Hi guys, about a year ago or more i bought a power steering rack from ebay for about 330 dollars. Now i knew this rack was on the cheaper side and it looked like it was redone and messed with but i put it in anyways. Its been perfectly fine ever since until yesterday. I was driving and I hear my pump just whining away. I go and check out the power steering fluid and see its completely empty, i look underneath the car and its POURING fluid out. Luckily i have some dex fluid in the truck for my tranny because it leaks too So i go and pour fluid in and its just GUSHING fluid out. I made it home with the pump screaming away. Come to find out the rack is bad its leaking right from where the boot is. one of seals are bad inside. Now i can rebuild it sure, but the problem is i literally have no where to do it. and its a mess, if anybody help me find a quality power steering rack that be nice thanks!

 

That's just awful. I'm so sorry you've had to deal with this. I can tell you that a few years back I had this issue when trying to help a family member get her LS400's PS rack replaced. Initially we went with a reman rack off Rockauto (the most pricey one listed in fact) because the reputation of that one vendor was supposed to have been good.

Well... not more than a few days into having had the service shop install that aftermarket reman rack and the side seals started leaking and the car had to be limped right back in for service again. This time we ordered a remanufactured PS rack from the local Lexus dealer. It cost more but once installed there wasn't a single issue with it ever since which is now several years ongoing.

Around the same time I also needed to replace the PS rack and high pressure PS line in my SC300 and I did the same thing by ordering a factory reman PS rack from a Lexus dealer.

This is one of those cases where for whatever reason it make more sense to go to Lexus for this specific reman part. Reman alternators from Denso or from a Toyota/Lexus dealer also apply. Power steering pumps seem to be fine from reputable remanufacturing sellers (Drftmotion, etc.). Sometimes, and especially when it comes to PS racks, Toyota and Lexus just have a far higher level of quality control with their reman assemblies such that I'd only get the specific part from Lexus.

The SC300/400 PS high pressure hose assembly for instance I'd take to any highly reviewed automotive high pressure hose rebuilding company to have your OE assembly totally redone with new hoses and the original banjo fittings in the exact OE orientation with the exact same hose lengths.

But a power steering rack? That I'd go to Lexus and pay the money for the assembly alone and give them your original rack core in exchange. I've had a poor experience before like yours with an aftermarket rebuilder and wouldn't want to repeat that a second time.

 

good to know! by any chance do you know how much a replacement one is from the dealer? thanks

 

if you wanna save a few hundred bucks you can buy a rebuild kit for it , I have one waiting to be done. it's just some o rings and seals. its only 20$. There is a video by ding dong drift on how to do it as well as 20 year+ writeups on lexls

i did all my power steering pump gaskets and since it was so easy i got the rack and a/c rebuild kits as well on rockauto

good luck

 

Offhand I do not I'm sorry. It has been a few years since I last ordered one for my SC300 and had to do it. They will want your old core as an exchange once you have the "new" dealer reman part installed.

 

just got my rack and went to put it on and they sent me the wrong one! it doesn't fit, I was only able to find these racks on ebay, anybody know where i can find a good rack?

 

Maval 9149M is a good rack unfortunately they are likely sold out everywhere.

 

yeah I cant find it anywhere, I guess ill go with the ebay one again.

 

You've probably also tried to find this one, right? It would be my 2nd choice
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...pt=7388&jsn=11

Company used to be called BBB Industries so it might help to search for BBB Industries 3110158.

 

damn it sucks its out of stock on ebay too

 

I searched it up I found one on a website I never ordered before some clarks discount auto parts, never heard but we can try

 

I just bought a rebuilt unit from carsteering.com for $275 (no solenoid) and it seems ok so far. We have a race this weekend so if it makes it thru that it is probably good.

 

Ouch! I just bought and had my Toyota dealer install this rack in my SC400 just this past week due to the original rack leaking and performing poorly. Keeping my fingers crossed that this one holds up!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/157586988960

 

that was exactly what I put on originally that failed on me a year later!! I mean i drove my sc pretty hard after installing that exact rack and it held up for one year. good luck

 

I drive my SC400 sparingly and gently, so perhaps the rack will hold up. Fingers crossed!