RAV4 steering rack repair: signs and causes of malfunction

The Toyota Rav 4 crossover has a properly equipped interior, comfortable seats, and excellent visibility. The steering rack directly ensures comfortable movement on the roads.

What does the RAV 4 steering rack consist of?

The design of the Toyota RAV4 rack does not differ significantly from the racks of other cars equipped with hydraulic power steering. This node has similar problems to its counterparts, but individual weaknesses could not be avoided. To understand the device and learn to identify the first signs of breakdowns of this mechanism, let’s consider what parts the steering rack consists of:

1. The rack body is made of aluminum, with moving mechanisms mounted inside it.
2. The drive gear and toothed bar ensure that the shaft moves in the required direction.
3. Bearings are necessary for easy and silent operation of the gear.
4. Springs - do not allow gaps and backlash between the bar and the gear.
5. Limiters - ensure the movement of the rack mechanisms in the required range.

Signs of a faulty steering rack

The steering rack of the RAV 4 2007 did not cause any particular complaints from the owners during the entire period of operation. If the car is used wisely, problems with this unit do not begin before the mileage of 100 thousand kilometers. Yes, there have been cases of complete replacement of the rack with much lower mileage, but these cases are isolated. This is due to the ruthless operation of the car, or a factory defect (it should be noted that the latter rarely happens).

Therefore, every owner should be able to recognize the first signs of a rack breakdown in order to contact a service station in time. Let's look at these symptoms:

1. One of the most common breakdowns is a leak of power steering fluid; this occurs due to a violation of the density or integrity of the sealing rings. You can detect this problem when checking the level in the tank, or by noticing a puddle under the car when parked.
2. When driving on uneven roads, a knock is heard from under the hood, and the steering wheel vibrates noticeably.
3. When driving on a flat road, the car “floats” and there is play in the steering wheel.
4. After turning the steering wheel, it does not return to its original position, or returns with force.

How to tighten the steering rack correctly: what you need to know

The steering rack is the main element in the steering mechanism of the vast majority of cars. Due to the steering rods and steering tips attached to the rack, the turning force is transmitted to the wheels when the steering wheel is rotated.

Regardless of whether the steering is equipped with power steering (hydraulic power steering, electric power steering or hydroelectric power steering) or not, the steering rack continues to be a key element.

During operation, the driver may notice the following:

• the steering rack knocks when driving over bumps and when turning the steering wheel, the steering wheel began to “dangle” and pull out of your hands on bumps, the rotation of the steering wheel became too easy;
• if you shake the steering wheel in the “zero” zone (the wheels and steering wheel are straight), large play is noticeable, and the wheels do not respond to sufficiently significant angles of rotation of the steering wheel when deviating from “zero”.

These symptoms do not indicate problems with the steering and rack. In this case, it is often possible to minimize wear and tear without repairs. To do this, you need to adjust the rack by tightening it. Read more in our article.

Factors that negatively affect the condition of the steering rack

Repairing the RAV4 steering rack is quite expensive. In order not to have to deal with it ahead of schedule, you should know and avoid factors that negatively affect the “health” of this node:

1. If you like to turn sharply, then know that when the wheels are turned all the way, there is a strong load on the steering mechanisms.
2. Getting the front wheels into deep holes at speed can result in deformation of the rack housing or shaft.
3. Hitting obstacles such as curbs and speed bumps.
4. The seals were not replaced in time, which caused water and dirt to get inside the unit.

Diagnostics and repair of Toyota RAV 4 steering rack

Repair of the RAV4 rack is carried out only after diagnostics in a car service center, by the hands of qualified craftsmen. It is strictly not recommended to do this on your own, without experience and the necessary tools. Diagnostics are carried out using special equipment that simulates the operation of the steering mechanisms and hydraulic system of the car. This procedure is necessary to identify faulty parts, with their subsequent replacement or repair.

But most often the problem is wear or mechanical damage to parts that require repair of the RAV4 steering rack or complete replacement of the rack, in which case a whole range of restoration work is carried out:

1. Damaged parts are repaired, non-repairable parts are replaced with original ones.
2. Rubber oil seals and seals are replaced with new ones, regardless of condition.
3. The shaft is cleaned of corrosion and checked for runout.
4. The hydraulic system is flushed, new fluid is added, and pumping is performed.
5. If necessary, change tie rods and ends.
6. Wheel alignment is adjustable.

If repair of the RAV4 rack is impossible, it is completely replaced with a new or restored one.

All cars have their weak points. If we talk about the RAV4, then the problem with the steering rack is in the bushings and needle bearing, inside the steering shaft well. In 99% of removed slats, these parts are replaced. It should be noted that they are inexpensive.

Toyota Rav 4, 3rd generation. Rail restoration.

Owners of the RAV IV are, in principle, almost “lucky” - all the steering rack control units and the ESP unit are located in the car’s interior, which makes the new steering mechanism relatively inexpensive.
there is a minus - a worm pair of electric. The amplifier motor, located in the cabin, also knocks, due to its design, and you have to come to terms with it. This defect occurs on almost all cars with an ESD located in the steering column. . he is in front of you - this “sneaky worm”.

. and now the film, summary: “crooked hands”, vying for a Darwin Award, changed the thrust and installed a plastic clamp. result.

. the rack and pinion shaft turned into an old rusty scrap.

. emex. price of a new rack. China is not an option, all the details are in the material on the Corolla, by the way, the slats are very similar.

In any case, we believe that “sheepskin is not worth the candle” - the new, cheapest China - 6 thousand rubles. + removal and installation (4000 rubles) + alignment (800 rubles), total 10,800 thousand rubles - or all inclusive repair with a guarantee - from 5 thousand rubles. the choice is yours.

So, the process. bolt interior.

. short subframe with 8 main load-bearing points.

. 2 nuts - 2 bolts of the rear support of the unit.

. Carefully lower the subframe onto the hydraulic strut.

..2 bolts and rack removed. simple mechanism - made of 2 shafts. but there is an “ambush” connected with the upper nut of the steering shaft, and it is inexplicable; on some cars it turns away without problems, but this also happens.

. when you try to unscrew the nut with a special wrench, it pulls the threads from the crankcase - the main thing here is to stop in time, otherwise the crankcase will burst. This is the only way to remove the nut...

..there is no thread of this size in our metric thread system - you have to make a new nut and cut the thread in the crankcase.

We finalize the mechanism and assemble it - in the end everyone is happy: we made money - the car still has the factory rack with a guarantee.

Tips for Toyota owners

Bringing the story to an end, we note that a major repair of the Toyota RAV4 steering rack will take you a lot of time and money. In order not to force these events or avoid them altogether, we recommend following a few simple rules for operating your car:

1. Drive through deep and high obstacles at minimum speed on straight wheels.
2. Do not hold the steering wheel in the extreme position for a long time; accelerate sharply only with the steering wheel straight.
3. Check the condition of the seals and seals on the rack to prevent dirt from getting inside the mechanisms.
4. In cold weather, first turn the steering wheel slightly in place to warm up the power steering fluid.

Monitor the technical condition of your car, do not allow it to be used with malfunctions! We hope our tips will help extend the life of your car. We wish you smooth roads!

Source: gidravto.ru

Recommendations

After completing the adjustments, the rack should also be checked while running. It is important to pay attention to the fact that after turning the steering wheel, the steering wheel itself must return to the zero position (steering wheel straight) without driver assistance. If you have to turn the steering wheel by hand (the steering wheel does not return to zero), this indicates obvious problems with the rack (too tight the adjusting nut, wedging, etc.).

To check the steering return, just go through a turn and, at the exit of it, press the gas, briefly removing your hands from the steering wheel. If the steering wheel does not tend to return to the zero position and needs to be turned independently, then the nut on the rack may be overtightened and needs to be loosened.

Source

Repair of RAV4 steering rack (3rd generation) with ESD. Photo report

In this article we will show you how to repair the steering rack with your own hands in a Toyota Rav 4 (3rd generation), which has been produced since 2007 and is equipped with an EPS (electric power steering). Before starting work, disconnect the negative terminal from the battery.

To carry out independent repairs, we need to make a fluoroplastic bushing with a diameter of 26.8 mm. and 34. mm., accuracy should be maximum with minimum roughness. Only one bushing will need to be changed, it is on the right side.

Sleeve drawing and dimensions:

We align the wheels straight and begin to remove the cardan in the cabin:

The steering wheel must be fixed in this position, we do this using seat belts:

This was done so as not to tear off the airbag volute in the cabin. We hang the subframe and remove the steering rack:

Clean the surface where the manufacturer's marking is stamped, it should be NSK, like we have in the red circle:

This is what it looks like up close:

We dismantle the right steering rod assembly with the tip:

We disassemble the adjusting unit, unscrew the large nut using a 36 wrench, and the smaller one with a 27 wrench:

In the photo you can see a rack stop with plate-shaped washers under the nuts, be very careful with them, it is very important to place them as well, without confusing them with each other.

Removing the steering rack Rav 4 (2005 – 2012)

Steering rack for Rav 4 2006 easy to dismantle yourself. To work, you will need keys for 24, 17 and 10, as well as a balloon for dismantling the front wheels of the crossover. The procedure is as follows:

1. Rav 4 is driven into the inspection hole, the front wheel bolts are loosened with a wheel wrench. The car is jacked up, the wheels are removed, and the front part is placed on supports .
2. The steering wheel is set to a straight course, the terminals are removed from .
3. The foot mat is pulled back, releasing the latches holding the casing trim to the hole for the steering column. The cover itself is removed.
4. The steering wheel rotates until the terminal connection bolt appears. Marks are applied for correct assembly . The fastener is unscrewed, the intermediate shaft is disconnected from the steering mechanism and removed into the cabin.
5. Instead of removing the subframe, it is more advisable to remove the rear engine support.
6. The boot is removed, and the steering rack complete with tips is moved to the left. To remove the unit, you need to slightly lift the engine crankcase with a pry bar (with emphasis on the subframe).

Which silent blocks to choose

In service centers and spare parts stores, owners of Japanese crossovers are offered a large selection of ball arms for suspension repairs.

Jikiu

The trademark, owned by the large Asian corporation RMP Nagamochi Technology Co., appeared in the 60s. last century during the growth of auto production in Japan. Silent blocks, of which there are more than 2.5 thousand varieties in the company’s catalog, are manufactured using our own unique technology on modern equipment under constant quality control. Products are certified in Russia. Buyers noted the long service life of spare parts, but the goods are not always in stock. If ordered, it will be delivered within 1-3 weeks.

Jikiu are silent blocks that are manufactured using a unique technology.

Shinhwa

A small company from South Korea produces spare parts under its own brand and for the Inzi brand. Rubber-metal supports and silent blocks are in particular demand for most automobile companies. Despite the quality, which is not much inferior to the original, the prices for parts are low. And the absence of counterfeits on the Russian market attracts new buyers.

Before purchasing, you must check the markings on the packaging and the finished product.

Masuma

The production facilities of the Japanese company are located in many countries and work to meet the needs of Asian, European and Russian car owners. Silent blocks produced under the Masuma brand have a minimum defect rate of no more than 0.6%. They are characterized by low price and durability. However, popularity has led to an increase in counterfeits appearing on sale.

Masuma silent blocks have a minimal defect rate.

"Fulcrum"

The company arose on the basis of a car service center organized in 1998. The official date of birth of the company for the production of spare parts was 2006. In 2021, more than 3 million parts were produced. The use of our own developments made it possible to make the rear suspension of cars stiffer and the front suspension more sensitive. The growing popularity of products has led to the emergence of a large number of counterfeits.

Therefore, when purchasing, you need to be careful: the manufacturer has not yet developed protection against counterfeiting.

RBI

The Thai company has been operating since 1972 to meet the needs of Asian and European car enthusiasts. Production is located in China, which allows us to keep prices below average. Modern equipment used in factories makes it possible to produce silent blocks from high-quality raw materials and with minimal deviation in size. Many analogues for Japanese cars are produced here, incl. RAV 4.

RBI keeps prices below average.

Febest

Despite the fact that this is a German manufacturer, its catalog contains many spare parts for cars from Asia. In the manufacture of rubber-metal parts, natural rubber is used, which increases their wear resistance in cold winter conditions. Because of this, in Russia, silent blocks from this manufacturer are in good demand among RAV 4 owners. The only drawback is the lack of parts for certain generations of crossovers.

Sidem

The main production of the concern, with its head office in Belgium, is located in Romania and Hungary. There, the technological process is organized in a full cycle with quality control at every stage from the purchase of raw materials to the shipment of finished products. Despite not the widest range, owners of Japanese SUVs can purchase any suspension joints, including floating silent blocks. The lack of counterfeits, low prices and precise dimensions of parts play a role in their growing popularity. However, some buyers noted the low service life of spare parts.

Sidem organized the production process of silent blocks in a full cycle.

We disassemble the steering mechanism of Rav 4 2007

Analysis of the mechanism on Rav 4 produced in 2007 and 2008 is similar to the analysis of this unit on cars of previous years, since we are talking about crossovers of the same generation. On the removed steering rack, the unit responsible for adjusting the pressure sleeve is disassembled. To do this you need:

1. Tighten the locknut, unscrew the adjusting plug and try to pull out the bushing. If she does not give in, then move on to the next point.
2. Unscrew the nut of the “worm” (i.e., the steering shaft) using a special wrench (sold as a wrench for disassembling shock absorbers produced in our country). The steering shaft nut is pre-drilled with the drill slightly extending into the body (the depth of the hole is a couple of millimeters).
3. Holding the shaft, knock it out with gentle blows to the rack body.
4. The clamping sleeve is held in place by a rubber seal, so you need to lightly tap it with a knob and then pull it out of the seat.

Repairing the Rav 4 steering rack involves removing another bushing and needle bearing.

Remove the bushing and needle bearing

The photo shows the Rav 4 steering rack disassembled. Elements requiring replacement are obtained in the following order:

1. The whiskers are bent with three needles and the sleeve is pushed outward by the internal (horizontal) shaft. It is more convenient to work when the assembly to be disassembled is clamped in a vice.
2. After removing the shaft, you can see a needle bearing in the well that needs to be removed. In some cases, repair of the rack and pinion mechanism becomes necessary precisely because of the knocking of this part.
3. Removing the part involves drilling a hole. In this case, you need to get into the bearing race. Then it is simply knocked out of the rack body.

On a Rav 4 30 car in the 2009 body (pre-styling version), the needle bearing is removed in exactly this way. The drilled hole is subsequently sealed.

Adjusting the steering mechanism: features

Let us immediately note that steering racks installed from the factory usually require tightening, not loosening. Loosen the rack as part of adjustment or after repair. It is important to understand that the decision to tighten the rack involves a deviation from the initial factory settings.

Initially, the rack is configured at the factory in such a way that the pressure of the gear-rack pair is as tight as possible, while the steering wheel rotates easily and without effort. For this reason, you need to know how to tighten the steering rack. It should also be understood that tightening the steering rack does not always eliminate play and knocking, but you can reduce the play or knock of the mechanism.

Considering that the bushings are plastic, the first tightening “selects” the gap. However, if after such a tightening you tighten the rail again, the bushings will simply break or become completely deformed.

How to adjust the steering rack

Next, we’ll look at how to tighten the steering rack on a car. This can be done in a regular garage by driving the car into a pit or lifting it on a lift. The fact is that all work will need to be done under the car (taking into account the location of the steering rack).

1. First you need to find a special adjusting nut on the rack body. On different cars, the nut can be in different places; the top of the nut is often covered by a cap.
2. After removing the cap, you may also need a special tightening wrench. Often, if such a key is not available, you make it yourself.
3. The next step is tightening the steering rack. During the tightening process, you must be careful not to overtighten the nut (remember, overtightening will damage the plastic bushings inside).
4. Typically, no more than 1/3 of a full turn of the adjusting nut is required to securely lock the rack-and-pinion pair.
5. In general, the optimal adjustment should be made so that the steering wheel rotates easily and freely, while play and knocking are minimized or completely absent.

Of course, when adjusting, it is optimal to measure the steering play with a special device - a play meter. Taking into account the fact that such a device is usually not at hand, the tightening of the nut is determined by your own sensations on the steering wheel (the need for tightening or loosening).

Assembling the rack Rav 4 2010

The old metal bearing is replaced with a new plastic replacement during assembly. It needs to be pressed into the body. Next, lubricant is applied to the steering shaft and the part is inserted into place. Rotation of the shaft by hand should be carried out without significant effort. The play is checked by rocking. If there is one, you need to tighten the nut. If this does not help, then you need to check the upper radial ball bearing. The peculiarity of this element of the rack on the Rav 4 is that it should not play in principle. A new spare part is selected taking this factor into account. When installing a horizontal shaft, the vertical one must be removed.

Assembly order

To avoid difficulties when driving a car, assembly work is performed in the following sequence:

1. A new bearing is pressed inside the housing. The correct spatial position relative to the shaft is ensured;
2. The steering shaft is lubricated. For this purpose, the composition recommended by the manufacturer is selected;
3. The quality of the completed stage is checked. There should be no obstacles when turning the shaft by hand;
4. The backlash is controlled by rocking. If it is present, tighten the nuts or check the position of the upper ball radial bearing

Attention! The presence of play in this element of the Toyota RAV 4 steering rack is unacceptable. A new spare part is selected taking into account this parameter. Installation of the horizontal shaft is carried out by removing the vertical one.

The price for repairing a Toyota RAV 4 steering rack varies significantly.
Many service stations not only provide services, but also sell components. This saves time on repair work. If during the repair of the steering rack after completing the dismantling work it turns out that it is necessary to replace some spare part, it can be immediately purchased and installed in place. When choosing a suitable car service company, it is worth studying the available offers on the market. This will allow you to choose the best option in terms of cost and quality of repair. Post Views: 1,292

Replacing steering rack rav4 3rd generation

One of the main elements affecting the safety of any vehicle is the steering rack. Although the third generation Toyota RAV-4 is a completely reliable car, it has its weaknesses.

One of the pain points is the steering rack, which is sensitive to corrosion. When moisture gets on it, destruction occurs. We are talking about a car mileage of 20-30 thousand km. In the previous publication we talked about removing the second generation RAF rack.

Today we will look at the design and replacement of the RAV4 , which has been produced since 2007. This unit provides for the installation of hydraulic power steering.

What's included in the steering rack package?

The node has no individual weak positions. It is necessary to understand the design, to know what elements the unit we are considering consists of:

1. The body is made of aluminum. There are moving mechanisms inside.
2. The drive gear and gear plate are responsible for the operation (move) of the shaft in the desired direction.
3. Bearings are responsible for the silent operation of the gear.
4. Springs prevent gaps and play between the gear and the bar.
5. The operation of the mechanism (rack) in the required range is the prerogative of the limiters.

RAV4 3rd generation. Replacing the steering rack yourself

Symptoms of a problem

The manufacturer claims the possibility of operating the unit we are considering with a mileage of 100 thousand km. This is subject to compliance with the rules of maintenance and proper operation. Replacement is possible at an earlier stage, due to:

1. With a factory defect.
2. Improper operation of the vehicle.
3. With the condition of the road surface.

Untimely repairs can lead to replacement, which is an additional expense. Symptoms of technical illness are as follows:

1. Hydraulic booster fluid leak. The O-rings have failed. It is necessary to pay attention to the amount of liquid in the tank. Periodically inspect vehicles in the parking lot.
2. Driving on uneven roads may indicate a malfunction. In this case, a knock is heard from under the hood, and vibration in the steering wheel is felt.
3. If the car floats on a flat track, there is play.
4. When performing a maneuver, the steering wheel does not return to its original position. Difficulties may arise: physical effort is required to return the steering wheel to its original position.

To remove and install a new element, it is recommended to use original spare parts.

You can use ATG, Lizarte, General Ricambi products.

RAV4 3rd generation. Replacing the steering rack yourself - cleats

When to replace a failed unit

RAV4 steering rack is carried out:

1. If the element cannot be restored (restored).
2. When cracks and deep chips appear on the body of the unit we are examining.

The element in question affects safety. Therefore, technical work should be carried out by service center specialists. Locksmiths have the necessary equipment and special tools to carry out diagnostics.

RAV4 3rd generation. Replacing the steering rack yourself - replacement

Removing the steering rack

The algorithm RAV4 steering rack is as follows:

1. Space is freed up in the engine compartment: the MAF is removed.
2. Next, the air purifier is removed.
3. The air filter is disconnected.
4. The hoses are dismantled.
5. Inside, you need to unscrew the crosspiece of the steering cardan.
6. Then, remove the steering shaft boot.
7. Then disconnect the second steering shaft driveshaft.
8. After this, there will be free access to the regulator with tubes, which must be dismantled.
9. The RAV4 steering rack is being replaced .

Original silent blocks

This is the name for spare parts and components identical to those installed on the car. Specialists of the control department are responsible for their quality by providing a certificate. Each of the silent blocks is packed in a branded box indicating the manufacturer.

Original silent blocks are made on cars.

You can verify the authenticity by checking the distinctive signs of the original product:

• place of production;
• barcode;
• name of the plant;
• hologram sticker;
• serial number.

Due to the difficulty of applying markings to the rubber part of the silent block, there may be no logos on it. And since the company's production lines operate all over the world, the country of manufacture will not necessarily be Japan.

Purchasing original parts guarantees that they will fit any car, be it a RAV 4 produced in 2007 or 2013. All the qualities that engineers incorporated into the new crossover are preserved when replacing components with branded ones.

However, the cost of such silent blocks is high, especially in specialized services of Toyota dealers.

Therefore, analogues produced by many companies are gradually gaining great popularity.

Blog Post

Toyota RAV4 today is one of the leaders in sales in the European market, but in Russia sales of this car are not so high. But in the Russian secondary market this car is the leader by a wide margin. Our compatriots appreciate the high resource and performance qualities of this car and are not afraid to purchase a RAV4 even with an impressive mileage.

This compact crossover was initially positioned as a youth car (hence, by the way, its name - the abbreviation RAV stands for recreation active vehicle, that is, a car for active recreation). But either because of its rather high cost, or for some other reasons, the main buyers of this car were people of the middle generation.

Steering rack RAV 4 2007 and other generations

Initially, the RAV4 was not without its shortcomings. For example, many owners of its first version complained about power steering fluid leaking through the upper oil seal - it was worn out by the beginning of the second hundred thousand km. mileage And although this problem is small - replacing the oil seal can hardly be called a difficult operation - already the second generation of the RAV4 was free of this drawback. Which, however, does not mean that owners of RAV4s manufactured after 2000 need not monitor the condition of the rack seals. The tightness of all car steering elements is the main guarantee of their long service life and precise operation.

It is impossible to downplay the importance of the car’s rack: it is this mechanism that is responsible for the ease of driving the car and its “obedient” behavior on the road. The design of the rack is quite simple, which to a large extent ensures both its high (relative to other, more complex vehicle systems) service life and maintainability. The rack and pinion mechanism replaced the worm gear at the beginning of the last century, and most cars produced today are equipped with this type of steering mechanism.

By turning the steering wheel in one direction or another, the driver thereby rotates the steering shaft, at the end of which the control gear is attached. By means of a gear transmission, the gear moves the rack left and right (depending on which direction the driver turns the steering wheel). The same affects the steering rods attached to its ends, which ultimately cause the wheels to turn. The accuracy of the operation of this entire structure is determined by the accuracy of its adjustment and the reliability of all moving connections.

RAV4 steering rack repair: prevention

From this we can draw two conclusions. First: the occurrence of even a small backlash in any of the rack units can greatly impair the efficiency of the entire mechanism. And the second conclusion: after even the most minor repair of the rack, it makes sense to check its adjustment - this is a guarantee that the car will continue to perfectly obey the steering wheel.

There are several reasons why a rack may become loose and play may form in its various components. It is impossible to completely and forever protect your car from the need to repair the Toyota RAV4 steering rack, but it is very possible to extend the service life of this device for as long as possible, thereby saving time, money, and nerves.

The main reason for wear of rack parts lies in insufficient lubrication or a high content of foreign impurities in the oil used for this. To prevent this problem, regularly check the oil level in your car and replace it in a timely manner.

The second reason why backlash can form in the rack is the entry of foreign objects into its mechanism - sand, small stones from the road, as well as fragments of worn out oil seals. If you monitor the tightness of the rack casing, you can reduce the risk of such a breakdown to a minimum.

DIY replacement tips

In order for self-repair of suspension parts of the RAV 4 crossover to be done efficiently, quickly and safely, you need to follow several rules:

• if possible, use a puller to dismantle and install silent blocks;
• Do not lubricate rubber-metal parts with oil, because it deteriorates the properties of materials and reduces the service life of spare parts;
• replace in pairs, or better yet, with a complete set of silent blocks;
• perform the work gradually, 1 unit at a time, to avoid confusion in components;
• do not burn the rubber component (due to heating of the levers and their subsequent destruction);
• use special tools to ensure uniform installation and avoid distortions.

Car enthusiasts who are not confident in their own abilities are better off going to a service station, where their crossover will be repaired by professionals. Chassis and suspension are the most important vehicle systems that affect vehicle handling. Therefore, correct and timely replacement of silent blocks will make all road users feel safe.

Diagnostics and repair of RAV4 rack

A rack breakage - deformation of one or another of its components, for example, one of the teeth of a rack or gear - requires the immediate intervention of a specialist. This problem can be recognized by a sudden knocking sound in the area of ​​the front axle of the car or a crunching and grinding sound when turning the steering wheel while driving. Sometimes even the steering wheel can jam. But even if this does not happen, then further operation of the car with faulty steering becomes dangerous. Only a car service technician can determine exactly which rack unit the breakdown occurred in and how to fix it, after diagnosing the entire mechanism.

To do this, so that nothing interferes with the free rotation of the car’s wheels, it is installed on a lift. The master, rotating the steering wheel from one extreme position to the other, observes the uniformity of their rotation. Thus, it determines the presence of play in the rack mechanism. If you hear a knocking or grinding noise, these are most likely signs of a gear failure. In this case, all deformed and worn parts must be replaced.

If the malfunction consists only of a gap that has formed, then at an early stage of its occurrence you can get rid of it by tightening the loose components. If the backlash is caused by worn parts, then replacing them is inevitable. The technician will be able to accurately determine the scope of repair work and, accordingly, the cost of repairing the RAV4 steering rack only after disassembling it and visually inspecting the components.

How to make adjustments

Tightening the steering rack involves interacting with that part of the mechanism through which force is transmitted from the steering shaft to the rack. In general, the force after turning the steering wheel is transmitted using a helical or spur gear that meshes with a rack.

The gear is mounted on a bearing. In this case, the pressure of the gear to the toothed part should be tight (without gaps). For this reason, additional pressure springs are installed.

1. If the rack-and-pinion pair is out of adjustment, it may require more effort from the driver to turn the steering wheel. In this case, you need to loosen the pressure of the gear to the toothed part, replace the lubricant, etc.
2. If the rack is loose, there is a loosening of the fastening of the rack housing, the mounting bracket for the crankcase lever and the steering bipod, you can remove the knocking and play by tightening it.

Moreover, even if you tighten the steering rack correctly, this is a temporary solution. After several tens of thousands of kilometers, the driver will again encounter play and knocking in the rack. In this case, secondary tightening of the adjusting nut is not recommended. It is necessary to carry out a complete repair of the steering mechanism or replacement of the rack.