lubing a steering rack?

Has anybody ever had to lube their steering rack? recently my truck started to make a creaking noise whenever i turn the steering wheel past about half turn. I already jacked it up and did the ball joint test and there is no play in the wheel so i have ruled that out. I thought maybe it was my sway bar but the bushings in there are good. I refilled the PS fluid a week ago and it did not solve the problem so now I am down to trying to grease the rack.

I have read something about using a needle to inject it but i cant figure out how you would push grease through a syringe just because it is so thick. So any advice? Thanks!

 

Grease Gun Injector Needle Nozzle. Never done steering rack lube though, maybe someone who knows for sure will chime in...

 

How many miles on it? How's the fluid look? Never heard of lubing a steering rack

 

The only things that require grease on a rack are the R&P gear teeth proper and what is known as the rack guide. Toyota has no schedule for this. It is the kind of thing you would only do just for the heck of it if you had the boot off for other reasons.

I really doubt it would cause a creaking noise but here is the procedure. Turn the steering wheel all the way to the right. Remove the clamp from the big end of the boot on the driver side and slide the boot off the end of the rack. Carefully wipe off any crud or dried up old grease. There should be no fluid or evidence of water or dirt inside the boot. On the front side of the rack shaft you will see the teeth. Smear a finger full of grease along the teeth. Then wipe the rest off your finger on the back side of the shaft (no teeth). This will lube the guide. Don't over do it. Replace the boot, done.