Clunk over bumps while steering.

I’m looking for ideas on what this issue may be. I get a faint clunking sound from the front end on both driver and passenger side when turning over bumps. Even sometimes when moving from a stop or while braking, but not very consistent there. My entire suspension is fairly new (Elka coil overs, Spc uppers, new lowers)..I don’t run a front sway bar. I recently changed the inner and outer tie rods thinking that would do it. Now I’m starting to think it may be the steering rack? Has anyone had clunking sounds from a bad steering rack?

I run 35s btw. PFA

 

If it's at full turn, the usual advice is that you should check your steering stops as they may be worn out.

 

Mine does the same, and i think i've narrowed it down to the steering shaft. I think i read on here there is some play in them near where they enter the cab. Might be worth looking. Mine is very intermittent, happens when i drive on dirt/rock mainly. Much less noticeable on the road, although it has happened a few times when hitting bumps. I vaguely remember seeing someone zip tie it to fix the issue temporarily

 

I did the zip tie fix on my 2012 and it fixed it. You basically cut the end off a zip tie and shove it in between the shaft and a bracket to take up some slack. There's a thread on here somewhere.

 

if the zip tie fix doesnt do it for you, its likely some slop in the steering rack slider bushing. 1st gens were notorious for this as they had a roller that then got upgraded to a bushing. You can adjust it pretty easy on the 2nd gens with a pair of channel locks to loosen the lock nut then tightening the main cap a bit. A little goes a LONG way.

 

Anyone have a link to the zip tie hack?

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ad-the-zip-tie-fix-will-make-your-day.435015/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/steering-column-slop-fix-zip-tie-mod-killer.702754/#post-24912139

 

I tried this on the old rack in my 2007 4runner and you're right, a little goes a long way! I tightened it too much and the wheel wouldn't even return to center lol. Loosened it up til it would return to center and left it. May have to do it again to the current rack in there as I'm getting a hefty clunk over washboard roads in the steering column somewhere. Got video once and it looks like the main shaft in the rack has a little bit of play.

 

Anyone know the torque specs on these plastic nuts?

 

LOL, pretty sure I just did them finger tight.

 

Did the zip tie trick. Clunk is still there. Next step is to replace steering rack bushings with energy suspension.
Upon further inspection the rack moves slightly while steering. Stock bushings have ~45k kms on them. 70% of which are Offroad abuse.

I read the how-to bushing replacement threat on here. Not looking forward to it but will report back after job is done to update the clunk status.

 

BEFORE YOU DO THE RACK BUSHINGS. TRY ADJUSTING THE RACK SLIDER BUSHING! You can do it with nothing more than taking off the stock font skidplate.

Seriously. Even brand new the stock rack bushings have quite a bit of deflection (i went and looked at a brand new 3rd gen recently as i was having the same issue as you). I pulled the slider rack bushing out (used a pair of channel locks to undo the lock ring) and a piece of flat stock as a "tool" to loosen the big cap which houses a spring and the slider bushing. Pull it out, clean it up, put some super lube PTFE grease on the slider itself, put it back in, tighten up the big cap. During tightening you will get to a point where you compress the spring and are touching the bushing, at that point adjustments are going to be very touchy. Go say 1/8th of a turn past where the cap starts touching the bushing. Leave the lock ring off, go for a drive around the block. See if the steering wheel wants to come anywhere close to center. If it doesnt, undo it a smidge, go for another drive. If it still wants to center quickly tighten it more till it doesnt want to center then back off just a hair.

I have found that the best feel was a wheel that ALMOST wants to return all the way to center, it gets say 20* to center on its own.

 

So this fixed the clunk? Got any pics of the slider bushing/cap? I never worked on a steering rack before

 

Yup fixed my clunk

Have a look below. Thin lock ring with 4 flat sides. The "cap" is the circle threaded piece with the 4 notches, this pushes down on the spring and slider bushing.

 

Ah thanks. Mine has sunken hex bolt instead. They must have changed them after 2013. Anyone know what size tool fits in there?


(Not my photo)

 

You sure its a sunken in hex? Is the rack a factory rack? For big hexs like that you can get a bolt with a head that is that size and tighten a nut to that bolt so you have an external hex to loosen / tighten it. (tbh i wish my rack was a hex like that it would make life easier).


Id also be curious when you do pull the slider itself out (you might need a magnet) if you could get a pic the slider and its bushing surface that would be awesome.

 

Factory rack. I’ll post pics and my results here. Thanks

 

That would be awesome man! If its not too much of a hassle pics of the cap / slider bushing and the spring too (with a measurement of the length of the spring) would be EPIC. (trying to determine if they made slight improvements to that assembly in the 2015 year)

 

@nd4spdbh any idea how to get the channel-lock pliers to go on that thing?? the bushing screw head and ps fluid hose are in the way. Do I have to unbolt some things and move them Outta the way?

 

I turned my wheel hard left, and with the stock front skid off there was room above the front of the LCA to get them in there. Gotta have a bigger pair of chanel locks that open quite a ways so the handles aren't too far apart.