Steering Rack issues

I've seen few posts addressing this, but wondering if anyone has any insight on a fix.

I noticed that the steering in my truck had started to wander pretty severely. TacomaWorld said to replace my steering rack bushing, so I did with Whitelines. That was not a fun job...

Immediately got an alignment as my steering wheel was off about an 1/8 of a turn. Alignment shop said they couldn't get my steering wheel straight as the rack kept moving. Since then, I have retorqued the rack twice. Tighter, then much tighter. Rack is still moving. Last time I used a breaker bar and I'm sure its around 100 ftlbs. Still moving.

I am at a loss, still wanders all over the place. Tires are rotated and still have life on them (Wildpeaks AT3W 265/75/16). I did use some poly bushing lube on the bushings when installing, but that seems ridiculous if that is causing it.

My only thought is to replace the rack, outer tie rod ends, and maybe the intermediate steering shaft. All new parts... I have a set of Energy bushings I could put in the new rack.

Any ideas? Starting to drive me bonkers.

 

Unless your outer or inner tie rods have play, replacing them will not help. To check for steering shaft play, you can look at/hold onto the steering shaft while someone else wiggles the steering wheel slightly. To check if the rack itself has play, watch the rack input move, if the tires do not move with it, that indicates a worn out steering rack. If the rack itself is moving on the mounts with brand new bushings and torqued to spec, I would pull the rack and see if it is damaged (cracked sleeves, etc.)

 

You sure you're not bottoming out the nuts on the bolt unthreaded portion? I only ask because you're using aftermarket bushings and the spacing could be off.

 

I'll do some more exploring on these issues.

 

I can’t imagine doing the work to just replace the bushings. I would just swap in a new rack at that point.

Yikes. Definitely look at the intermediate shaft.

 

Those are my thoughts, already had it out once. Pain in the arse. But OEM is like $500. Buy once, cry once maybe...

 

my rack was leaking so it was an easy choice for me.

 

do OEM?

 

Yes. Bit the bullet. No chance I want to do it again.

 

Did it come with inner tie rods installed?

 

Yes. I bought from San Diego Toyota with free shipping.

 

That is not a complicated device it is far simpler that a conventional steering system. Have a friend turn the steering wheel while you have a look if the rack moves it's the mounts if it doesn't watch the tie rods at the rack if they have play replace them. You may want to watch the steering shaft joins too.

 

The rack moves from lock to lock. Wife moved the wheel and I watched the rack. The bolts are tight as shit and it still moves. It's odd.

 

Are the bolts bottoming out and not cinching down properly?

 

It did not seem that way when I torqued them last time. Could be though, maybe the whiteline bushings have a design flaw where they are not tall enough or something along those lines. It's raining over the next few days. I'll check it all out once things dry up.

 

If they were rock solid mounted it would shake you to death holding on to the wheel even my 54 year old MG has mounting bushings on it's rack. They are more shock mounts than any thing else. They would have to be really trashed to cause issues.

 

Did you solve the issue with a but more torque on those mounting bolts?

 

Mine wonders a bit, it used to be really bad I unbolted it cleaned as much grease from between the frame and the rack that I could and torqued it back down, I think I need to do that again and like @PhoS said the nuts may be to the shank of the bolt meaning more torque isn't gaining more clamp load, I may try adding a spacer washer to the stack also good point on the aftermarket bushings possibly being thinner.

I have Energy Suspension poly bushings in my rack. It was a huge messy PITA.

 

I think you guys are right. The bushings are thinner and the nut runs to the shank of the bolt before it actually tightens the rack down to the mounts. Adding some washers may remedy this.

 

did you try adding any washers yet? im currently searching for the motivation to crawl under the truck again haha