The mystery of loose steering

I have a TRD Sport and always loved how tight the steering was, for a truck. I just replaced the whole suspension with a stock 3rd gen Sport suspension and the now the steering feels much looser. It has a couple inches of play in the wheel before the wheels start to turn which im thinking is one or both of the steering shaft u joints, but apart from that the steering overall is looser. It's as if it takes increased rotation of the wheel to turn the wheels as much as it used to.

I really don't think it's any suspension part because all of them are new- struts, lower control arms with ball joints, upper control arms, inner and outer tie rods. Rear leafs and shocks also new. I had an alignment and it didn't help.

Any ideas??

 

Rack and pinion ... how much play is there before turning.
Meaning does the wheel just turn or is the rack following before engaging

 

Probably 1.5-2 inches. I'd have to get under it to look if the lower shaft is turning in acccordance with the steering wheel

Why would this issue start after installing a new suspension?

 

Every thing is turning except the rack.... yes it can happen if the rack gets tugged on to much. Are you having VSC issues.
Did you do upper and lower control arms too?

 

Yup, both upper and lower.

What's VSC?

Are the steering racks on these trucks adjustable? Like, by loosening the lock nut then tightening the larger nut inside, etc...

 

That I do not know. The vsc is vehicle stabilization control

 

Gotcha. Nope, stabalization is fine and the suspension itself feels great. It doesn't jostle over bumps or drift. Just the loose steering

 

I hope others can give you better tips
@gearcruncher @mechanicjon @BartMaster1234

 

Is the steering wheel sloppy? 1st gen fix is to tack weld the steering column.

 

2nd gens had the zip tie mod

 

Probably won't fix actual input slop but still worth doing.

 

Yah, it's a bit sloppy now. Why would that start after the new suspension?

 

Check the big nut under the airbag on the steering wheel. Its rare but those things can come loose

 

Get somebody to move the steering wheel while your looking at the steering stuff. Maybe the tie rods didnt get torqued down right. You should be able to tell if something is loose.
Make sure your steering rack isnt moving.
But I'd bet the alignment messed with your caster and it's just barely in spec enough for the quick change tire place to let go.

 

A couple inches of play in the steering wheel after all new front end components seems a bit much . I agree with the guys who posted above me .
Have somneone sit in the truck and move the steering wheel from side to side while you look for play .
It may be possible that your original suspension was so worn out , that you never noticed how much play was in the steering . Now that everything is tight and new , another problem sticks out like a sore thumb .
Let us know what you find

 

This is what i was wondering- if all new components made visible something else that is worn. Is play in the steering shaft u joint a common problem on these trucks? Thats where I'm going to look first

 

I just looked at everything in the steering shafts, it all looks fine. No play in either the upper or lower u joint, nor in the joint that ppl zip tie. Rack and tie rods are tight

The only thing that had any play was the foam or rubber insert that insulates the shaft where it travels through the firewall. As i turned the wheel the shaft would compress the rubber a bit side to side but I'm not sure if that would matter in regards to the tightness of the steering. I'll have the shop take a look at it when i bring it back to get the alignment fixed, hopefully they have an opinion

 

Are the steering rack bushings soaked with oil? Does the rack move side to side instead of the wheels

 

Rack doesn't budge. I didn't check the bushings though, didn't want to lay in the snow. I'll do that next though. How many bushings are in the rack?

 

If the rack isn't moving then the bushings should be fine, they hold the rack in place