Complete removal and replacement of the electric power steering rack and pinion assembly on a 2012-2017 Toyota Camry with 2.5L I4 engine.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Power steering rack assembly × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Steering rack mounting bushings × 2 — Included with rack or separate
• Power steering line O-rings × 4 — 14mm and 16mm sizes
• Cotter pins for tie rod ends × 2 — 2.5mm x 30mm
• Steering intermediate shaft bolt × 1 — Use new bolt recommended

Fluids

• Toyota ATF Dexron III — 1 qt

Preparation

1. Verify vehicle has hydraulic power steering system (some 2012+ Camrys use electric power steering which has no rack-mounted hydraulic system)
2. Park vehicle on level surface and set parking brake
3. Place wheel chocks behind rear wheels
4. Turn steering wheel to center position and lock with steering wheel lock tool
5. Disconnect negative battery cable and wait 90 seconds for airbag system to discharge
6. Raise front of vehicle and support securely on jack stands at manufacturer lift points
7. Remove both front wheels
8. Place drain pan under steering rack area

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove engine undercover
   Remove plastic engine undercover and any front splash shields to access steering rack from below. Remove all retaining clips and bolts securing undercover panels.
2. 2

   Disconnect outer tie rod ends
   Remove cotter pins from both outer tie rod end castle nuts. Loosen but do not remove castle nuts. Use tie rod separator tool to separate tie rod ends from steering knuckles. Remove castle nuts completely and set tie rod ends aside. Mark or measure the position of tie rod adjustment for reassembly reference.
   ⚠Do not strike tie rod ends with hammer - use proper separator tool to avoid damaging ball joints
   Torque spec

   Tie Rod End Castle Nut55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
3. 3

   Disconnect steering intermediate shaft
   Locate steering intermediate shaft connection at base of steering column inside vehicle or at top of rack. Mark alignment of shaft coupling for reassembly. Remove pinch bolt securing intermediate shaft to steering rack input shaft using 14mm wrench. Slide shaft upward to separate from rack.
   ⚠️Do not rotate steering wheel after shaft is disconnected or airbag clock spring will be damaged
4. 4

   Disconnect power steering lines
   Place drain pan directly under steering rack. Using flare nut wrenches, disconnect pressure line and return line from steering rack. Expect approximately 0.5 quarts of fluid to drain. Plug or cap open lines and rack ports to prevent contamination. Remove and discard all old O-rings from fittings.
   ⚠Use proper flare nut wrenches to prevent rounding off hydraulic line fittings
   Torque spec

   Power Steering Line Fittings30 Nm (22 lb-ft)

   Pressure Line Fitting34 Nm (25 lb-ft)
5. 5

   Support subframe if necessary
   Some installations require partial subframe lowering for rack removal clearance. If needed, support engine with jack from above and place transmission jack under front subframe. Remove front two subframe bolts only and lower subframe approximately 50mm. Do not remove rear bolts.
   ⚠️Ensure engine is properly supported before loosening any subframe bolts
6. 6

   Remove steering rack mounting bolts
   Locate two steering rack mounting bolts that secure rack to subframe or crossmember. These are typically 14mm or 17mm bolts accessible from below. Remove both mounting bolts completely while supporting rack weight.
   Torque spec

   Rack Bolts102 Nm (75 lb-ft)
7. 7

   Remove steering rack assembly
   With mounting bolts removed, carefully maneuver steering rack assembly out through driver side wheel well area. May need to rotate rack and manipulate angle to clear subframe and body components. Remove rack bushings from subframe mounting points and inspect for wear.
8. 8

   Prepare new steering rack
   Remove shipping covers and plugs from new rack. Install new O-rings onto power steering line fittings - lubricate O-rings lightly with power steering fluid. If rack includes pre-installed bushings, verify they are properly seated. Compare new rack to old unit to verify correct replacement part.
   ℹ️Do not remove tie rod ends from new rack unless replacement or adjustment is required
9. 9

   Install new steering rack
   Install new bushings into subframe mounting locations if not pre-installed on rack. Carefully maneuver new rack assembly into position through driver side wheel well, routing into mounting location. Align rack mounting holes with subframe mounting points.
10. 10

    Install rack mounting bolts
    Install both steering rack mounting bolts finger tight. Ensure rack is properly seated in bushings and centered in mounting position. Tighten mounting bolts to specification in alternating pattern.
    Torque spec

    Rack Bolts102 Nm (75 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Reconnect power steering lines
    Remove caps from rack ports and hydraulic lines. Verify new O-rings are properly positioned on fittings. Connect pressure line first, then return line. Hand tighten fittings, then torque to specification using flare nut wrenches. Do not overtighten.
    Torque spec

    Power Steering Line Fittings30 Nm (22 lb-ft)

    Pressure Line Fitting34 Nm (25 lb-ft)
12. 12

    Reconnect steering intermediate shaft
    Verify steering wheel is still locked in center position. Align intermediate shaft with steering rack input shaft using alignment marks made during disassembly. Slide shaft onto rack input shaft splines ensuring full engagement. Install new pinch bolt and torque to specification.
    ⚠Ensure shaft splines are fully engaged before tightening pinch bolt
13. 13

    Reconnect outer tie rod ends
    Insert tie rod end ball studs into steering knuckle tapers. Install castle nuts and tighten to specification. Continue tightening only until next castle slot aligns with cotter pin hole - do not back off nut to align. Install new cotter pins and bend ends to secure.
    ⚠Never loosen castle nut to align cotter pin hole - only tighten further to next slot
    Torque spec

    Tie Rod End Castle Nut55 Nm (41 lb-ft)

    Tie Rod Nut54 Nm (40 lb-ft)
14. 14

    Reinstall removed components
    If subframe was lowered, raise back to original position and install mounting bolts to specification. Reinstall engine undercover and splash shields with all clips and fasteners. Install both front wheels and hand tighten lug nuts in star pattern.
15. 15

    Lower vehicle and final tightening
    Lower vehicle to ground. Torque wheel lug nuts to specification in star pattern with vehicle weight on wheels. Remove steering wheel lock. Reconnect negative battery cable.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts136 Nm (100 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Fill power steering reservoir with Toyota ATF Dexron III fluid to full mark
2. With engine off, turn steering wheel lock to lock several times to bleed air from system
3. Start engine and turn steering wheel lock to lock slowly while checking fluid level
4. Add fluid as needed and check for leaks at all hydraulic connections
5. Road test vehicle and verify proper steering operation with no binding or unusual noises
6. Recheck fluid level after test drive when fluid is warm
7. Vehicle requires professional wheel alignment after steering rack replacement

Verification

• Check all hydraulic line connections for leaks with engine running and steering turned
• Verify power steering reservoir is at proper level and fluid is not foamy or discolored
• Confirm steering wheel returns to center properly after turns
• Verify no unusual noises during steering operation
• Check that steering effort is consistent and not excessively heavy
• Inspect all mounting bolt torque values are correct
• Verify cotter pins are properly installed in tie rod castle nuts
• Schedule professional wheel alignment immediately - rack replacement will affect toe settings

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