First gen. steering wheel play

have you checked the slide joint? i've heard of it causing issues with vague steering and making noise.


or you could just replace the whole column and be done with it.

 

Are those the ones with the splines on them and a 10MM bolt? If so than yes.

 

No. "Toyota Quality" means that its bullet proof. Its not suppose to drive like a Audi..

 

i replaced my steering rack bushing and actually thought it worked, until I hit a small pot hole, and I realized that it had nothing to do with the knocking and play in my steering. Man when I take her down a bumpy dirt road is where you can really tell the most. Its so annoying.

 

they all do it. ...rack/pinion setups have no steering stabilizer. ..all the bumps are transmitted right up through the steering column and into your hands....causing all kinds of knocks and bumps along the way.

replacing the rack bushings won't cure that. ..matter of fact, aside from just knowing that the rack is not shifting, i couldn't tell any difference in steering after replacing the bushings.

 

So that's what I'm asking... is the loose/shaky steering indicative of the design or that some component has worn/failed? If it's just part of the design, then I can live with it..

 

I guess nobody wants to believe me when I say it's the column. Trust me. There are U-joints on the column and they get slop in them. I agree that the Tacoma will feel alot in the wheel but when you can turn the wheel left and right with the truck off and feel and hear the clunk, it is not normal and the column is the culprit

Oh and the rack bushings don't do crap. Don't listen to everyone saying they will cure everything.

 

i believe you. ....all you have to do is replace the worn items and you'll be good to go. ...or, as i stated earlier, just replace the the whole column from u-joint to u-joint.

you're still going to hear and feel bumps and knocks. ....but it should resolve the wondering issue.

 

no doubt a sign of Toyota quality?

 

Why are you trying to condemn Toyota? Even if I do have to replace anything this truck has been a great truck and in 140K miles I have done almost nothing to it except regular maintenance. Try getting these miles out of a Ford or Chevy with doing almost nothing to them. Aint gonna happen. I still feel it's the best truck out there. So what they have problem here are there. If you're that upset with Toyota quality sell it and stop crying about it.

 

except I have 78K on my truck and the steering is just one of its issues. Not comparing to ford or chevy here.. my reference point is my Honda element. The Taco is not even close to the Honda in durability.

not crying about the truck.. just trying to understand what is an acceptable level of expectation of durability from a Toyota...

 

I find that hard to believe. Toyota truck history is opposite of what you claim. What are these issue's you are having?

 

front diff rumble, loose steering, nasty rust all over (not to the point of needing frame replacement, but still nasty looking rust that doesn't show on my other vehicles of similar age)

 

A diff rumble? Hmmm. That is a gray area. I had a rumble up front and I put new tires on it and it's gone. The rust issue has been addressed by Toyota. It was an isolated screw up but they have gone above and beyond to remedy it. Did you take it to a dealer for that?

 

I don't want to hijack this thread even more than it already has.. our opinions will differ, and that's okay.

 

Yeah you're right. Good luck with your issues with your truck and apologies for sounding rude. That is what happens when you post at work

 

what! you mean you guys are not going to internet bully each other? wow thats a first, i now have seen it all

 

We might lol!

 

not to thread hijack-

how much of a job is it to replace the steering rack bushings? My son just bought an 03 and it failed inspection for them - place wants big bucks to replace them...the parts are cheap and he said it can be tricky if you've never done it before.

 

I just did it and it wasn't bad. The tricky part is getting the rack back in place. If you are somewhat mechanical than you should be ok.