Toyota Camry rack & pinion replacement

[@fushion243]

I cannot thank you enough for this video. I’ve done a R&P on a Ford Flex and it wasn’t near the trouble of my daughter’s Toyota Camry. You saved me lots of issues. Many thanks!

[@clicks59]

Nice work. This guy is experienced. It’s super important to lock the steering wheel straight ahead position and be certain that it doesn’t move. Some cars have clock springs for airbag, controls etc. The spring could get damaged if the steering wheel free spins while disconnected from rack.

[@kayannhenry]

Let me say this, the man upstairs is looking out for you. This was very helpful, and I can't imagine how much extra work this would've been for you to record this. God bless, and take care.

[@Leo-le2kc]

Excellent video. Also, just wanted to add a couple of helpful items that you did but did not mention on camera, but may be important to many first timers doing this job. One item was that you had to remove the top link of each of the sway bar links using an 18mm socket and open end wrench. This was done so you can tilt the sway bar out of the way so you could pull out the rack and pinion assembly. Also, the other thing that is very important, was that you did bleed the power steering fluid to remove any air out of the system, which also does cause the annoying whining sound as you turn the steering wheel. This effort also takes a bit of time since you need to keep turning the steering wheel back and forth many times to get rid of the air bubbles that you will be seeing in your power steering reservoir. Plus once the power steering system is bled, that annoying whining sound will be gone from when you turn your steering wheel. ;-)

[@tousshong9438]

Like everyone said. Great job showing us how to replace the rack and pinion and also providing find details on what's not to do etc..

[@fixersautomotive4514]

Tous Shong thank you for watching the video, please share and subscribe to the channel.

[@jrdrgz]

Great video! Clear and concise. Camera angles were spot on! Nice tutorial!

[@wilmerriveraministerioapre1357]

Men thank you for take time and make this video... help me alot...many blessings for you and you family...

[@fixersautomotive4514]

Thank you for the kind comments.

[@brucewilliams6292]

Thank you for the great video. I know that having to reposition the camera can be a pain and slow you down. Well done on the camera work.

[@Tomee62538]

Great video, now I need a Camry, I love those cars.

[@johneric3886]

Excellent work, nice tutorial. Great communication skills and showing most of the steps.

[@fixersautomotive4514]

Thank you for the nice comment.

[@rzgkane1964]

Subframe does not need to be lowered to get the sway bar bolts out. 12mm wrench is all you need. Front sway bar bracket bolts can be removed easily from up top with a long extension. So can the bracket that holds the two lines together near the pinion shaft.

[@rushhournational9058]

Make a video

[@marcusdarnell3348]

Thanks man I learned a lot! A diyer really can install an rack and pinion! I know every car is a little different through!

[@RESTESSMYSTIC]

THANX - great camera work - you can see whats happening - thinking maybe replace the sway bar bushes

[@mackfan]

Good vid, but the sway bar does not need to be removed to get the big bolts off the rack. You can loosen the end links off, rotate the sway bar up and the bolts have enough space to be removed. It might seem like there's not enough space, but just wedge a breaker bar under the rack and move it around and the bolt will come free.

[@fixersautomotive4514]

mackfan nice, that’s good to know when I do another rack on these cars. Thank you for your comment and watching the video! Please subscribe and share.

[@obs_vell439]

Wanted to tell your comment just helped me as I did this today... I just wiggled the bolts and they came out. 👍🏾

[@timfremstad3434]

You were right Arturo, that is a pain...... I was thinking of doing this on my dad's Avalon, because the Toyota dealer wanted to charge $1100 to do it, I looked online, and the new part from Toyota is $950 but NAPA has rebuilts for $350, $250 when you bring in a core.....but you have it up on a lift and it sucks..... I don't even want to think about the pain of taking that thing out on the ground

[@scottfarraway34]

in the process now. 56 years old and still lying on the asphalt. I need a hoist!

[@legion6277]

If your Avalon has the 3.0 v-6 you'll find a lot less working space and you have to loosen the sway bar and move it out of the way to get the mounting bolts for the rack out

[@abdalqadr1]

Greetings for you from Iraq

[@abdalqadr1]

I need the link please for fixzone

[@Nomoreendlesswars]

Good video great camera angles, I don’t think you need to lower the cradle to get to back sway bar mounting bolts

[@LAactor]

Great video. You the work and that's the important part. Not skipping steps of what you did and how you did it and how stuff came apart. The only recommendation is fast forward the impact wrench noise because it's painful to hear to people not used to it. Or cut that mostly out. Show it being put on the nut or bolt and one or two clacks from the impact and then cut to taking the impact off and you're golden. I got here from watching power steering flush videos. My friend has a leak in what looks like her high pressure hose. Not a lot of money to work with there. Been turkey basting it to little result. Should I try putting Mobil 1 ATF in there? I've been researching forums and they say Mercon V is thicker so maybe switch to that? The hose is $50 and who knows the labor. It's one of those 98-01 Camry V6's.

[@fixersautomotive4514]

ACTORDAVIDTRAN hello, and thank you for watching my video. Thx for the input on the video. I will make the changes for future videos. I would just replace the hose, try not to put just any ATF fluid. You don’t want to cross contaminate different ATF fluids. Please share and subscribe.

[@bignoze1745]

you look like you know what your doing , great video , thanks

[@kevon241]

Where you got the o-rings from? What part number are they?

[@roccos7502]

Great work bro, Just found your channel...Keep on making videos.

[@fixersautomotive4514]

Rocco thank you. More videos are on the way.

[@Mobbstyle36]

Just did one u don’t have to Lower the subframe,u disconnect to sway bar from the struts and u have enough room to get the bolts out

[@fixersautomotive4514]

Sweet. Thank you for the comment hopefully it will help someone out.

[@gonzalomorales1319]

Gracias amigo buen trabajo

[@marciad9832]

Hi, I have a 2012 Toyota Camry SE 4 cylinder. I went to get an alignment today. They checked the car and said I need both inner tie rods so they did not do the alignment. He told me to buy both inner tie rods and then he could do the alignment. I spoke to someone at the Toyota parts department and he said I have a whole steering rack. He said it is called a gear assembly. Is this true?

[@jj-tt6gl]

Grand video how to, thanks

[@nultari1]

Trying to remove the 2 large mounting bolts on jack stands and it seems impossible given the height even if I put a pipe over the breaker bar

[@kevon241]

I have the same car and it's kidda hard to hold in the road and when I'm going highway speeds, I feel the steering wheel shake and when I make a hard left or right turn, the steering wheel doesn't want to return to the center. I have to assist it. Could it be the steering rack? It's not leaking or anything.

[@artificium_]

Ugh this looks like such a pain. Whole day's job I'm guessing? Thanks for the thorough video btw!

[@kelseyrainwater3918]

Whole days job? He did it in under 30 minutes in front of you ...take a hour max if u know what your doing

[@miguelencarnacion805]

@@kelseyrainwater3918 no. He knows how to do it and has all the tools. Took me 8 hrs using jackstands and tools

[@treeoflife8007]

How much is labor to change the rack

[@e.w.keogh4828]

Good video. Thanks for sharing your knowledge . I have to do this on a 1997 Geo Prizm. and I only have remanufactured units to choose from, which all get horrible reviews. Could you or someone else recommend a decent rebuilt unit. Thanks.

[@fixersautomotive4514]

Try BBB they have a great remanufactured program and warranty. PLUS hate to say for a old car like that your options are very limited to ind brand new 100% new parts. Good luck

[@jasonshorrow2314]

I had my rack replaced on a 06 camry. The next morning I noticed when turning the wheel left or right when cold I have a shutter in the steering wheel. Iv put 300 miles on it so far and it hasn't gone away seems to get better as the fluid warms up. What would cause this? Mechanic said possible air in the system should go away but it hasn't. Any help much appreciated. Thank you

[@fixersautomotive4514]

Thank you for leaving a comment. Unfortunately it’s probably a bad rack assembly. The internal seals are probably letting fluid past them and causing the shutter. 98% of the rack are remanufactured, You should have the shop warranty the rack and replace it with another. It’s sucks when it happens and it’s happen to me before. I’ve had the problem where during a turn the steering wheel doesn’t recenter itself, like when you let go of the wheel during a turn and it’s supposed to recenter the wheel. Hopefully the shop understands and will warranty the part out. Good luck.

[@jasonshorrow2314]

@fixersautomotive4514 shop said I have a 2 year warranty definitely sucks! If not repaired soon will this cause further damage to anything or should it be OK to drive for awhile? Thank you kindly for all yhe info Sir! Much appreciated!! Great video!

[@fixersautomotive4514]

@@jasonshorrow2314​​⁠you should talk to the repair shop and if you have a 2 yr warranty just tell them that you have a concern about the shutter and wasn’t excepting that issue w/ the new part. Hopefully in a few weeks it will lessen or go away so don’t panic to much now. If the problem doesn’t go away or get worse is that something that can be warranty out. Sometimes there are issues that come up and won’t be covered under a warranty, OR. Maybe it can be “Bleed out” again to help get some air out of the system but normally the air is pretty easy to get out. Hope this helps.

[@jasonshorrow2314]

@fixersautomotive4514 great info! Thank you again for your time! Do you have any other videos related to the 5th gen Camry? Have a Blessed day!

[@realtrapmusic8462]

Wat type of fuild you use for the power steering pump for dat. Rack

[@fixersautomotive4514]

Just plain DEX/MERC III transmission fluid.

[@nathanield.4527]

Enjoyed the video. If you weren’t recording the video, how long do you think this job would take you?

[@fixersautomotive4514]

Normally it’s about 2.5 hr job but it take much longer because I was filming. Thank you for the nice comment.

[@jerryhatfield7650]

Hi great job on the video I have a question though I replace my rack in my 98 Camry over the weekend and when I turn the wheel all the way to the stops either left or right I hear a squealing noise is this possibly a slipping belt or is the power steering pump going bad or possibly a defective rack that I purchased?

[@fixersautomotive4514]

Jerry Hatfield squealing noise usually comes from a P/S or the belt. I would check the tension of the belt and you might need to flush the power steering pump again. Good luck and thank you for the comment .

[@binxnegale5801]

Be more helpful if what year and size motor this is??

[@cheopr2]

nice video...good camera....i have a 2010 camry that needs that job to be done.....nice watching and listening to you....keep up the good work////////...keep your dogs quiet next time...jajaja...just kidding....

[@nathanield.4527]

Where did you get the replacement rack and pinion from?

[@fixersautomotive4514]

Normally you can get it locally from your auto parts store. I believe I got this one from Rock Auto parts. Hope that helps you out.

[@nathanield.4527]

@@fixersautomotive4514 Do you recommend a remanufactured or new one? Any recommendations on the brand/manufacturer?

[@fixersautomotive4514]

@@nathanield.4527 honestly on that car a reman unit will be just fine. Most will come w/ a lifetime warranty. The brand new Toyota will only come w/ a 1 year warranty and cost 2-3 times more. BBB is a good brand for a reman unit.

[@nathanield.4527]

@@fixersautomotive4514 Thank you. I appreciate your advice.

[@DR19X]

awesome video. what is the name of the tool you used to get the pressure line off the rack?

[@fixersautomotive4514]

Dr X19 there called crows foot, it’s a 17mm size.

[@DR19X]

@@fixersautomotive4514 awesome. thank you sir

[@2022streetbobwheelies]

17:36 he says 17mm . If you have a solara its a 19mm.

[@gusalvarez3756]

great job

[@rushhournational9058]

How long does it take to change?

[@fixersautomotive4514]

Roughy about 2-3 hours to replace rack assembly.

[@koolstrike]

There are no new steering racks for the 02-06 Camry's, all are rebuilt. When you get the replacement steering rack there are plastic block off plugs where the power steering lines thread in. Remove those plugs prior to installing the new rack and inspect the threads to make sure they are clean and not cross threaded or damaged. Any damage to the threads return the rack for a replacement. Put the plugs back in and install the rack. Carefully inspect the power steering lines and hose fittings to make sure that the threads are not dirty or damaged. After disconnecting the power steering lines carefully use a pick or other pointed end tool to remove the old O rings, new steering rack comes with new O rings. Use the new O rings. Remember to tie off the steering wheel so it does not turn using the seat belt. Replacing the steering rack is not difficult, take you time and be very careful when putting the power steering lines back onto the rack. Use your fingers and check from the bottom and top views to make certain you have not cross threaded the fittings when putting the power steering lines back in place. A cross threaded power steering line will result in you needing to replace the line and the new rack you just paid a lot of money for. If you remove the 4 bolts holding the sway bar in place in addition to loosening the sway bar end links, you can move the sway bar around and not have to drop the lower frame to get the steering rack bolts out.

[@pt7904]

Is the stability control light suppose to come on after changing this? I just replaced the rack, 2 lower ball joints, 2 outer tie rods, and sway bar links front and back on my 2009 XLE and the traction control light is now on. I haven't been to the alignment shop just yet but hope they can reset this, or maybe I can?!

[@fixersautomotive4514]

What year is the camry? most 2004 and newer camry's have to recalibrate the steering wheel center position after a rack replacement. The alignment shop will be able to do this but will charge.

[@pt7904]

@@fixersautomotive4514 2009

[@RECTALBURRITO]

Someone who has never done this type of repair, how long you think?

[@fixersautomotive4514]

It should take about 3-4 hours to finish even in the drive way. Just take your time while doing this job and be safe.

[@RECTALBURRITO]

@@fixersautomotive4514 thanks for the feedback.

[@mikemiles2934]

Looks like i have a leak where the lines attach to valve below steering shaft could i replace just the o-rings and maybe stop the leak- not leaking any where else?

[@fixersautomotive4514]

Mike Miles. Yes I would replace the little black Orings. Clean off the top of the rack where the steering shaft bolts to. Good luck

[@moman520]

Where can I find a cheap on. Mechanic said I have to take off the subframe is that true??

[@fixersautomotive4514]

Moe Man beware of cheap parts from eBay or amazon. It’s a labor intensive job, get a good quality remanufactured part like BBB or cardone from Rockauto.com. If you have the same car and a 4 cylinder as the video you don’t have to remove the subframe, BUT service instructions say to remove it. You can remove it w/ out removing the subframe as I did in the video. Good luck.

[@moman520]

I truly thank you sir and yes it’s the 4cylinder.

[@mg6818]

When you change Rack and pinion replacement do you have to change the fluid?

[@fixersautomotive4514]

mg 68 yes. When you removed the pressure line and return line you will lose all the fluid and have to fill it back up and burp the system.

[@jstrayyy]

Which engine is this?

[@fixersautomotive4514]

2.4L but it’s the same w/ a V6 engine

[@albinmiranda8930]

Bos my wheel is hard and on my screen there is a red light (P / S).i have a toyota camry hybrid 2007 can be the problem ?

[@fixersautomotive4514]

More than likely the rack and pinion is bad. The hybrids have a electric power assist steering system and best guess is the assist motor on the rack is bad. Hope that helps, good luck.

[@albinmiranda8930]

Thanks a lot. just one more question, where is the power steering control module system located in the 2007 toyota camry hybrid? is it together with the rack and pinion? or also like the pryus hibrid. I know that power steering control module on the hybrid pryus is up next to the steering wheel?

[@2koolforyou88]

Great video having ps issues with my 06 has a leak from one of the lines on the reservoir and the boot on the passenger side is damaged and still whines with ps fluid in it

[@fixersautomotive4514]

2koolforyou88 make sure to check the return line fitting on the back of the PS pump. The little O-ring like to shrink and the pump can stuck in air and make the pump whine even while it’s full. Hope that helps.

[@2koolforyou88]

Is it the line with the bango bolt?

[@fixersautomotive4514]

2koolforyou88 no the banjo bolt is the pressure line make sure to check to see if the copper washers are installed. It can suck in air also. The other line w/ the 90degree fitting that held on w/ one 10mm bolt. The fitting has a O-ring and likes to leak. If the system is full w/ clean P/S fluid and the pump still whines it’s probly best to replace the pump. You can also try flushing and putting in just regular DEX/MERC III transmission fluid that might help as well. Good luck.

[@2koolforyou88]

Ok cool worth a try there is fluid on the pump itself to

[@MouseyBusiness]

How long did this take you to do?

[@fixersautomotive4514]

The Mouse In Your Room on a lift take about 2-4 hrs depending on your capabilities and tools.

[@MouseyBusiness]

@@fixersautomotive4514 I see. Thank you.

[@2koolforyou88]

Added dye to the system and the ps pump is actually not leaking but the boot on the passenger side of the rack is torn bad so im thinking the rack probably leaking and steering is a bit stiff

[@fixersautomotive4514]

2koolforyou88 normally if the fluid is leaking from the boot on either side the outer shaft seal is leaking and best to replace the rack unit as a whole.

[@johnapril320]

Hey was this a six-cylinder or four-cylinder and you did this on?

[@fixersautomotive4514]

Johnny Blade this was a 2.4L 4cylinder engine. V6 engine racks are about the same to change out.

[@2022streetbobwheelies]

I habe a 2001 solara 4 cylinder and i did it without lowering the subframe.

[@fixersautomotive4514]

victor chirinos thank you the info on the Solara cars.

[@MrBluoct]

Thanks Just found out my new used camry needs a rack 100 days after state inspection If it was YOUR camry New rack or rebuilt rack? Any suggested brand of rack if not Toyota rack? A power steering flush seem obvious And tie rod ends make sense Thanks again Helpful details Curious Any brand preference on penetrating oil sprays? And a clean power steering plastic canister is always a pain Toyota fluid plastic containers: brake and power steering The containers yellow over time due to age and dirty fluids When empty and without removing and cleaning with say cleaners and added B.B’s for agitation, The new clean fluid is difficult to see in the dirty power steering plastic container. Or just order a new power steering container before starting this job

[@fixersautomotive4514]

Finn Green just get a rebuilt one from the local parts store. New racks are 3 times as a reman. Plus there the same warranty. Replace the tie rod ends and flush the P/S system. Good luck. Thank you for watching my video, please subscribe and share.

[@augustcelineiii946]

I had an auto shop quote me $1500 to do this job, including getting replacement parts. In your honest opinion does that sound right? Seems expensive to me, but you seem to know what you're doing so if you say it's about right I would take your word for it.

[@Usmanthemecano]

August Celine III way too much in my opinion... This takes a couple of hours for a good mechanic. Parts cost no more than $400. The only tidious part is probably screwing the lines back in the new rack. But with a lift this job isn't more than three hours. So I'd say $700-$800

[@nickwilsonmusic2532]

@@Usmanthemecano does that $700-$800, include labor and parts? Or just labor? Thx

[@ahmadmohd1504]

How can I take care for my camry steering box as long as it can without leaking oil ? Any tips

[@fixersautomotive4514]

ahmad mohd just keep the power steering fluid full and clean. Flush it out even if it looks clean. About every 10k miles.

[@Hilary-ys1gk]

You trust your lift on a 4 inch slab of concrete...

[@fixersautomotive4514]

Gghyggty Gyhuyfsa... Hell No, it’s a good think I don’t have 4inches of concrete for my lift and you shouldn’t also. I poured 17yards of concrete, 6inch thick, 4000 PSI and fiber mesh mixed in. It’s plenty strong for my lift.

[@Hilary-ys1gk]

Fixers Automotive Ok, just wondering buddy. If you modify your concert then your good. Just thought that you just slap the lift on a regular concrete foundation ...

[@fixersautomotive4514]

Gghyggty Gyhuyfsa thank you for replying. I just installed another lift at my new location and that’s a 10K Atlas lift, That concrete I poured was 14 inches, 4000PSI w/ a rebar structure and 10 inch red heads for the bolts. 👍🏼

[@jeff1660]

Hmm

[@victorx281]

This guy cries for everything..