1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Play in the steering?

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by RagJoint, Apr 23, 2013.

  1. Apr 23, 2013 at 4:27 PM
    #1
    RagJoint

    RagJoint [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2013
    Member:
    #102697
    Messages:
    8
    Gender:
    Male
    Southeastern, VT
    Vehicle:
    01moonroof4cylSR5
    Hi everyone. This is my first post. I bought an '01 tacoma this past Nov. The truck is awesome except for one vital thing, there is play in the steering. I noticed the intermittent shaft that connects the steering linkage to the rack (also called the "rag joint") was torn. When I replaced it only some of the play was fixed but not all of it. I drive my truck like it's a race machine and I need to know it's going to go where I want it to. Is there anything I can do to get the steering tight with no play? It has also been aligned. Thanks
     
  2. Apr 23, 2013 at 9:29 PM
    #2
    Sittingbull2

    Sittingbull2 Old N.R.A. Hippy

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2012
    Member:
    #87633
    Messages:
    124
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Mitch
    Southeast texas
    Vehicle:
    2000 Xtra Cab SR5 White
    3" Body lift, ARB Front Bumper w/9000 lb. Warn Winch, Chevy Alum. Rims w/ Kelly 285's M/S
    Could be inner tierods on the rack could be outter tierods. Could be rack bushings, Is your front struts good? could be them,could be Low tires, Could be upper steering column it has a roll pin that can get bad. Drop it and see, might have to tack weld it or put another roll pin in it. How are your Ball joints? Good not good? There are alot of variables you see I may have even missed some. Do the simple free things first. Check it out yourself or have a competent frontend mechanic check it out if you don't know what your looking for.

    Thats all I can tell ya

    Sittingbull2
     
  3. Apr 24, 2013 at 9:00 AM
    #3
    wolfgang123

    wolfgang123 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2009
    Member:
    #19369
    Messages:
    1,913
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Skyler
    Charlotte, NC
    Vehicle:
    1997 TACOMA - 4x4
    Sitting bull is spot on:

    Struts n shocks
    Inner and outer tie rods
    Rack pushings
    Steering link roll pin
    Tires (pressure, and balance)
    Upper and lower ball joints
    Maybe:
    Cv axles it you have ADD
    Wheel bearings
     
  4. Apr 24, 2013 at 9:37 AM
    #4
    Sirlight

    Sirlight 1337 h4x0r

    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2010
    Member:
    #39276
    Messages:
    53
    Gender:
    Male
    Orange County, CA
    Vehicle:
    2004 PreRunner Xtra Cab
    STOCK
    DIY section has this to offer: Im doing this fix this weekend. My truck has lots of free play and all the symptoms less the "clunk". Also need to grind my wheel well pinch welds a bit.
     
  5. Apr 24, 2013 at 9:46 AM
    #5
    Racer X

    Racer X Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 9, 2009
    Member:
    #19470
    Messages:
    132
    Gender:
    Male
    North Carolina
    Vehicle:
    07 FJ Cruiser
    I did this on my 2004. This, new steering rack bushings and a good front end alignment took care of the problem for me.
     
  6. Apr 26, 2013 at 6:59 PM
    #6
    RagJoint

    RagJoint [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2013
    Member:
    #102697
    Messages:
    8
    Gender:
    Male
    Southeastern, VT
    Vehicle:
    01moonroof4cylSR5
    Awesome! Thank you for your replies. I did change out my ball joints as soon as I brought it home and all the tires are pumped up. There is a lot of good info here and I'm going to look into it. Sirlight, let me know how the repair goes.
     
  7. May 2, 2013 at 8:04 AM
    #7
    toysr5man

    toysr5man Auto thrasher

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2010
    Member:
    #41131
    Messages:
    57
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Doug
    downtown, castile ny
    Vehicle:
    03 tundra trd. 01 taco 4x4 4cyl.
    5100 billys, add a leaf, 6.5 ' meyer plow, 265/75/16. diff drop, tundra brake upgrade, wheelers stainless stell braided brake lines, steering column mod
    i did the same repair to the steering shaft, it cured it for me.
     
  8. May 2, 2013 at 6:35 PM
    #8
    ghs57

    ghs57 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2010
    Member:
    #40832
    Messages:
    1,091
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Chops
    Catskill Mts. NY
    Vehicle:
    '07 Black TRD OR xtracab 4.0L 4WD
    Pretty much stock right now
    I had to do bushings and outer tie rod ends. Good as new after.
     

Products Discussed in

To Top