How to remove the steering rack on a Toyota. Replacement, repair of Toyota steering racks

30.09.2019

Determining a malfunction in the steering rack is easy. There are several main signs that indicate a breakdown:

the appearance of traces of a leak near the seals;
the occurrence of difficulties with driving a car;
accompanying the movement of Toyota Corona / Caldina with extraneous sounds;
corrosion coating of the rod surface;
the appearance of backlash rails.

To understand what caused the problem, a detailed diagnosis will allow. It will also show whether repairs can help or whether a complete replacement of the rail will be a mandatory measure to eliminate the problem. Repair of a separate part of the steering rack will be cheaper. But, unfortunately, he cannot fully restore the working life of the part.

How correct is this decision? It's hard to judge. However, the dismantling and installation of the steering rack on the Toyota Corona / Caldina can be performed by every car owner, even without experience in repair work. The only thing you need for work is a tool and detailed instructions. If you follow the algorithm very carefully, listening to the recommendations, you can quickly complete the procedure and the result will be no worse than in the service.

This manual was written by the Toyota Corona/Caldina manufacturers, making it the best source of information available. You can read the material and accompanying illustrations here:

Toyota Camry is equipped with a hydraulic power steering, which greatly reduces the effort required to turn the steering wheel. Compared to the recently widespread electric amplifiers, power steering provides greater information content and smooth control, but is more difficult to maintain and repair. As a result of the inevitable wear of the mechanism, over time it takes Toyota Camry steering rack replacement, which is the main part of the entire vehicle control system.

The hydraulic booster includes the following parts:

power steering pump driven by a car engine;
hydraulic booster expansion tank;
steering rack.

As a working fluid, hydraulic oil is used, which has a low degree of viscosity. Depending on the manufacturer, various types of lubricating fluid are used, in some cases ATF-2 or ATF-3 is used, which are also poured into automatic transmissions.

The rotation of the steering wheel is transmitted to the rack with the help of a steering shaft (cardan), with crosses installed on both sides of it. Thanks to them, it is possible to adjust the position of the steering wheel.

Important! Driving on unbalanced wheels creates high vibration loads on the steering, which leads to wear on the cardan shaft and crosses, and in the future it may be necessary to replacing the steering shaft on the Camry in 40 body.

Briefly, the work of the power steering is carried out as follows:

when the engine is running, the hydraulic booster pump creates a high pressure in the system, reaching 8–9 MPa;
when the steering wheel is turned, the working fluid under pressure is injected into the rack cylinders, multiplying the efforts transmitted to the steering rods.

A special valve is installed on the rail, which allows hydraulic oil to pass into the working cylinders when the steering wheel is turned. When it is in the center position, the valve is completely closed, and the working fluid circulates freely through the system.

How to identify a steering problem

The main type of work often carried out in a car service is replacement of the steering shaft cross on the Toyota Camry 40. Our roads are far from ideal, and, given the control design of this car model, most of the loads fall on the crosses.

Their malfunction is expressed in the form of a characteristic knock that occurs when driving over small bumps or turning the steering wheel. With a strong development on the crosspieces, steering wheel play occurs, which negatively affects the controllability of the car and often causes accidents.

If there are extraneous sounds accompanying the turn of the steering wheel, play, detection of a leak of hydraulic fluid or “biting” of the steering wheel, it is necessary to carry out diagnostics and subsequent repairs without delay. You can do this both in the conditions of a car service, and on your own.

Procedure for replacing the shaft and crosses

Replacing the steering shaft cross on a Toyota Camry is carried out as follows:

The wheels of the car and the steering wheel are set to the middle position, after which the steering wheel is carefully fixed. The fact is that the cable installed in the steering wheel, designed to connect the airbag, signal and multifunction steering wheel buttons, has a limit of 2.5 turns. If the steering wheel is accidentally rotated during the replacement of the cross, the cable may break, the cost of which is quite high.
With a 10 head, the bolts on the lower cross, located under the hood directly near the rail, are unscrewed. Then on the top, located in the cabin near the brake pedal. It is worth noting that the lower cross usually fails, but if it is necessary to carry out steering cardan replacement for toyota camry 40 then you need to remove both.
A mount is inserted between the lower cross and the rail, and with gentle movements the cardan is pulled out of the socket. From the side of the passenger compartment, the crosspiece is knocked down with a hammer. Care must be taken not to damage the cardan splines.

Then new crosses are installed on the cardan or everything changes as an assembly. Everything is assembled in the reverse order.

If, after installing new crosses, knocks and steering play do not disappear, then the cause of the malfunction may lie in the wear of the steering rack mechanism. The manufacturer provides for the possibility of adjustment: next to the place where the cardan shaft enters, there is a bolt for the "hexagon". Turning it clockwise ensures a tighter fit of the parts in the rack mechanism, but this type of repair is a temporary measure and has its drawbacks. The fact is that when tightening the adjusting bolt, the steering becomes noticeably “heavier”, up to the steering wheel biting in extreme positions.

Therefore, in case of rail malfunctions, the best option would be toyota camry steering gear replacement. It is done like this:

The car is driven into a pit or overpass, in extreme cases, its front part is jacked up and hung out.
Loosen high pressure hoses. It is necessary to prepare a container in advance for draining the working fluid. It is not recommended to pour used hydraulic oil back into the system after repair - it is better to buy a new one.
Steering tips are turned away from the front wheel hub. It is not recommended to unscrew them from the rods located on the rail - otherwise, adjustment of the camber of the front wheels will be required.
To facilitate access to the bolts fixing the rail, the stabilizer is turned away and removed.
The lower cross of the cardan shaft is unscrewed. If before this replacement of the steering shaft cross on the Camry 40 not done, now is the time to do it.
Unscrew the 2 rail mounting bolts. Since there is little room to turn the key at the bolt locations, this operation can take a long time.
The rail is removed and given for repair, or a new one is installed instead.
Everything is assembled in the reverse order, liquid is poured into the power steering through the tank.

On average, work to replace the steering mechanism takes no more than one day. Reiki restoration usually takes much longer and should only be done by specialists.

A steering malfunction is indicated by characteristic knocks, which are accompanied by an unpleasant twitching of the steering wheel on rough roads. There are two ways out - replacing the steering rack with your own hands or repairing the old rack.

The first option is more reliable, below we will talk about how to do this.

What is needed for work

WD40

A set of wrenches, socket and ratchet heads.
Tip remover.
Hammer and thin screwdriver.
Liquid key.
Rags.
Wooden supports.

The procedure for conducting preparatory work

Before starting work, we install the car on a level place and block the parking brake. For reliability, place bricks under the rear wheels. After fixing the car, go to the front.
We put the steering wheel in the neutral position.
Loosen the wheel nuts one by one.

When all the work has been done, we jack up one side of the car, remove the wheel and, having installed the supports, lower the car. We do the same on the other side. Thus, you will free access to the steering tips, which will make it easier to remove the steering rack.

Before unscrewing the steering tips, clean the mounting bolts from dirt with a metal brush, and pour over with a solution of WD (liquid wrench).

While the liquid is still corroding rust, we move into the engine compartment and free access to the steering rack.

Free removal will be prevented by a gas adsorber and an alarm siren (if any). Carefully unscrew the terminals and remove them to the side.

Removing the tips

If you change the tips together with the steering wheel, then when dismantling the old ones, you can knock them out with a hammer, if not, then it is better to use a puller.

Pliers remove the key from the fastening nut and unscrew it. We insert the fork-shaped mount under the rubber seal, and we put the upper part of the finger on the tip bolt. We tighten the puller nut until it stops and with a hammer blow we knock out the tip from the rack mount.

The sequence of work on removing the rail

We loosen the fasteners of the cross. This connection is located inside the passenger compartment under the brake pedal. Remove the rubber mat and lift up the trim so that nothing is in your way. The internal fastening is made in the form of a clamp with small slots and to release it will be necessary to unscrew only one nut.
We return under the hood and turn off the nuts securing the steering clamps.
The rail is free, it remains only to remove it. Taking the body with both hands, begin, loosening, pull it towards you. If you can’t remove it, it means that the spline connection in the cabin is stuck. Take a hammer and tap lightly on it.
When you have completely disconnected all the fasteners, carefully pull the steering rack through the hole in the wheel arch space. In order to remove it smoothly, you will have to turn it to the right or left so that the splined shaft fits into the recess. In which direction to turn, be guided by the place.

Remove the steering wheel very carefully so as not to damage the fuel hose or electrical wiring. It is better if you do all the work with an assistant .

The rail is removed - we remove it to the side and begin preparations for installing a new one.

Installation instructions

Clean all seats with a brush and sandpaper. Treat the landing studs with grease or graphite grease.
Before installing a new rail, open the plugs and fill the holes with lithol.
Now we start the rail in the engine compartment. This is done in the reverse order of removal. Carefully turn it around the axis so as not to damage the mechanisms and wiring.
We put the rail on the studs, put on the clamps and bait the nuts.

When connecting the splined part to the steering “worm”, you will need an assistant. One directs from the outside, the second connects to the clamp in the cabin. The main thing is that the notch on the slots coincides with the hole in the clamp. Otherwise, you will not be able to insert the mounting bolt.

At the last stage, you need to tighten the stud nuts. This must be done sequentially, first twisting them a little and then tightening them to the limit.
The rail is installed, we put on the tips, wrap them and install the wheels.

Be sure to adjust the camber after installation.

Video

Before starting work, watch a video on how to remove the steering rack yourself:

The Toyota Camry steering rack is a hydraulic booster, the mechanism that is necessary to reduce the effort of turning the steering wheel of a car. Another auxiliary part is a special fluid, which is sent under high pressure to the cylinder of the steering control part. All liquid in the cylinder is pumped through a special separating valve, which, focusing on the degree of rotation, regulates the pressure level in the mechanism.

The principle of operation of the steering rack

The distributor pumps the poured liquid when the steering wheel is turned; in the normal position, it, guided by the pump, goes back into the reservoir. It is noteworthy that in this case the pressure drops to zero. The pump is driven by a belt worn on the engine crankshaft pulley.

Steering rack failure is a common problem in Japanese cars. Toyota Camry owners often complain about tapping in the steering wheel or leaking in the steering rack. None of the problems brings happiness, the car requires urgent repair of the steering rack. Maintenance requires contacting a technical service, many problems can be fixed by yourself.

Steering rack replacement

It is more convenient to remove the steering rack by 30 on a flyover or lift. The part itself is fixed with two bolts, which are quite difficult to get through without special equipment. Steering tips are pulled out of the hubs, then proceed to the rack itself.

A little advice! In order for nothing to interfere and it was possible to repair the part, remove the stabilizer. It is quite difficult to unscrew it (located in a difficult place). The whole problem is in the bolt, which is installed close to the body, which means that it has to be twisted a little. After the stabilizer is disconnected from the rest, the access to the fixing bolts is open (usually there are no problems with them).

The bolts do not need to be unscrewed immediately, so that later it will be easier to release the cardan from the rack and remove the high pressure hoses. We take the key to twelve and move into the engine compartment.
There you need to find and unscrew the cardan, then unscrew the two bolts in the cabin (also 12, located at the driver's feet).
Now the element moves along the slots, it can be disconnected.

It is important that the steering wheel is fixed in one position and does not move.

We remove the high pressure hoses (you need to substitute some container in advance to drain the liquid) and bolts.
Then you need to check that the rail is not holding anything, and pull it out. It's best to shoot it together.
Assembly of Toyota 30, 40 is carried out in the reverse order. Assembly videos can be found online.
When all the nodes are assembled, you need to fill the liquid into the hydraulic booster system until it stops and turn the steering wheel in different directions, while adding to the reservoir if necessary.
Then we attach the wheels and release the car to the ground (should be under load).
Now we repeat the same steps, scroll the steering wheel and add liquid if necessary. The rest of the check is done while driving.

Advice! In the morning, before starting the car, check the fluid level in the reservoir.

It is worth buying a complete set of parts, and power steering fluid.

Diagnostics and repair

It happens that the steering rack on, 40 can not be completely changed, but simply repaired.

You need to drive the car onto a flyover, or a lift (an ordinary pit will do). First you need to conduct a visual inspection for leaks (you will have to disassemble).
We remove the steering rack and disassemble it into parts (repair videos for Toyota 30, 40 can be easily found on the Internet).
Parts should be cleaned of dirt, damaged replaced.
It is also recommended to update the gaskets and seals.
Next, assemble the rail, traction and install it back on the car.

The rack is one of the main elements of the steering. As a rule, it does not fail abruptly, but collapses gradually. A rack malfunction at the first stage is manifested by a crunch and a knock.

In the future, there may be problems with turning the wheels. In order not to jeopardize road safety, it is recommended to replace or repair the rail at the first symptoms of its breakdown.

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Article and cost of the original steering rack for the Corolla 120 and its analogues

The original Toyota Corolla 120 steering rack has an article number 4551012290. Its cost is from 20 to 45 thousand rubles for a new product. In the case of purchasing a used rail from auto-dismantling, the price depends on its condition.

So for a spare part from a broken car with low mileage, you will have to pay 14-16 thousand rubles. Many owners note that such a rail is capable of moving 120-140 thousand km until a replacement is required.

In the case of acquiring a rail from foreign auto-dismantling, the price will be from 6 to 15 thousand rubles. From the accompanying documentation, the car owner has the opportunity to find out the approximate mileage of the car from which the spare part was removed. This information helps to navigate the state of the rail and determine the appropriateness of its acquisition.

When buying a steering rack with an unknown residual resource, the car owner will pay from 1.5 to 5 thousand rubles. In this case, the spare part may fail and require repair immediately after installation.

Finding a rail from third-party manufacturers is quite problematic. The only company that mass-produces this spare part is SAT. Therefore, car owners have to look for analogues of the original product among Toyota products intended for other car models.

Table - Analogues of the original steering rack Corolla 120

Manufacturer	vendor code	Cost, thousand rubles
SAT	ST4551012290	8-10
Toyota	45510-12330	12-25
Toyota	44250-01021	28-48
Toyota	44250-01020	31-41
Toyota	45510-02090	32-45

Original steering rack Corolla 120

Common Problems

The most common problem with the Toyota Corolla 120 steering rack is its knock and crunch. In this case, the steering can continue to work normally. If you tighten the rail, then extraneous sounds often go away.

In most cases, the cause of knocking is backlash. Many car owners, when the rail fails, believe that the backlash of the EUR. To fix the problem, you need to purchase a special repair kit and sort out the assembly.

A typical problem of the Corolla 120 is the occurrence of a gap between the rail and the rod. In most cases, the malfunction is not serious and is solved by tightening the connection.

Destruction inside the rack leads to vibration when the steering wheel is turned. In advanced cases, rattling is transmitted to the body. Bushings fail most often. They can also be the reason why the rake knocks.

A deformed shaft leads to inaccuracies in control. The only way to fix the situation is to replace it.

Also a typical rack problem is steering wheel biting. Because of this, returning to the starting position is difficult. The need to apply excessive force reduces road safety. At the same time, the steering column and EUR are subjected to severe wear.

Description of the steering rack replacement for Toyota Corolla 120

Work on replacing the steering rack on the Corolla 120 is carried out according to the instructions below.

Remove panel.

Dismantle the duster.

Loosen the cardan bolts.

The location of the bolts that connect the cardan

Disconnect the cardan shaft by moving to the side.
Unhook the duster.

Disconnected cardan and the location of the anther fastening latches

Raise the car on a lift or install it above the inspection hole, hanging it in front of the car using jacks.
Remove front wheels.
Open the subframe.

Loosen the steering knuckle nut.

Unscrew the nut and detach the steering tips.

Lower the subframe down.

Unscrew the 4 bolts that secure the steering rack.

Dismantle the steering rack.

Removed steering rack with column shaft and rods

Remove duster.

Boot to be dismantled

Unscrew the steering column shaft.

Steering column shaft location

Dismantle the anthers of the drafts.

Unscrew the pulls. In this case, you should remember which one is on which side, since their sizes are different.

Replace the steering rack and assemble everything in the reverse order of removal.

Steering rack repair on Corolla 120

Since the cost of a new steering rack is high, most car owners decide to overhaul it. You can carry out repairs according to the instructions below.

Pull out the seal. Since the removal of several small parts is expected, the car owner will need a box to put them there and not lose them.

Unscrew the nut with an internal octagon. For these purposes, you will need a special tool.

Removing the nut with an internal octagon

Loosen locknut.

Unscrew the clamping nut.

The process of unscrewing the clamping nut

Pull out the shaft together with the bearing.

Remove the rail from the housing.

Check the condition of the bushing. It breaks down the most.

Pull out the failed bushing.

Comparison of old and new bushings

Install a new bushing in the steering rack housing. A characteristic click will inform about the correct fit. Car owners recommend purchasing a bushing made of fluoroplastic, as it is highly wear resistant.

Reassemble in reverse order.