2nd gen Shaky Steering Wheel (bad rack bushings) looking for help

Hi there,

I have been looking into what may be causing my steering wheel to shake while driving at highway speeds. The shake comes and goes from 90kmh to 120kmh. Sometimes worse, sometimes better. I had changed out the needle bearing in the front diff when I first got the truck, which did improve the shake, but it still exists. I had ordered inner and outer tierods, thinking it might have been the issue, but they seem tight and fine for now. I have paused the swap on those for the time being, as I have now, after further investigation, noticed my steering rack bushings are quite loose. I had a friend turn my steering wheel while I watched them under the truck, and the rack moved quite a bit at the bushings.

I've found many videos showing 1st gen tacos having their bushings replaced, but their racks seem a lot more accessible than the second gen. So my question here is, has anyone replaced these on their 2nd gens? Would I be able to leave the rack in the truck while I change the bushings, or is this going to be impossible without removal?

Any advice or other possible suggestions for the shake would be greatly appreciated. As another note for symptoms on washboard roads, the steering wheel feels very clunky, and on the highway, it seems like it floats around.

 

I'll share my recent experience with a Subaru, it may help...

Started with a brake job (including new rotors), but shake still existed.
Noticed bushings were torn in lower control arm, so replaced them. Shake still existed.
Checked run-out on rotors and found one that was out of spec, but the rotor was not the fault.
The axial play of one of the wheel bearings was measured at 0.008" (spec is 0.002").
I could not feel any excess axial play, so I had my doubts.
Replaced the wheel bearing and problem solved.
Followed up with an alignment.

The Subaru also felt like the steering was loose, but not terrible. The tie rod ends were good.
The wheel bearing replacement and alignment also solved the loose feel in the steering.

The wheel bearing never made any noise.

 

I'd be surprised if it were the wheel bearing, as I'd probably have low-speed issues as well, especially with force on it while turning. Not saying it can't be that, but the bushings are very sloppy. It's hard to describe the feeling, but at low speeds on washboard, it's like a numb movement, with higher speeds in the same scenario being more aggressive. I feel that it has to be a cushioned loose part, which could only be a bushing. It's possible it could be the LCA bushings too, but they didn't seem sloppy to me.

For future reference to others, after searching around, I found this very good write-up on the rack bushings. I'd recommend reading through as many people add good advice

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/05-v6-tacoma-steering-rack-bushing-replacement.289436

I went ahead and ordered the bushings to replace them. Not sure when I'll have time to do the work, but we will see lol.

 

No issues at < 40mph on the Subaru. I too changed bushings that didn't look good.
But if that doesn't fix the issue, I recommend measuring the axial runout.
It's easy to do if you have the gauge. I never felt the need to do it before the Subaru,
and was surprised that 0.008" would cause such grief.