Loose front end...

It's all about the bushings with these trucks. Once I changed my rack bushings, I got under the truck and turned the steering wheel. I could see the LCA move! I changed all of the bushings and front end parts including the ball joints and inner/outer tie rods... The alignment people were shocked at how tight the front end is. I replaced everything with polyurethane. There was just a slight change in vibration, but there is more up/down travel.

And believe me, once you work on anything that is related to alignment, you will be extra sensitive to how the truck drives for at least a few thousand miles.

 

Also, on all first gens (just a reminder) the front wheel bearings don't usually show any play. They basically make weird clanky noises over a period of about 50k miles. They take forever to go out. I really like how they are built but they are a pain to change.

 

I think I found my issue. (for the noise)

Ball joints seem intact. And this wheel shake test leads me to believe that the steering rack bushings indeed need to be replaced. Any thoughts?


Video:
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc134/rm3rd/507cb3b8.mp4

 

I have the same pop/snapple/crack. I got the energy suspension ones and they did not require modification. They tightened up the steering quite a bit but I still get the popping on slow bumps and/or turning. I am pretty sure its ball joints at this point, I have nothing left stock on the front end of my truck except lower ball joints

 

I just bought the energy suspension kit off of a member.

If you watch the video you can def. hear the noise is coming from the tie rods/steering rack.

 

Op updated with video and pic of where the noise is coming from.

Looking for more opinions. Could it be tie rods or will the steering bushings fix this?

 

I recently had a similar problem on my 2004. When unclamped the inner tie rod end boot and pulled it forward, I could visualize the fact that there was a significant amount of play in the inner tie rod end.

Hope that helps.

 

Thanks Teddy, did you fix the problem?

 

Not 2 bad to do did mine a fer weeks ago and helped alot,still need to do a rack preload check to see if I need to replace spring and bushing and probably a steering idler..good luck.

 

My 98 did that same thing. I replaced all ball joints (OEM), Oem steering rack because mine was leaking, tie rods, stablizier bushings etc. Low and behold my lower control arms bushings were severely shot. I put some whitelines in there and replaced damn near everything in the front suspension. It was like driving off in a new pickup. No joke. Wheel bearings were also replaced. So - it could be any of those things really. If I don't have my topper on and nothing in the bed my truck kind of hops across stuff sometimes but I think that's just because it's so light.

 

Hell yeah, recon I'll be ordering lower BJs and been figuring bearings as well thanks man...BTW what size tires ya running..got a set of 31 10 50 15 that I got brand new for a few bens was gonna put em on to make sure they don't rub,holla back..thanks again

 

265/75/16 on stock toyota wheels. So 32". I replaced all the suspension with OME Dakars in the back and King coilovers in the front. Slowly rebuilding the damn thing from the ground up. Rebuilt the R150F 5 speed a few years ago with all OEM components. Getting the engine replaced with a fresh remann at the end of this month. I'll only have the diffs and the Xfer case left to replace! lol Still cheaper than getting a new pickup. By a lot. It may not be as fancy but I just do not like anything new.

 

Amen to that brother, newer stuff AWAF nowadays I've got a 86 T4R and 99 Taco and 05 Silverado LT and just picked up a sweet 07 Tahoe with 43 original miles..