Has anyone checked output pressure on their power steering pump? Can it be done with a tool from autozone etc or need a shop to properly do it? I’m moderately handy under the hood at this point but haven’t done this particular task before.

 

Never done it personally, but this video demonstrates it.

 

Alright just to wrap up this thread in case searched:

Pressure output of PS pump was fine.

Lexus found evidence that the reman Lexus rack was not installed completely correctly by Toyota, issues with installation of both inner and outer tie rods. The Toyota dealership despite having a near 5-star rating was ultimately extremely defensive and unhelpful. I will just pay the higher Lexus labor rate going forward (where I am $220/hr vs $180/hr at Toyota) and learned my lesson about trying to get cute going to Toyota for the cheaper labor rate, for things I cannot DIY. Also the stupidity on my part of introducing an additional party ie Toyota rather than have Lexus both (a) supply the part and (b) do the install.

Once the rack was reinstalled, it felt better. Not like factory new but a bit less stiff. Now my car seems slightly out of alignment because Toyota aligned the car with the rack not totally correctly installed, but this is an easier problem to fix.

For anyone searching this thread this was a lesson that for the Lexus reman rack, you may not get the factory original highly boosted steering feel. FWIW. But I’m in a better spot now, definitely less stiff and happy enough to move forward with other work I want to do to the car (mainly refreshing suspension)…glad to be back on the road…

 

tbh i wouldn't be quick to go to 'lexus' vs 'just toyota' either... unless it's warranty work i'd avoid any dealer, just like taking an old mac to the apple store they're more interested (and used to) in replacing what you have with something new rather than spending time on diagnostics

idk exactly where you are but i used to do sales at penn toyota in roslyn, any given dealership pretty much has 2-3 technicians who actually really know their stuff and they're usually tied down with major jobs like replacing a wiring harness or a frame recall, etc... most of the shop employees are 'lube techs' who i would not trust to handle anything i seriously care about keeping long term lol

anyway glad to hear your steering is feeling better! i'd love to have the car care nut go through my car and do a mini restoration but he's 1000 miles away :(

 

Thanks and that totally makes sense. I’m actually on Long Island! Thankfully the next chunk of work on this car (front struts and upper control arms, sway links) I should be able to do myself, just needing an alignment after. And timing has been done already for next 80k miles thank god. The steering rack was just more than I can handle right now. What you are saying definitely sounds right I am definitely getting the sense that a dealership may have only a few folks who really know their sh-t. I need a better strategy and shop next time I have something I can’t do myself.

 

oh nice whereabouts? just from you saying on long island and not in long island i can believe you're a true native haha

 

Ha I am definitely not a native although starting to feel like it…wound up here through a weird chain of events including death in family, birth in family and Covid. Anyway I am in Southampton Town. I have honestly gotten good service at Lexus of Southampton and Lexus of Smithtown (apparently same ownership) but they are so expensive. I already had engine mounts from Amayama and they quoted over $1200 just for labor to install which just felt punitive like they were punishing me for bringing the parts, which look I get but still jesus I had ordered them thinking I might try the job myself not because I’m the cheapest bastard ever. Which led me to seek out help at Toyota as they were $700 for labor on the mounts but then they f’d up the rack install. Obviously it’s just about the more you can do on this car the better. I am at kind of an intermediate level where I can do basic suspension work like control arms, etc but not at an advanced level. I got a very late start in life working on cars. I knew the rack and mounts I’d pay for, but I’m trying to do all the suspension work myself. The rack turned into an absolute circus but I’m glad it’s over.