Looking for suggested repair idea

Hello, I'm new here and I'm looking for a fix. My 2001 tacoma prerunner has been pulling left and right, and the steering feels loose. It's been this way for years. I took it into the dealership, and they fixed it but that didn't last. I read it can be wheel bearings but I just wanted to see what TW could come up with.

Thanks in advance.

 

Wheel bearing? Is it making noise? Jack the front tire off the ground and shake/pull the tire to check for play and go from there.

 

What did the dealership "fix"?

 

02hilux - No noise and no wobble. After watching a couple videos for referance, it seems it might be something in the steering column.

Gen1andDone - I don't know but the steering felt unusual and it reverted after not too long.

 

At a certain point, ya just have to replace everything in the front that's rubber.

 

The invoice from the dealer should describe, even if brief, what work was done as well as parts that were replaced.

 

I was just about to say this. Yeah, replace all the bushings.

 

Welcome to TW…

 

First thing I’d check is steering rack bushings- easy way to check, start the truck, kneel down so you can look underneath and move the steering wheel back and forth
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9K9kgaN1X9Q
no affiliation with the video and the example in the video is as bad as I’ve ever seen it because the truck is literally missing the bushing on the right u bolt but your rack shouldn’t move much at all.

 

Do your own front end shake down. Check all of the things that move or spin.

Curious as well what the dealer did last time it was worked on. Especially since it "worked" but not for long.

 

Check tie rod ends. Where the steering shaft connects to the rack there is a rubber rag joint. This creates a loose feeling down the road. There is also a joint under the dash that can go bad. Also check the ball joints and steering rack. Worn control arm bushings, upper and lower can create a loose feeling as well.