Love my 2012 Tacoma and hoping to keep it but i'm losing my enthusiasm.

Hello.
I found TacomaWorld because I need help from folks who have been there and done that. And well, if the interwebs are good for anything at all, it's for finding those folks. In a time where everyone has something to say to the whole world, I'm hoping I can find one or two folks who have something to say about my issue that can help me resolve it once and for all.

So off I go! In search of an education and an answer to make me happy to be driving my little Tacoma again. I don't want to replace it, but i gotta be honest, if i don't figure this out soon, i'm gonna get disgusted with it and do something crazy like buy a new one.

my issue? - the steering wanders like crazy while going over bumps and in rutted paved roads. seems a little jerky at times during this also. Last year replaced tie roads, control arms,.. you name it! and the rubber bushings associated with these things too. it tightened thigs up a little but still i have this wandering feeling. The only thing i didn't replace last year was the steering gear and bushings for it. and THAT is what i am seeing(from these forums) i may need to do next. Truck has 212k mileage. issue began at about 150 and has gotten increasingly worse.

 

there is also the intermittent joint in the steering column to look at

and welcome

 

You drove it for 62k with the issue?

Check the joint, rack and pinion, and double check your alignment

 

Thanks guys for the quick suggestions!

 

Is the truck lifted?
Has the alignment been checked recently?

 

truck is bone stock, no lifts or anything like that. i'm a purist i guess.
alignment was done last year when other front end parts replaced and on a FLAT surface, will hold it's place and doesn't creep. but hit some bumps or a rut in the pavement and it will wallow around in it every time. Sometimes feels like it leaps out of them when i exert a little influence on the steering one way or another.

 

Might also be a worn out suspension,shocks and springs. At 212k if it's stock it's worn out.

 

Sorry you have that issue! Don't lose the faith...
My 2010 has never had that, now around 137,000 miles.
Only did an alignment once, after installing Bilstein 5100s and doing a minor lift to the first height setting, just under 1".

 

It sounds like a caster issue to me.
But I’m not a suspension guy.


BTW OP. I’m a “purist” too.
But only because I spent WAY TOO MUCH money building my 1st Gen. Lost all that money when I sold it.

Not doing that again. Plus, I’m older and lazier. I don’t want to “replace stuff” just because I can.

 

other suspension parts were replaced last year (in hopes that would end my issues, but didn't) and it's had many sets of shocks on it since new. at this point, i think all that's left is steering gear, mid joint and another alignment at the same time.

 

Welcome aboard!

I’m no suspension guru either, but if the alignment is within specs, then it shouldn’t be a caster problem.

I am inclined to agree with @Hunter gatherer and say the shocks and springs are shot, especially if they’re the original. 212k miles on one set of shocks and springs is way past the expiration date.

One more thing that has not been mentioned — is it 4WD, or 2WD?

 

Welcome to TW! Hope you get it figured out soon.

 

There's no steering "gear". There's a rack that's about $1k to replace. You'll want to first examine the two U-joints in the steering column shaft for slop. One is in the cabin near the firewall. The other one is in the engine compartment accessed through the driver side wheelwell

 

Thank you ALL for the quick and solid advice! I will be going through each one of these again in hopes it will eliminate this issue. I love my little truck and would rather fix it than have to buy a new one. I will post the results next week with any luck!

 

I didnt read all the responses so forgive me if this has been said already but check your tie rods. Worn out tie rods can def cause the wandering you are describing.

 

OP said they are new.

 

Well damn. Thats a head scratcher.

 

Had the dealership check out the mid-joint in the steering shaft. They called and told me there's waaaaay too much play in that and the bushing is worn out. about $500 for part and labor. While it's probably way too much and everyone will tell me it's a simple fix and i am mechanically inclined, I do not "mechanic" as a hobby, So I told 'em to get it done. Fingers crossed this works!!! and thank you for the suggestions about this part! What a great community you have here! Didn't know that part even existed and repair shops are quick to blame all the front end parts first and don't go any farther.. If this doesn't fix it, i have just one part left - the steering rack. aaaaand that may be a bridge too far on a truck that i planned to replace in 35,000 miles anyway. At that point, it'll have 250k on it and i will have gotten my planned life out of it.

 

update - the part number 45220-04010 intermediate steering shaft assy was replaced. The steering wheel immediately feels tighter and offers more resistance when turning left/right at intersections and less wiggle while traveling down the interstate. So far, with the few ruts i have hit, it seems to have done the trick and resolved my issue!

if this doesn't fix it completely, i will post an update.