BamaToy's Garage and Diagnostic Center.

Ill try to give that a shot tomorrow. Sadly Im not a fan of the two near me so Ill have to try to get time to go to my normal shop.

Course my Tacoma still has a couple recall things ot take care of so wouldnt be a bad idea to just go to the dealership either at this point.

Thanks for the suggestions at least! If i get a code or anything ill be sure to post

 

Hi Bill,
I have been referred to you by a fellow TWer and i am hoping that you can help ...

 

Reading your description, and what the tech has done in trying to find the issue, I would initially be inclined to check the steering rack and pinion mounting bushings, bolts, and tie rods. That would be my initial thought. Is the click sound just a single "click" or is it more of a "click-click-click-click"?

 

Hi Bill,
I was out doing errands and i found a quiet parkade to try different scenarios ... turning left and right ... going back and forth ... to find more info.
The 'click' is usually singular but every once in awhile there will be two clicks in fairly rapid succession. The clicks vary in loudness but are audible at low speed (5 mph or less) with the windows down.
I had a friend outside the truck listen as i went back and forth left and right sometimes with the hood up and he thought that the click was coming from the central engine bay.
I thought that i heard the same click a couple of times as i shifted in or out of a gear (automatic tranny).
Maybe i am starting to imagine things.
The aforementioned friend is much more mechanically inclined than i am so i will ask him to help me check the steering rack and tie rods.
The dealer mechanic has been spending a lot of time under my truck lately so i would hope that he would have looked at these items ... but this is the same guy that has guessed wrong as to a fix three times in a row. Best i double check!
Thanks,
I will let you know what we find ... or don't find.

 

Bama,

I'm to fixing to replace my rear wheel bearing, i was wondering if you could help me out with the part numbers for the inner sleeve, o ring, c-clip, metal washer, and inner wheel seal on the diff. I plan on doing both sides just to be sure. I might make a write up or video as well to help the rest of TW do this.

Also, is there any way to add extra grease to the wheel bearing itself?

I appreciate the help!

 

I don't have a parts list for the rear. I am willing to bet if you called your local Toyota dealer they would give you part numbers and prices and then you can search for them to get the best deals. Right now Rockauto.com has the best prices for the bearings themselves. Just be sure to get Timken/Koyo

 

Good suggestions right there. Have you been off-roading lately, or had heavy rain?

 

Hey Bill, just want to thank you for the help troubleshooting my alternator problem. The 250 amp alternator works great. It was an easy change out. Better alternator, I can feel the weight difference between yours and oem part. Truck is running so much smoother also. Great deal, thank you!!

 

Year: 2001
Make: Toyota
Model: Tacoma prerunner
Engine size: 3.4L
Is a lift installed: Icon coilovers, Icon AAL and Icon 2.0 rear shocks
Aftermarket components: just suspension
Is there an alarm system installed: Viper 1 way
When did you first notice the problem?: slowly gotten worse over the past few months
How often does it occur?: All the time
What have you ALREADY replaced to try and fix it?: rack bushings
Have you checked codes?: N/A
Mileage: 103k

Ok so long story short, I have play in my steering. I didn't really do any diag as to what was causing it, but I've seen many guys on here fix loose steering with new rack bushings so I replaced them with the poly ones from Wheelers. Still loose. I took the truck to work and got it up in the air and did a little shake down on the front end. Tie rods are tight, inner and outer. Rack bushings are solid obviously. Everything seemed tight so I had a coworker hop in the truck and wiggle the steering wheel a little, the steering shaft going into the rack will move a bit without any input being directed to the tie rods. This results in about a full inch of play in the steering wheel. One of the techs from my shop said I can adjust the pinion gear preload/ backlash, another said I should replace the rack. I've got no problem replacing the rack if need be, but if it just needs adjustment obviously thats what i'll do. I'm fairly new into the industry and would appreciate the input from a master tech. Thanks!

 

With play like the kind you are describing, there is not much you can "adjust" out. You can adjust the tension a little bit, which results in a stiffer feeling steering wheel, but excessive play like that I would be looking at the connection between the rack, and where the shaft connects. See that there isn't something loose there. (between the firewall and the rack itself) and also look under the dash to be sure that there is not something loose there either. If all of that is good, then the next step would be to replace the rack and pinion unit. You can find some at Advance Auto I believe that have the rack with tie rods and all in one sale.

 

No, it does not "sense" serpentine belt not connected. The odds are you either had bad connection at the battery, the battery is bad, or a bad connection at the starter or engine ground. (Of course it COULD be a bad starter, but let's leave the expensive checking for later. lol)

 

Yea the shaft itself is all tight, it's where it goes into the rack. The steering damper that sits right on top of the rack moves with the steering wheel, but that movement isn't transmitted to the tie rods. I'm pretty sure the excess play is within the rack itself.

Should I get a reman rack or try to get a new one? Do you know of any "heavy duty" options or just the basic ones?

 

Hey Bama, I'm back!

Year: 2008
Make: Tacoma
Model: SR5
Engine size: V6

On top of this basic information it would be VERY helpful to include:

Is a lift installed: Yes, Extended Icon C/O's & Camburg Ball Joint UCA's in front, Bilstien shocks & Dakar Leaf pack in the rear.
Aftermarket components: My Build Thread pretty much tells all: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/theostacos-2008-dcsb-build.325965/
Is there an alarm system installed: No
When did you first notice the problem?: After installing the ECGS Bearing & new Hub Assemblies
What is the problem and How often does it occur?: Every time I'm driving and turn my wheel left and especially to the Right I'm feeling a vibration that appears to be coming from the front Diff.
What have you ALREADY replaced to try and fix it?: I installed the ECGS Bearing, replaced both CV Axles with CVJ remanned CV Axles with high angle inner boots, replaced both Hub Assemblies.
Have you checked codes?: Nope

 

So there is no vibration when going straight? Only when turning left or right, but more sever to the right? Couple of questions:

1. Do you have wheel spacers installed?
   
2. Did you get an alignment done after the lift components were installed, and if so, do you have a copy of the final results of the settings?
3. Have you inspected the tires for possible "bubbles" or bad spots?

 

1. Yes, I have what appears to be "1/4 Inch" crappy wheel spacers on the front.
2. Yes, I had an alignment done after the suspension components were installed. Not after we put in the cv axles, hub assemblies, & ecgs bearing.
3. No, I have not inspected the tires for possible "bubbles" or bad spots or taken the truck into a tire shop to have them do so.

I recently purchased 2 quarts of Lucus 85W-140 Non Synthetic Gear Oil and plan on draining the 75W-90 out of the front Diff and putting in the Lucus. ECGS recommends doing this. http://eastcoastgearsupply.com/files/PDF%20Files/toyota-clamshell-bushing-faq.pdf3

 

Whats up? Did you get the other things checked out?

 

Hi Bill,
Latest update ... the dealer had their 'head' mechanic look at my truck. He was unable to determine what was causing the 'click' noise.
He did manage to find a torn ball joint boot ... probably torn by the first mechanic with a screwdriver or pry bar checking for play. I requested that he check the power steering rack mounting bolts and tie rod ends. Nothing found.
I am at a loss as to what to do.
I will pick up my truck from the dealer on Monday after i go in to have a discussion with the service manager and look for a good independent mechanic.
Any more ideas of what to look for?

 

Year: 2001
Make: Tacoma
Model: SR5
Engine size: V6

Issue: Truck ran great for a long time. Was diagnosing an oil leak on a JEG's filter relocation kit (very small leak) in my garage. Started the engine and was about to check through the wheel well and one of the hoses on the kit blew out, spraying oil everywhere. I shut off the truck immediately and got some new steal braided hose. Fixed the kit over the week, refilled the oil, installed a brand new filter and restarted the truck.

Symptoms:
-Oil light is on and won't turn off.
-Truck is running a little rough.

Did I blow the oil pump?