Any way to tighten steering

I have an 07 4x4 with zero modifications and is completely stock. When I drive over 60 the steering just feels loose as if you really don't have a lot of control. Almost like driving one of them old big Cadillacs with the little skinny steering wheel that you feel like it's just all over the road at high speeds. I'm just wondering if there's any way to tighten the steering up a lot more, not to the point where you feel like you have no power steering, but enough to where you feel like you can let go of the wheel for a quarter of a second without flying into a ditch going over 60. I've responded on another thread where guy was having the same problem back in 2011 but never got a response. Anyone got any suggestions?

 

Mileage?

 

The fact that your truck is stock isn't going to dictate your steering components wear.... the vehicles history will. Was it used off road alot? How many miles? Any of the steering components been serviced / replaced ? Your steering shouldn't feel loose, probably some worn tie-rod ends or something along those lines.

 

127,000 miles.

 

Have someone rock the steering wheel back and fourth while you look under the front of your truck at all of the steering linkages.

 

New inner and outer tie rods. And if you want to go above and beyond poly bushing for the rack.

 

I've never used it for off-roading. The previous owner may have, I have no clue on that. Wear on tires is good, and haven't experienced any issues with alignment. Somebody mentioned to me once that it could be tie rod ends. I can go straight down the road and shake the wheel left and right a couple inches and it continues straight. But at high speeds like on highway it's almost scary to drive.

 

You can adjust the worm gear, but its a very rare adjustment. I would have your ball joints and tie rods inspected for wear and play, then look at rack and pinion adjustments. Ball joints and front wheel bearings are common on 4x4 tacos.

 

Got both front wheel bearings replaced about 4 months ago which eliminated an annoying vibration once you drove over 50mph. I'll definitely get tie rods and ball joints checked out and see if that's the problem. Thank yall for the input and help.

 

I can almost guarantee you that this is your lower intermediate steering shaft u-joint. I just replaced mine. It's not too too hard of a fix, depending on how crusty your vehicle is in there.

To test, get somebody to move the steering wheel back and forth while you have your hand on that lower joint. You will feel the play.

Definitely check your tie-rod ends as well while you have your buddy turning the wheel back and forth.

Check out this thread here for some more info.

 

Thanks man, I'll definitely check that out too. Didn't know about the u-joint.

 

Anybody figure out the issue ??

 

I have a 2015 Tacoma TRD 4x4. I noticed excessive play in the steering wheel. Had both control arms and ball joints replaced. Still have the player in my steering. Even had a alignment and tires balanced. Anybody have any other ideas? No off roading....88,000 miles. I have a 3 inch lift with all terrain tires

 

toe out will cause twitchy steering. toe in will decrease steering sensitivity. get an alignment.

 

usually play in the steering is tie rod ends, or possibly sway bar end links.

 

Tie rods looked fine.....

 

Did you just look at them, or did you test them.

Looking at them proves nothing. I've seen some that looked horrible that worked perfect, and perfect ones that were completely worn out.

 

With wheels on ground move steering wheel back and forth and measure resistance/play on the very outside of the SW. The factory limit is 30mm. But even this seems too much IMHO.

Jack front end off ground. Look for movement of tie rods when someone else is jiggling the wheel. Steering wheel moves but little to no movement at the tire? Possibly inner/outer tie rod ends or the other things below.

Check intermediate steering shaft for clunk and looseness doing the same test. You may need to put the TSB shaft (T-SB-0057-12) in as the TSB shaft was not automatically installed at the factory on the later models though the TSB was issued in early 2012.

Also check the steering rack guide bushing on the steering rack. It can be tightened and a little goes a long way but you may have to craft a tool. Do a search on this.

I deplore sloppy steering and my '14 developed slop very soon after purchasing new. Doing the things I note cured all.

 

Thank you!

 

Any update?