power steering and front end

i have owned my 2001 toyota for 3 months and ive had problems figuring out what the noise in the front end is its a loud clunk when i hit bumbs and it has a small shake on the high way in not sure if it connected to the powersterring problems i have been having i cant seem to quiet either the pump and the rack down

 

Probably got air in the lines. Did you fill the PS reservoir with ATF fluid? The clunks could be worn out struts, how many miles are on the truck?

 

there is aprox 260 thousand kms on the truck and maybe it is the struts seing as though everything is new last year the frame and all the components but the struts would be the factory ones.

as per the power sterring i replaced the pump and it quieted down to normal for like a week and then got loud again im not sur if it the rack or just anouther bad pump

 

but PS fluid is dark again . is there anywhere i can get a replacement bearing for the pump or is that not an option

 

How do the PS hoses look? Maybe they are breaking down inside.

Highway shake could be an unbalanced tire.

Take the front wheels off, and visually check the coils and shocks.

 

i found a new seal kit that has a new bearring in it and im going to try that se if it fixes the noise

does anybody know if you can flush the oil in the sterring rack and if so what do you use for new oil

 

Toyotas use either Dexron2 or 3 ATF in the PS system.

 

With the front wheels off the ground, disconnect the return line to the pump reservoir and run it to a bucket or liter bottle (need to extend the hose to avoid splatter. I just put up with the splatter). With the key in the on position, turn the steering wheel back and forth lock to lock. You don't have to have the engine running and then you don't have to worry about the pump going dry and burning up. Just keep filling the reservoir and when clear fluid comes out the return hose you are good.

 

Remove the power steering tank and check the screen in side of the tank they plug up and the pump will starve for fluid.

 

These two could be a number of things. A clunk in the front when you hit bumps (not bumbs) could be looseness anywhere in the front suspension and steering (ball joints, control arm bushings, steering rack bushings, adjustment of the steering rack preload, wheel bearings, among others).

You need to methodically check and eliminate items till you find which one is causing the bump and or the shake, may be the same thing or may not.

Search the site on how to check these items and go from there.

 

i think i have narrowed it down to the struts i cant find play in any other parts there all new this year from toyota but the struts are factory with aprox 265 thousand kms on them. even a small bump and they clunk its not a ball joint noise its loud as hell i think the rubber stopper is gone in side and there commin up and hotting metal on metal.

also with the power steering i know the pumps on the 2.7s are bad for going but im wondering if my rack may be gone as well truck turns fine but the pump is really loud at idle the you turn and im wondering if there is alot of problems with the racks as well or a new pump an some new fluid will fir it

 

You should check your steering rack bushings located by passenger side. Mines is making loud clunk noise over bumps and turning steering wheel.
Im just going to replace whole steering rack and get new bushings later. Ill see if I can post pictures.

 

can you just buy new bushings?

 

Yeah of course. I seen some on toytechlifts.com the other day. But you can also buy stock bushings. Reason why Im replacing everything is because my steering rack is already starting to leak.

 

A lot of people use the Energy Suspension polyurethane rack bushing kit. Wheelers has it for $18.95.

 

does anybody know if you can put a 3.4 power steering pump on a 2.7