Should the Steering Gear have play in it?

Milan · 08-24-2009, 04:34 PM

01 Double Cab V6 4X4

I have the dreaded front end clunk and as I was trying to find the culprit I found out the my steering gear/rack has play in it. With the front end jacked up, I can grab the tire at 12 and 6 and get no play whatsoever but if I grab it at 3 and 9 I can wiggle it back and forth about a 1/4 inch and it makes a clunking sound that I traced it back to the steering gear and where I put the yellow arrow, it rotates about 1/8 turn. It that normal?

Albino · 08-25-2009, 03:24 PM

I don't have the answer to your question but mine does the same thing.

cornbread · 08-25-2009, 03:34 PM

Mine too (04 dbl cab 4x4).

I don't have the clunk, but I've had steering play since I bought it and my truck only has 16k miles on it (it's bone stock).

hoist00 · 08-25-2009, 04:32 PM

I'm not 100% sure but I think thay are suppose to have a little bit of play in them.

darwink1 · 08-25-2009, 07:48 PM

pull back the boot on the rack and then jiggle the wheel. could be an inner tre or the rack itself. theres a bushing in the rack that wears out.

D

Milan · 08-26-2009, 03:43 PM

Thanks for the responses. So it seems normal. I really need to figure out what the culprit is to this front end clunking. It seems to be getting worse by the day. I am convinced that it has something to do with the steering rack/gear or whatever it is called.

tacomasr4me · 08-26-2009, 03:59 PM

Its in the booted area. If you pull back the big end off the rack you will see were the slack is. You will have to turn the wheel all the way to one side to see it but the ones i worked on have a big nut and it was loose. Tighten it up and the slack goes away. May be due to the bushing wearing out. But the area your arrow is pointing is suppose to have slack. Has to do with the power steering not being powered with engine off.

tacomasr4me · 08-26-2009, 04:04 PM

If you go to that site that has the FSM you can download it and see how all the parts fit and how to inspect them

tacomasr4me · 08-26-2009, 04:08 PM

Maxx · 09-02-2009, 11:39 PM

im having the same exact problem. Mine wasnt too bad but not i turn the wheel and it clanks through out the whole turn. But thats only when driving slow. Im convinced that its the rack.

NorCalTaco · 09-03-2009, 12:38 AM

http://www.energysuspension.com/sear...partNumSearch=

tacomasr4me · 09-03-2009, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PuckerFactor

http://www.energysuspension.com/sear...partNumSearch=

The rack itself is not moving. Its the internal parts, that link listed is the mounting bushings. I had the same problem. I replaced the internal bushing and fixed it.

hossmaster · 09-03-2009, 02:37 PM

I had this type of rattle before. I replaced my rack bushings and other then being a bet more responsive i still had this slight tink and rattle. turned out to be my lower control arm bolts (eccentrics) were a bit loose and causing the sound.

08-24-2009, 04:34 PM	#1
Milan Newbie Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 10	Should the Steering Gear have play in it? 01 Double Cab V6 4X4 I have the dreaded front end clunk and as I was trying to find the culprit I found out the my steering gear/rack has play in it. With the front end jacked up, I can grab the tire at 12 and 6 and get no play whatsoever but if I grab it at 3 and 9 I can wiggle it back and forth about a 1/4 inch and it makes a clunking sound that I traced it back to the steering gear and where I put the yellow arrow, it rotates about 1/8 turn. It that normal?

08-25-2009, 03:24 PM	#2
Albino Member My Rig: 2003 Tacoma Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Kansas City MO Posts: 67	I don't have the answer to your question but mine does the same thing. __________________ 2003 TRD cab plus, ARB bumper, OME 2.5 lift kit, 255/85's on 16" black steelies, 4.5 backspacing from Wheelers!

08-25-2009, 04:32 PM	#4
hoist00 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Buellton, Ca Posts: 211	I'm not 100% sure but I think thay are suppose to have a little bit of play in them. __________________ 2004 DC, S/C, SAS, 35's

08-25-2009, 07:48 PM	#5
darwink1 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sudbury Ontario Canada Posts: 1,541	pull back the boot on the rack and then jiggle the wheel. could be an inner tre or the rack itself. theres a bushing in the rack that wears out. D __________________ 2000 taco 4x4 ext. cab v6 manual. ap sliders, u bolt flip, ome 882/dakar/c. shocks, ss brk lines, bud built skid and belly pan, dp, 33x10.5x15 bfg mt's on stock alloys, 04 trd e lok rear axle, demello hybrid r bumper and bed bar, custom front bumper/rear diff skid SOLD! 93 FZJ80 Aussie locked, sporting 37's on a 2.5" lift. SOLD! 85 FJ60 The "hearingaid toylet". 350 ram jet, D60/arb, 14 bolt/arb, atlas 3.8, NV4500, 40" km2's and stuff. 06 Dodge power wagon beater...

08-26-2009, 03:59 PM	#7
tacomasr4me Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Mobile Alabama Posts: 165	Its in the booted area. If you pull back the big end off the rack you will see were the slack is. You will have to turn the wheel all the way to one side to see it but the ones i worked on have a big nut and it was loose. Tighten it up and the slack goes away. May be due to the bushing wearing out. But the area your arrow is pointing is suppose to have slack. Has to do with the power steering not being powered with engine off. __________________ I only read the Pictures

08-25-2009, 03:34 PM	#3
cornbread Newbie Join Date: May 2007 Location: memphis tn Posts: 20	Mine too (04 dbl cab 4x4). I don't have the clunk, but I've had steering play since I bought it and my truck only has 16k miles on it (it's bone stock).

08-26-2009, 03:43 PM	#6
Milan Newbie Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 10	Thanks for the responses. So it seems normal. I really need to figure out what the culprit is to this front end clunking. It seems to be getting worse by the day. I am convinced that it has something to do with the steering rack/gear or whatever it is called.

08-26-2009, 04:04 PM	#8
tacomasr4me Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Mobile Alabama Posts: 165	If you go to that site that has the FSM you can download it and see how all the parts fit and how to inspect them __________________ I only read the Pictures

08-26-2009, 04:08 PM	#9
tacomasr4me Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Mobile Alabama Posts: 165	__________________ I only read the Pictures

09-02-2009, 11:39 PM	#10
Maxx Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 52	im having the same exact problem. Mine wasnt too bad but not i turn the wheel and it clanks through out the whole turn. But thats only when driving slow. Im convinced that its the rack.

09-03-2009, 12:38 AM	#11
NorCalTaco Sup Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: NorCal Posts: 3,421	http://www.energysuspension.com/sear...partNumSearch= __________________ NorCalTTORA

09-03-2009, 02:37 PM	#13
hossmaster MASTICATOR Join Date: May 2005 Location: league city, tx Posts: 3,512	I had this type of rattle before. I replaced my rack bushings and other then being a bet more responsive i still had this slight tink and rattle. turned out to be my lower control arm bolts (eccentrics) were a bit loose and causing the sound. __________________ 02 dbl cab 2.5 dirt logics Just another wanna be "we had us some fun" "Blue Water Inn, We Got Pyramids!!!"

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