Tie Rod / Steering Rack Question

[Jetboy]

So here's the symptoms I've been having. Slight shimmy at 70 mph. Significant inner tire wear. Shimmy under braking like warped rotors. So I jacked up the front end and the passenger side seems like it has no play. All the joints feel tight. Drivers side feels like a tie rod is loose. Outer tie rod is tight. Feels most like inner tie rod, but it's hard to say. I didn't cut the boot off.

So my questions are these; If one side feels tight and the other feels loose, is it possible that it's the rack? Is the interior shaft of the rack a solid piece. If so it must be the inner tie rod. Of course I'll have to cut the crimped strap on the boot to get a good look at it, but if it's a solid shaft it's probably got to be the inner tie rod.

Second, I've never had an IFS with a rack like this before. Does, or could, a single loose joint cause the shimmy? If so would it make sense that it would cause a condition similar to warped rotors? I spun the front rotors and they appear under my non-scientific visual look compared to the calipers that they are true.

Thanks,

jetboy

 

[raydouble]

So here's the symptoms I've been having. Slight shimmy at 70 mph. Significant inner tire wear. Shimmy under braking like warped rotors. So I jacked up the front end and the passenger side seems like it has no play. All the joints feel tight. Drivers side feels like a tie rod is loose. Outer tie rod is tight. Feels most like inner tie rod, but it's hard to say. I didn't cut the boot off.

So my questions are these; If one side feels tight and the other feels loose, is it possible that it's the rack? Is the interior shaft of the rack a solid piece. If so it must be the inner tie rod. Of course I'll have to cut the crimped strap on the boot to get a good look at it, but if it's a solid shaft it's probably got to be the inner tie rod.

Second, I've never had an IFS with a rack like this before. Does, or could, a single loose joint cause the shimmy? If so would it make sense that it would cause a condition similar to warped rotors? I spun the front rotors and they appear under my non-scientific visual look compared to the calipers that they are true.

Thanks,

jetboy

I would cut the clamp off the boot so you can check out that inner tierod end and also check out the rack bushings.

From what you describe it sounds like the same issues my buddy was having when his inner tierod went.

Don't think you should worry about the rotors until you rule out the steering.

 

[Jetboy]

So I popped the boot off and it's not the inner tie rod . The piston in the rack seems to have vertical play in it. About 2mm at the end so when it's getting compressed it rises just a little, but that's where the looseness is. Is there any adjustment on these or any replaceable bushings? Or am a going to end up buying a whole new rack? Damn, that sucks. They are fairly expensive.

Anyone have a good parts breakdown to see whats inside the rack?

Anyone ever rebuild one?

Edit: Found a good parts breakdown. Looks like the parts are available to rebuild. Anyone ever done it? List price is $1404 from Toyota for a full rack. Online rebuilds are more like $350 or so.

Also there's no leaking oil which is a little odd considering the play.


Edit #2: I adjusted the "steering gear rack guide" which is the big nut with a ~60mm lock nut on the back. It took up the play but now the steering doesn't self center. My repair manual doesn't discuss what this actually does, but from the pic it looks like it just adjusts some tension on the piston. I'll probably back it off a little and see where we are.

Anyone know how this tension is intended to work, if it's a legitimate thing to do? The physics of how the forces are applied work make sense, but I'm not sure if it can be adjusted for both purposes. Thanks.

 

[Jeremy9A]

I believe the adjustment that you made is what determines bearing preload. You may have way too much preload on the bearing at the moment which is not allowing the wheel to return

 

[darwink1]

when the bushing wears there isnt much you can do. one guy on ttora is trying something but i dont know where that went.
i got a rack/inner tre set for 650 and got 180 back for core. its not too bad to replace in the driveway either just watch out when you go to disco the pwr steering lines. we thrashed the hi press line when we did mine.

Good luck

D

 

[alexchok]

Edit #2: I adjusted the "steering gear rack guide" which is the big nut with a ~60mm lock nut on the back. It took up the play but now the steering doesn't self center. My repair manual doesn't discuss what this actually does, but from the pic it looks like it just adjusts some tension on the piston. I'll probably back it off a little and see where we are.

Did you have to remove the rack to do the adjustments? Any updates as to how it steers now?