Left wheel steering slop

I pulled tire off today and noticed a bunch of movement when applying force to the wheel. The movement is under the rubber bellows behind the tie rod end. What am I looking to replace to make it safe? I tried searches but came up with 2nd and 3rd generation but none for this 95 . It is 4 wheel drive with the 2.7 manual tranny.

 

More often than not this is a worn steering rack "guide". A worn inner tie rod end can show similar symptoms. Pull the boot off the rack housing and see what is loose, the rack shaft (up and down movement) or the TRE.
The part was upgraded around 01 and the new part/s is backwards compatible. If the rack is in otherwise good shape it's a worthwhile, cost effective and pretty simple change out.

Read this Then this if you want to go deep https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/rack-pinion-service-tools-tips-dry-wordy.312600/

 

WOW I never saw a tie rod end wore this bad and not come apart. It was moving 3/8 to 7/16" in and out. I am sure going over this with a fine tooth comb before it gets back onto the road again.

 

A second vote for inner tie rod, they are prone to wearing out.....you may want to check the steering rack bushings and replace them with polyurethane ones....when I did a minor front end rebuild, I did the poly bushings on the rack and sway bar, inner and outer tie rods and sway bar end links....you may also want to check the ball joints while you are at it...hint, since you are going to be working on the front end, may as well do the deed...

Huge difference, HUGE.....

 

Checked the ball joints first thing as my 98 tossed a wheel on me to get my attention the 2nd day I had it. Word to the wise locktite is your friend on the ball joint bolts. Another lesson learned the hard way.

 

Glad you caught that. While you are in there make sure your fine tooth comb includes getting real physical shaking the rack shaft up and down. It will help if you turn the steering all the way to the right first. There should be zero play.

 

Found sway bar bushungs are wore bad and right wheel bearing has some slop to it as well as inner tie rod end has some play. Wife will have to learn her truck all over again LOL.