more time, with the new tie rod, before I look into the whole rack change out.

RA40

iTrader: (6)

How are the strut rod-bar bushings?

sjls400

Changed the tie rod with a new one and got wheel alignment and no more nocking when you hit the brakes.

BLKonBLK98

you still need to address the ripped boot. once dirt gets into the rack it will ruin the seals and the rack will have to be replaced/rebuilt.