Bushing question

[bcripe]

I have a 99 w 185k. Took it to shop Friday because it just doesn't feel right. The left front tire seems to bounce around. Steering generally not as tight. So after all these busing treads, I figured mine were all shot too. We visually checked all bushings, the front sway were in bad shape. All the rest looked very good. Front shock was leaking too. Ball joints tight. If the bushings look good, can they still be bad?

Thank you!

 

[APKhaos]

Rubber bushings can fail obviously, and can fail less obviously. The rubber tends to deform, so what you might not see is that the center of a bush is no longer in the center, but displaced due to static loads.

By all means replace the front swaybar bushes if they are bad. Assuming the shocks are original, replace 'em. Around $130 for all four OEM from Sam at Lowe Toyota. That by itself will make a big difference, and they see how things feel. Shock and swaybar bushing replacements are simple DIY and well described in the FAQ/DIY section of the forum.

 

[Anthony.L]

Front shock was leaking too.

Replace the shocks (all four corners). "tire bouncing around" tells me the shock can no longer regulate the spring properly. Probably due to the loss of fluid, among other things.

Toyota OEM struts from Lowe's will be the cheapest option. Want a upgrade over stock, go with the Bilstein HD.

 

[MilkmanVX]

I have a 99 w 185k. Took it to shop Friday because it just doesn't feel right. The left front tire seems to bounce around. Steering generally not as tight. So after all these busing treads, I figured mine were all shot too. We visually checked all bushings, the front sway were in bad shape. All the rest looked very good. Front shock was leaking too. Ball joints tight. If the bushings look good, can they still be bad?

Thank you!

By left front do you mean the driver's side? How do you know it is bouncing around a lot (I am assuming you are not/cannot visually inspect as you drive) -and also, what are the symptoms? banging around a lot when you hit bumps???

In any case, I would check all front end components -cheapest first ...

1. bushes,
2. then shocks,
3. then wheel bearings (the 12-6/3-9 inspection),
4. then rackends and t-rods (it being a 99, I think it is safe to assume that you need to change both the rack-ends and the t-rods -also, sometimes you may only discover the rack ends are gone by disconnecting the t-rods and feeling for any give) in the pic below -once disconnected -push it in and out with your hands as per arrow ... if it gives, it's gone -and I bet that yours will give a little given their age -mine were ...



5. and then status of your steering rack.

6. (this is easy to check so may be should be up higher) I would also check on the steering shafts -main and intermediate -I just did mine and it was a small little clip that was causing all the havoc ... check out my post on Steering Shudder

7. Finally -UCAs and LCAs ...

Good luck!! ... -on bushes ... I did mine some weeks ago and while they may appear visually ok they are well past their prime ... here are front shox bushes -new vs old ... although I must say that LC shox bushes hold up very very well ...

 

[SHUSH]

OP....Sam at Lowes has squared me away on 2 occassions. I have stopped looking for parts elsewhere, cheaper, as he has gotten them to me faster by mail than in town stealerships can.