Loose Steering rack?

Hey guys. When I'm driving on the street/highways, it's all good. But when I get off road in corn fields, pastures, bumpy dirt roads, etc., I sorta feel a "thunk" in the steering wheel when turning or leveling out after a bump.

I also kind of feel it when leaving a driveway where the drive dips down to meet the dip in the side of the road like when pulling out of a gas station. Seems to be more at speed than a crawl. Although I do feel it mostly in corn stubble at a crawl.

Hard to describe. It's like there's play in the steering wheel and a few degrees of rotation where nothing happens and then it "catches" and thunks a little bit.

Honestly, not a huge concern. Or even a concern at all. But I am curious to know what it is and if it could be "lessened" by tightening something?

I'm not very knowledgeable when it comes to mechanical aspects of our trucks. Any input from you guys?

 

The cheap and easy fix

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/steering-column-fix.88077/

The hope it's not this, but might me fix
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/steering-column-final-fix.277292/

I zipped tied mine as the intermediate shaft seemed tight, looked like play in the rag joint...

 

Ha! So this is a real thing and I'm
not simply crazy. I am going to do a random act of kindness tomorrow in your name. And then get under (or into) my truck. Thanks so much for the reply and links!

Funny thing... I now remember reading reply's to the 2013 post you linked at the time they were posted. Time flies.

 

I thought I was crazy too, but one zip tie... And I'm a believer. Millage may vary, buy for the price of a zip tie, worth it before moving along!! Great on the random kindness, needs to be more of that!!! Time does fly, especially in the land of entrapment!! Let me know how it works out!!!