The millionth thread about steering wheel play

Long story short I have steering wheel play, and i’d like to not have it. I could probably fix it myself but it would take longer than I would like and probably turn out not the best quality. Is this something I can just pay my mechanic to fix? How much should it cost?

 

This depends on the problem.... steering shaft problem, rack and pinion problem, tie rod problem etc.... have you diagnosed the problem other than just "play in the steering"?

 

Check:

Inner and outer tie-rods
steering rack
steering rack bushings
Tighten up the LARGE inside out looking nut on the steering rack - most people make a tool for this using a bolt head
weld up the steering slip shaft


After you do all that, thats about as good as it gets

 

It feels like it’s not connected to anything

 

Search "tack weld mod". Read through what needs to be done and make your best guess as to what someone should charge for ripping out the slip shaft, tacking it and putting it back in.

 

This is so vague....so your steering wheel doesn't turn the 2 front wheels?

These Tacoma's have pretty simple steering systems. They are also old trucks not designed to turn or handle like newer vechiles. By checking the things I mentioned in the 2nd post your hitting atleast 95% of any possible steering issue.

Get under your truck and check for play in the tierods both inner and outer, and where the steering shaft connects to the rack...check your rack bushings for play when the steering wheel is turned standing still.. Then check for play (reference the tack weld mod already mentioned) in the slip shaft.

Get under your truck and see what moves when the steering wheel turns but the wheels don't, if you can't see anything it's the slip shaft and it's needs a roll pin or a tack weld

 

I have the same issue and by watching the input/output from the steering rack, my issue appears to be the rack. Steering rack bushings and steering column are fine.

The way I checked mine was with a helper gently turning the wheel side to side, with and without power assist (engine running or not) and watched where the components failed to transfer the motion from the wheel. In my case, I can see the steering column rotate, but the steering rack doesn't translate all the energy to the tie rods. Steering rack bushings are between the rack and frame and absorb vibration, those can harden and shrink causing play. Mine were fine.

 

That test means new rack in my book...it's worth noting i didnt think much about the steering play in my truck did the tack weld mod for fun because I wanted too...took me 1 hour by myself and the truck drives completely different, you would never expect the difference such a small mod can make. I would do that first because it's basically free, and if it's not a problem now it will be one day

 

I agree with you! I should just do the steering column to be safe and solve one of our few flaws and fix it permanently. I'd have to take the column in for a tack weld. Seen the write-up on how to do it.

 

Alot of guys put the shaft in a bench vise and clamp it together to try and squeeze the slack out of the slip shaft

There is also the roll pin if you cant weld.

 

I did the roll pin mod on mine almost two years ago and its still solid as day one.