Steering Rack Bushing ?

[ToyotaFanatic]

My Tundra is an 05 2WD DC LTD with 20" wheels and 2" front lift kit. Mods were installed by previous owner, God bless him!

Last week I noticed an occasional knock in the front end on an infrequent basis, but, seemed to hear it at acceleration, decceleration, after turning corners. I thought it might have been the new ball joints recently replaced as part of the recall.

Took it to dealer who determined a ". . . bad bushing in the steering rack . . ." and ". . . have to replace the rack . . . oh, it's only $1,400!" They theorized it was due to added strain of lift kit and oversize tires/wheels.

I haven't looked to see if I can find the questionable bushing yet, but, have you heard of this? Are these owner replaceable parts? Is changing the rack the only solution?

Help is greatly appreciated!

[DevinSixtySeven]

If it really is the rack, you can get a remanufactured unit for about 300 bucks with your old core.

However, it's easy to misdiagnose pops and squeaks in the front end...I had a similar problem, at various points we (myself and TWO shops, both reputable) misdiagnosed it as a loose wheel bearing, worn steering rack bushings, worn ball joints, etc. until I noticed the nut on the main upper control arm bolt (the big one parallel to the frame) was slowly backing off, and the loose fastener was allowing the upper control arm to float around on its mount, causing the noise. Those bolts aren't cheap but they're a lot cheaper than a new rack or a bearing swap.

You can replace the bushings yourself, tho it will take some time if they're old and you definitely need to be handy with a wrench. No need to replace the entire rack just for a worn bushing.

Total Chaos (chaosfab.com) sells polyurethane bushing kits, and there are a few threads here regarding the install...look for threads about "sloppy steering".

BTW a 2" lift should not have caused the bushing problem, or any other problem...I've been running at 4" for a couple years now, on and offroad, no problems with the rack.

I DID have a rack replaced under warranty at about 50K miles, right BEFORE I installed a lift...there was a problem with the rack, it did show some seeping around the interface between the round and square sections of the rack housing, and it clicked in the turns...it got my attention every time.

Check the upper and lower control arm bolts first (one each upper, two each lower), then the upper and lower ball joint crown nuts, then tie rod ends and their crown nuts, then the swaybar linkage. Put the front of the truck in the air and try to wiggle each tire top to bottom (roll axis, if it were an aircraft). If there's play, it could be bearings or ball joints. Keep on it, maybe it's the rack, maybe it's not.

-Sean

[ToyotaFanatic]

Thanks for the helpful input. I crawled under there (finally) today and noticed the big bushing that surrounds the right-center side of the rack was broken through. No gaps, but, definitely cracked through the width of the bushing. I didn't notice anything else obviously out of whack, but the truck wasn't in the air. Will jack it up this weekend.

I'll follow your suggestions for trouble-shooting other potential problems though before investing in the fix.

Thanks,
ToyotaFanatic

[drewbush]

You can get the bushings seperately from total chaos. chaosfab.com. Just under $30.

[redbaron224]

Originally Posted by ToyotaFanatic

Thanks for the helpful input. I crawled under there (finally) today and noticed the big bushing that surrounds the right-center side of the rack was broken through. No gaps, but, definitely cracked through the width of the bushing. I didn't notice anything else obviously out of whack, but the truck wasn't in the air. Will jack it up this weekend.

I'll follow your suggestions for trouble-shooting other potential problems though before investing in the fix.

Thanks,
ToyotaFanatic

That bushing is not cracked, it is purposefully split so you can replace it without removing a tie rod end. I've change mine twice in the past 212,000 miles. No biggie. Also, even when the bushing is new there is some rack movement allowed within the bushing.

Jeff

[82pickup]

I too have the Clunk/Knock in the front end, it has happened since about 5k miles when the vehicle was stock and is still the same after my front end spacer lift. I have checked all nuts and bolts, everything is properly tourqed, no signs of slop in any parts.

This is really starting to drive me crazy, and it is a little embarassing when backing out of a parking place and this clunk/pop/knock happens.

There have been a couple of threads in the 1rst gen forum about this, seems to mostly DC's with the problem. My 06' was not a part of the recall (built 11/06) but the problem also surfaced on some trucks after recall service.

[81toypu]

Have a Friend crank the wheel back and forth while you inspect the rack. Power steering has more power than the average person.

[PD Tundra]

i just found the same problem on my tundra today, thanks to the alignment shop. i took a look at it while it was up in the air and saw the rack move when you turn the wheel or push in from the outside of the wheel, i'm just gonna get an aftermarket one, it looks easy enough to do in your drive way, its just 1 bolt and 1 nut, from what i've seen anyway.

[ToyotaFanatic]

I rec'd my bushing kit from Total Chaos last week and will install new bushings this week. Looks like simple change-out.

I saw the "crack" previous thread discussed in the big bushing and realized it is a factory separation for installation purposes.

I've read enough about the Total Chaos bushings to believe they're better than stock rubber anyway.

Thanks for all the input.

[KFlash]

Keep in mind that you need to have the front end aligned after installing the TC kit. It changes toe in enough to create tire ware problems.