Hey, I need help and advie. I have an sc300 and I have loose steering. I dont knwo if Lexus makes there cars like this since they are not performance machines from factory. I have been told its the rack and pinion and others said I need a wheel alignment because my steering wheel is crooked. Has anyone had this problem or knows what it is. I do have a small leak in my power steering hose.
Thanks,
Curtis

 

most of the time a leak would show some sort of wet spots in the engine bay.... does you car pull to either the left or right when you drive?.... it does sound like an alignment issue but i had a toyota paseo with really loose steering (beacause i hit a curb) ended up needing an alignment and a new tie rod. are they saying your entire rack pinion needs to be changed?

 

Check in the Suspension/brakes threads....Also a leak is not the best thing to have....if it gets worse you'll most definitely be replacing a PS pump.

 

it's the rack and pinion. Change it and your problems will be solved.

 

Dont listen to anyone i seem to have this problem every 6 months due to crappy aftermarket bushings.

Its your steering rack bushings. They cost $50 and take 30mins to replace with basic hand tools. Theres several aftermarket urathane ones on the market, as because lexus does not sell them without selling you the whole rack.

The aftermarket poly ones i got are already broken again, but now Daizen makes them, so ill try those..

 

I had this loose steering problem too and it turned out to be my rack and pinion. Soooo there are other possible causes to the problem you know.

PROWLER: check both the rack and the um... bushings too... i guess.

 

Just leave your car in park and turned on. Look at the steering rack while your buddy goes in the car and turns the wheel right and left real fast...

If you see any movement in the rack.. bad bushings.

When they are broke or split, the car drives like your drunk (even when your really not lol)

 

Fix your leaking in your p/s hose and definitely change your Steering Rack Bushings to the DAIZEN urethane bushings. Check out my post about the installation. Its real easy and its a cheap fix.

 

Thanks, I am always working sinc emy son was born so I cant even get to the car. Its been in 3 shops trying to figure it out, one guy did say tie rod, then changed to rack and pinion. The other mechanic said he saw nothing wront with rack and just alignment. I am going to order bushings , but how can you tell bushings again went bad? I read the advice, but I am not as mechanical as you all, I was with my mitsu, but I cant seem to figure out the sc. It said 6 hours book time also just to change my springs and shock on front?

 

Nah, It doesn't take 6 hours. The most will be like 4 hours to change the shocks and springs.

 

Ive done the rear in 30mins, the front in 45mins just me doing the work. Its very easy.