Hello, I have a 2003 Lexus ES300 near identical to Scotty's wife's car.
(except mine is right hand drive being from New Zealand)
Today it failed it's yearly Warrant Of Fitness check, stating that 'excessive play at steering rack mounts'
It has done 169,000 KM (105,000 Miles)
A mate works at a wheel alignment place, and he put my car up on hydraulic lift and checked out the steering system, and wheel alignment. Said my wheel alignment was fine, but said the steering rack mounting bushes are worn, and need replacing, and was told to go get a few quotes.
I went to my local garage, and they quoted me around 7-8 labour to change the bushes, plus parts.
My question being, does that sound excessive number of hours to change the steering rack mount bushes?.
I notice nothing different when driving the car since it's last Warrant of Fitness 12 months ago, and has done hardly any milage in last 12 months. The tyres are in excellent condition, and show no adverse wear, and likewise the steering seems no different to me at all, when driving at any speed. In fact I was somewhat surprised, as to me the car drives awesome.
I also have a Lexus ES 300 2002 model, and I do notice that it's steering has slightly less play than my own car.
A year ago, this concerned me, so I took the car to have the steering checked, and I was told at the time that there was a little play, but was nothing to be really concerned about.
Now this has happened.
Update:
Well, got 5 estimates, and four were very expensive, and one was about 1/4 of the price of the others, with the other 4 estimating up to 8 hours, and one of them saying they would have to custom make the parts, and another saying they would have to remove the rack and send it away. One also said they would have to service the steering box, as it looked 'damp' under there, as though it was leaking fluid. (which it most assuredly is not leaking)
To me the cheapest estimate seemed to be the most honest one, and the most informative, with the mechanic actually taking my car for a drive, and driving over speed bumps, and listening for noises. He then put my vehicle up on a lift with me in it, and got me to repeatedly move the steering wheel. He commented that my car exhibits no negative steering traits whatsoever, and was bemused that it had failed it's Warrant Of Fitness, and also commented that technically, yes, the bushes are worn, but he said it's not a moving violation or anything, and that my car drives and steers just fine.
He gave me a price for the required mounting bush kit, and said it would be a couple of hours labour, and that he had worked on my exact model car before, and was quite confident that he would not have to remove the entire steering rack.
So, out of five places, have I managed to find the only honest one? (grin)
Only time will tell I guess.
Thanks for the words of wisdom people.
Like your mate said, get a few quotes.
Probably the rack needs to be removed to change the mount bushings and that's a nasty, messy, time-consuming job on most cars. I'd definitely get another opinion and quote from at least one other shop.
Well, don't know how often this happens, but get this.
I took my vehicle in to get the steering rack serviced. I received a call back stating that they could not proceed with the repair.
When I inquired as to why, they informed me that there was nothing wrong with my vehicles steering, and they were perplexed, as to why my vehicle failed it's warrant of fitness to begin with.
Today was a good day!