SOLVED- Poly Bushings for ‘05 LX470 Steering Rack

[98100series]

I have had this problem for years and as I think back, it started after I replaced the steering rack and the shop used urethane bushings! I hate it, it's dangerous and very alarming to say the least. My VSC will mostly do this on sweeping right turns like mountain roads as the system tries to put you into oncoming traffic! I know I need a new rack again so I am going to go back to the rubber bushings and hopefully solve this issue. Now I am very motivated to replace, this is the motivation I needed.

It will certainly solve the issue!

 

[menancyandsam]

I had the VSC over steering on winding roads. What fixed it was new flanges and bearings/races. And tightening the lock nuts using the fish scale method.
Years later I replaced worn out steering bushings with super pro polys. Love them, I like the new firmness and had no adverse steering issues.

 

[98100series]

I had the VSC over steering on winding roads. What fixed it was new flanges and bearings/races. And tightening the lock nuts using the fish scale method.
Years later I replaced worn out steering bushings with super pro polys. Love them, I like the new firmness and had no adverse steering issues.

That’s odd, the VSC is ran off the ABS/Brake booster and it reads data off the rack and pinion steering inputs. But I guess if the flanges and CVs are really bad it could delay the signal to the steering rack.

Glad you had good luck with the poly bushings. I did one VSC equipped Toyota and learned my lesson, I have only corrected the issue after my first mistake.

I did a 100 series with really bad CVs and flanges, he didn’t have enough to do all the work at the same time so I did the OEM rack and it corrected the VSC prematurely engaging, of course did the flanges and CVs a few months later and that really helped, specially with the clunk!

 

[MongooseGA]

05 LX. I can speak having had bad OEM bushings, replacing with new OEM rubber, then a bad rack, then a full new OEM rack, then bad rubber bushings again, and now the same OEM rack with poly bushings.

I've never once seen my VSC come on, and I drive aggressively compared to most. I don't baby it. The limiting factor in my truck now is running lighter LC torsion bars (removed my Tough Dog bars) and running no front sway.

I agree with the sentiment that poly makes the car less comfortable. In my case, I just did all new rubber OEM bushings less than 100k ago. The job is a pain. I didn't want to do it again, and so when it was time, I put poly in the rack and front lower control arms. Yes there is more road feel. To say otherwise is disingenuous. But, if I had to suggest poly in any capacity at all in our trucks, it would be for the rack and the sway bars.

For my use case, being a truck that gets used hard off road, everything is poly now. If I only ever drove on the road, I'd do rubber everywhere, except the rack and sways.

Take this with a grain of salt. Not only have I never heard of/ experienced any of this whatsoever, but everyone I do know with poly rack bushings loves them and the more precise steering feel they give, no side effects to speak of.

Lemme eat my own words here. I've now had 4 occurrences of the VSC kicking in on long sweeping turns since installing the poly rack bushings. 3x on the same turn outside of my neighborhood and once a few weeks back while I was on a long turn at about 10,000' in Colorado. Puckery.. My Ms. was driving when it happened today.

I'll probably switch back to rubber.

 

[98100series]

Lemme eat my own words here. I've now had 4 occurrences of the VSC kicking in on long sweeping turns since installing the poly rack bushings. 3x on the same turn outside of my neighborhood and once a few weeks back while I was on a long turn at about 10,000' in Colorado. Puckery.. My Ms. was driving when it happened today.

I'll probably switch back to rubber.

It’s the worst when the ms/Mrs experience it! They literally hate the car after .

I did a tremendous amount of research and repairs and it took along time to narrow it down to this, urethane is just far to stiff for Toyota steering, only issue is when the Toyota has VSC. All others are fine.

 

[MongooseGA]

Unfortunately there aren't OEM rubber bushings to go back in. I'm not in need of a full rack yet, so I'll debate using the aftermarket bushings.

Is it possible to disable VSC without throwing anything else out of whack or throwing a dash light?

 

[98100series]

Unfortunately there aren't OEM rubber bushings to go back in. I'm not in need of a full rack yet, so I'll debate using the aftermarket bushings.

Is it possible to disable VSC without throwing anything else out of whack or throwing a dash light?

It will throw a few dash lights, VSC/Brake and another one, forgot at the moment. There is a guy on here that found rubber bushings, the “D” shaped one you can get at dealership. Thought I took a pic but I cannot don’t it.

 

[MongooseGA]

Mine is an 05, so no D bushing. I found some rubber ones but none are by Toyota.

 

[98100series]

Mine is an 05, so no D bushing. I found some rubber ones but none are by Toyota.

Toyota for sure does not offer them. Only in the rack assembly, they should!

 

[NOSAJ]

Well shoot! I bought the super pro bushings a couple years ago and was just getting around to installing them and doing a search came across this thread. @MongooseGA where did you find the rubber ones? Thanks!

 

[MongooseGA]

I haven't found OEM rubber ones. There are aftermarket.

For the time being, we're just conscious of the one particular turn outside our neighborhood where it occurs. When it's time for a new rack, I'll just stick with the rubber it comes with.

 

[2001LC]

I saw your update on proper torquing of control arms, correcting issue!

When this done at Dealership or INDY shop. They almost always do while vehicle on lift wheels dangling. This is improper procedure. It puts bushing under constant load, reducing life of rubber in the bushings. We need to make sure they di while on alignment rack. These are racks/lifts, vehicle driven onto ramps. They lift vehicle at tires.

Control arms, need to be done with all four tires supporting weight of vehicle in a neutral stance. This includes OEM bushing of UCA, LCA, rear control arms, links & shock lower bolts.

Also, when we in "ih8mud" R&R LCA. We also replace #2 bushing which is in the frame. LWR arm comes with only #1 bushing and ball joint.

If "really good" INDY shop did the work, and didn't torque. It may have just been oversite. It happens. But, I be suspect of other work INDY did. One being wheel bearings. Which even Dealerships, don't follow proper procedure. But at least Dealership know proper procedure. So why don't they do these service by the book. "Time"

I'm doing yet another wheel bearing & knuckle service this week. The second in as many weeks. Where, I've must, replace all bearing (wheel and axle bearings) and restore spindle threads of knuckle and ball joint boot mate surfaces.
Why:
Improper procedure used.
Reuse of parts required to be replaced.

 

[NOSAJ]

@MongooseGA where did you find the aftermarket rubber ones?

 

[MongooseGA]

@MongooseGA where did you find the aftermarket rubber ones?

Couldn't say specifically, I didn't purchase. I just googled "2005 LX470 rubber steering rack bushings" and they popped up.

 

[2001LC]

I've purchased from Rack & pinion rebuilders like CVJ, and from ebay (rack rebuilder out of CA). They come from China.