I've been quoted $460 just for labor to replace my lower control arm bushings, all 4 on the front end of my 2000 4wd 4Runner. I've read about doing it myself. Interesting thing the manuals say: 1. Remove the front wheel, 2. Remove the rack and pinion steering gear.... Reading up on that step 2 is absolutely crazy... Gotta remove the steering WHEEL, exposing the airbags, all to avoid messing up a cable. Thinking I'll permanently mess up my face or my whole body exposing the air bag and doing one thing wrong...

Question: Is it absolutely necessary to remove the steering WHEEL to remove the steering gear? (the steering GEAR (rack and pinion) is about 1" away from the rear of the lower control arm bolts, which are rather long, so I'm assuming the GEAR must be removed as the manuals say, to remove the lower control arm, but wondering if I REEEEELY need to remove the steering WHEEL.)

If it is necessary to remove the steering WHEEL I'm thinking I'll just pay that exorbitant price to have the shop do it. It's all gotta be done or I can't get it aligned and that's gotta be done before I replace the tires.

Dave