What are the(hidden) sympthoms of a worn steering rack ? (1 Viewer)

[Cruisera100]

Still trying to find out whats wrong ! 200000 km -on road - Stock LC with ahc . There are no leaks , no play anywhere, no strange noises. Thats standing still. Its most noticable at slow speeds on uneven roads (not gravel or off road ). Lots of feedback thru the steering wheel. Feels like you forgot to tighten the lug nuts , with pulling/deadspots. At speed its still crap , wanders a little, but feels tight. I guess better roads make it feel somewhat better. Its so bad that you would think the pros would figer it out, but no. New rack bushings, and just about everything else in the frontend. Things have gotten better. Not changed: the tierods/ends, or front stabilsator bushings . The universal joint on the steering shaft feels ok/tight. No exsessiv tyre wear.
In my mind I would think it was easy to spot a worn steering rack, but maybe not an an LC. Anyone out there been thru this ?

 

[Phx99Cruiser]

I presume the lower ball joints have been checked and/or replaced (lower control arms) when you say "...just about everything else in the frontend"?

 

[Cruisera100]

Yes, the lower ball joints and bushings have been replaced + complete upper controll arms as well. I think it's kind of strange that I'm getting all this feedback from the road right to the steering wheel. There isn't any steering damper on the LC100 , so I'm wondering if I could have somthing to do with power steering / hydralic valves in the rack . But I don't realy know very much about how this stuff works. Steering might be a little heavy when starting a turn/making small corrections, but I haven't tryed any other LC 100, so I dont know.
Toyota says my steering is normal- thats the down side of big wheels is what they say (stock 275/75/16, and I have tryed many different wheels) . I think their wrong - I might let them have it a few days, but big bills and no cure, isn't what I want.

 

[toyotalexus420]

any update on this, i seem to be going through the same thing.

 

[Cruisera100]

any update on this, i seem to be going through the same thing.

I just took the LC for a long drive, and I still have a problem. On good roads ,the LC wanders ,on gravel ,it feels like something is loose. I've been driving the dealer crazy with 4 wheel alinements , and I haven't been satisfied.
Things did get a lot better when i changed the upper control arms/with stock bushings. Nothing looked worn out, but...it's 15 years old. On the lower control arms I changed the ball joint and front bushings with polyurethane bushings, but didn't change the rear bushings. I'm hoping the problems are here.I'm going to replace the Lower arms with stock parts - At least put in all new stock bushings. I won't put poly stuff on the car again - things have to muscled in to place/ think it's squeaking allready /dosen't even look like a nice fit. There is a lot of rubber and this is a heavy car.
Steering rack: I can't find any play anywhere. I might be able to feel the tiniest play on one of the inner track rod ends - but it's like nothing.
I did change the poly bushings on there rack - I think it made things a little better.(you have to buy the a new rack to get original bushings).And PS fluid. I don't think there is a problem with the rack. I've had this LC for a long time/ low km. It hasen't been of the road or abused. I use it for short drives to work , at slow speeds , it's been something I can live with.
I'll post the results of my LCA replacement

 

[toyotalexus420]

I just took the LC for a long drive, and I still have a problem. On good roads ,the LC wanders ,on gravel ,it feels like something is loose. I've been driving the dealer crazy with 4 wheel alinements , and I haven't been satisfied.
Things did get a lot better when i changed the upper control arms/with stock bushings. Nothing looked worn out, but...it's 15 years old. On the lower control arms I changed the ball joint and front bushings with polyurethane bushings, but didn't change the rear bushings. I'm hoping the problems are here.I'm going to replace the Lower arms with stock parts - At least put in all new stock bushings. I won't put poly stuff on the car again - things have to muscled in to place/ think it's squeaking allready /dosen't even look like a nice fit. There is a lot of rubber and this is a heavy car.
Steering rack: I can't find any play anywhere. I might be able to feel the tiniest play on one of the inner track rod ends - but it's like nothing.
I did change the poly bushings on there rack - I think it made things a little better.(you have to buy the a new rack to get original bushings).And PS fluid. I don't think there is a problem with the rack. I've had this LC for a long time/ low km. It hasen't been of the road or abused. I use it for short drives to work , at slow speeds , it's been something I can live with.
I'll post the results of my LCA replacement

I ended up going with the full rack and pinion replacement by a local dealer which cost me including oil change and mandatory alignment around $1100 out the door. They did give me a rental for part of the time and washed the car. I wish honestly I could have at least had the time to chat with the mechanic about what exactly is going on and learn about it, but time is super short right now so I am stuck shelling out and hoping for the best.
its worth it.

 

[Cruisera100]

I ended up going with the full rack and pinion replacement by a local dealer which cost me including oil change and mandatory alignment around $1100 out the door. They did give me a rental for part of the time and washed the car. I wish honestly I could have at least had the time to chat with the mechanic about what exactly is going on and learn about it, but time is super short right now so I am stuck shelling out and hoping for the best.
its worth it.

If your problems are solved or not , it would be nice to here if that fixed it. I've been to the dealer, and as mentioned, they couldn't see that there was a problem. Truck ,big wheels , bla, bla, .So it was hard to ask them to fix it. The new bushings should be here tomorrow , and they are going right in.

 

[toyotalexus420]

If your problems are solved or not , it would be nice to here if that fixed it. I've been to the dealer, and as mentioned, they couldn't see that there was a problem. Truck ,big wheels , bla, bla, .So it was hard to ask them to fix it. The new bushings should be here tomorrow , and they are going right in.

It feels better than the past few months of driving it, so i assume it needs a lot of updating at each mileage point. I went off roading before it got bad and i will be going again this week so i will let you know in a week or so if i notice anything. Next oil change im due for front and rear axel fluid changes.

 

[Cruisera100]

Job done .Replaced all 4 bushings on the LCA 's and all stabiliser bushings . Been for a little test drive and things are much improved. The wandering seems to be gone, and steering wheel shimmer every time the road has a pot hole /uneven seems greatly reduced . They paved my road while the job was being done , so all my known spots were gone on the test drive. Still no gokart , but AHC/TB's have be adjusted also.

 

[CA Cruisin]

Thanks for the update. My rack has a small leak with only 135k on car. After reading thru Mud I think switching out all the bushings and ends may do the trick. Also good knowing to avoid poly replacements and go with OEM/rubber whenever possible, that was something I needed to figure out.

Be AWESOME to get a 100% parts list of every bushing or rubber mount the car has - wonder if that's here on the site somewhere?
If anyone can point the way, be MUCH appreciated.

 

[Sandroad]

Here's a really good start. With a search, you could probably find all the steering bushings too.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/parts-list-to-refurb-your-sway-bars.537225/

 

[CA Cruisin]

Thanks much Sandroad! ***APOLOGIZE IN HINDSIGHT FOR HIJACKING THIS THREAD P ***
~From 'Steering Rack Symptom' conversation into full-on 'Bushing Analyses' ~

One "master bushing" list of all bits below deck, gleaned from all related threads into one post, would be epic: maybe I can collate one. Just def. need to spend better part of a day hunting all links and leads.

Took the '99 LC to an LC specialist today for 2nd opinion re. steering rack slow seep. It's on the pass. side boot. They said it's not a rush to swap out the rack. Yesterday dealer made it sound imminent. Oh: LC shop quoted $1,000 LESS than dealer for OEM P+Labor. Yowza! $900 all-in.

Interestingly, while the car was raised I pointed out cracked control arm and other bushings - mechanic said not to worry, it's "topical" and wouldn't effect the inside of the rubber where the insulating was happening.
Though not a mechanic myself, it seems common sense would say if it's crackled-looking on the surface it's a fairly worn bushing throughout. Esp. 'cuz of my symptoms: car bounces a lot (needs shocks), clatters over bumps bad, and leans. Sorta like a creaky boat.

What say y'all?
Photos attached...
swap out soft parts or stay cool and just fix the rack?
Loving hearing people's reports of improved rides, super encouraging.

 

[CA Cruisin]

More bushing and boot shots for grins - not sure on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being best) how bad these look, compared to other LCs out there, and among you who have swapped yours out?
-
not a pro at this photo attaching thing yet...

 

[CA Cruisin]

More bushings! Sorry if I'm boring you! Who knows, these may make a useful conversation continuer for us...

 

[CA Cruisin]

ONly 5 photos per post so here goes..

 

[CA Cruisin]

Dat's it

 

[CA Cruisin]

I lied

 

[jcrandall]

@CA Cruisin
FWIW, those look pretty much exactly like most of my bushings before I replaced them. It has made all the difference in the world. Things are way tighter and more precise, squeaking - gone, metal on metal sounds -gone.
Replacing bushings/ball joints is pretty dull work, but it's way less frustrating than chasing sounds.

When I got most of mine out, they looked pretty bad all the way through. But then again I'm at 270k miles, and between South Dakota and DFW, not the best combination of environments for rubber.

When I say most bushings, here's my running list:
All front control arm bushings - right/left, upper/lower, upper and lower ball joints.
All sway bars - front/rear, both frame and links
Steering rack bushings - the big D grommet, and the two round driver side.

Currently tackling the rear control arms, pressing the existing bushings out is an absolute b!tch, so still working on those. Planning on both lowers, both uppers, and the panhard rod.

 

[jcrandall]

And back on the original question... @Cruisera100
That loose feeling is imho for sure one of the symptoms of a worn steering rack/worn bushing. I just replaced my bushings, but my truck is down while I figure out rear LCAs. Hoping the bushings are it, but can't say for sure yet.

 

[Cruisera100]

Update : i got the rear LCA bushings out and new ones in. I used the threaded rod (16mm) and socket method. one came out easy ,on the other i striped the threads on the rod , but welding a few nuts together , gave me the leverage I needed. I think It is very Important to have a heavy duty socket that is the right size too. They all went in easy . I also threw out the poly bushings that I had put in the front Lca. The LC feels tight and the squeaking is gone. . .it's better, But the lc still is puls somewhat to the left and right ,depending on surface, and I feel bumps in the road in the steering wheel. I see she is 1 cm (3/8 ") to low in the front and 2 cm (3/4") to low in the rear. I haven't adjusted the AHC pressure yet, other than tighting the TB's one turn at a time on each side "til she feels right". Also tried inflating the tires to f 35 and r 40 psi - there might be something there to. So - I'm still puzzled by why I getting all this feedback from the road right into the steering wheel. When I hear worn rack -I think of "play" somewhere. There isen't any. Wheel bearings are tight. I'll get back when height i adjusted.