Steering feels loose, wandering ...

[cwmoser]

Steering feels a little loose, wandering.
I noted over the last few days my LX feels like steering is wandering as I have to make small corrections with Steering Wheel.
Could it be an air pocket in the lines or more likely something else.
It did have a minor leak and and I did top off the Reservoir with ATP 205 stop leak.

 

[Bisho]

Lay under the truck and look at the steering rack while someone else turns the wheel. The rack should not move. If it does, the bushings are bad.

 

[cwmoser]

If I do find that the Steering Rack is loose, can the rubber bushings that secures the rack be easily replaced?

 

[Bisho]

If I do find that the Steering Rack is loose, can the rubber bushings that secures the rack be easily replaced?

They can be replaced, easily is up to interpretation. If its from your 250k mile truck, you'd probably be better off replacing the rack. I ended up replacing my rack when the bushings gave up the ghost, about 280k, IIRC.

 

[cwmoser]

No, its from my 73K mile 2002 LX470.
I hope its not in need of a Steering Rack replacement.

 

[Bisho]

No, its from my 73K mile 2002 LX470.
I hope its not in need of a Steering Rack replacement.

Agreed. Also look at your tie rod ends when the wheels are turned. Everything should be rock solid. To check you inner tie rods, you need to raise the tire off the ground and then try to manually turn the wheel. There should be no play.

 

[Bisho]

I guess if the rack moves you can also check the bolts are tight.

 

[cruiserbrett]

I replaced rack at 270k, and probably didn’t need to. Inner TREs were toast as it turns out. OEM Toyota inner ends were ~$100/side and whole new OEM rack with ends was $500 on serious sale.

Bushings on my steering rack were worn, but majority of play was definitely the inner TREs.

 

[Trapper50cal]

Replaced my rack and bushings at 290K, inner seals were shot. TRE's had recently been done by PO with Japanese Sankei 555's (along with 555 LBJs as well) so that was nice to discover.