Sloppy steering

2015 DCSB trd sport 60k miles

Ever since I bought my truck used in 2017 I’ve noticed a little bit of steering slop which has progressively gotten worse. It’s not horrible but it’s enough to bother me and causes my steering to wander a bit on the fwy. From what I’ve seen it can be many different things in the steering system itself so I’m wondering where do I start? what is the most common cause in these trucks? I don’t want to just toss a bunch of new parts at it and hope it fixes it and I’d like to fix it myself if I can.

 

Start by inspecting the intermediate steering shaft. Common problem with all years

 

Have you had an alignment recently?

 

I second starting with the intermediate steering shaft and see if there's slop in it.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-lair.495066/page-1650#post-17251971

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-lair.495066/page-1729#post-17351582

 

After checking that get under the truck with the wheels on the ground and have someone rock the wheel back and forth. Whatever moves the most from the rack to the wheels.... fix that.

 

The proper way to check all types of steering linkage takes 2 people. Leave the truck on the ground. Have your helper wiggle the steering wheel back and forth. Put your hand on each joint and feel for play. For the inner tie rod ends, squeeze the bellows and feel the joint inside. If there is looseness, you will feel it between the ball and socket. This also works for steering shaft U joints and rag joints. Finally, feel between the rack housing and the frame to check the rack bushings. You will need to tell your helper, "a little more, a little more, a little less, etc."

 

How much if any movement is acceptable from the steering rack bushings?

 

Just a bit of cushion but less is better. If it slop, shifts, or bangs around that's a problem.

 

Ok we just checked it in the parking lot and looks like I’ve got at least 1/2” of play side to side when turning the wheel lock to lock. Can the bushings be swapped without pulling the whole rack out?

 

No, and removing the factory bushings is a pita.

 

Hmmmm....a guy on my local fb taco page has a new rack for $50 dollars. Sounds like that’s the better option. The boots show signs of leakage anyway

 

I’d be extremely leery of a $50 rack.

 

I am a bit skeptical but the original price was $100 and it didn’t move for a while. I’m just going to see what the story is on it and go from there. Energy bushings are $56 on rock auto and if I have to pull it anyway it seems like a risk worth taking.

 

Nobody is going to sell a $900 OEM rack for $50. For $50, it’s definitely not new. It’s surely a very cheap rebuilt rack.

 

Intermediate shafts or the tie rods, can be inner or outer, in both instances. Inspect them and replace what is needed and enjoy your new tighter steering.

 

So here’s the $50 steering rack. $100 after some delivery fees for meeting not quite halfway. Seemed like a cool guy don’t know if he’s on here or not. He got it in a trade over a year ago and wound up trading to a tundra so it was just taking up space. Looks good so when I have a nice day and I’m not on call I have something to do.