Steering rack questions

[TTO5]

I have a 2010 LX570 and believe the steering rack is worn. I have had an issue ever since I bought this truck 4 years ago where the steering wheel shakes when hitting bumps (especially at highway speeds). Alignment has been done and all the usual suspects have been checked. I am now experiencing a shake in the steering wheel under certain conditions such as in the center lane of a highway with no road crown. When moving into the fast or slow lane (of a 3 lane highway ) the shake seems to reduce as if loading the chassis due to some road crown. Hub and bearings have been checked as well as new tire rods (inner and outer). Question is When grabbing a front tire at 9 and 3 position (with either one person holding the other tire (truck in the air ) or leaving one front tire on the ground, the tire you are grabbing at 9 and 3 moves in and out about 1/2 inch maybe more, with the other tire not moving. Anyone have experience with this?

 

[cboyd]

Sounds similar to the problem I had in my 100 series with the steering rack bushings. I just had it replaced and it’s tight as a tick now. The Bushings on a 100 aren’t replaceable without pulling the rack, so normally once out you just replace the rack. I’m guessing given the year it’s probably similar on the 200.

Other things to check would upper control arms, lower ball joints tie rod end bushing and CV joints.

IMO, Worn tie rode end bushings could also give that symptom…