I have a buddy that has a 2000 Tacoma 4x4, 3.4 extra cab. He bought it about 3 weeks ago and called me on the way home with it and says at speeds over 50mph, you can't hold it in the road. If you hit a bump, or start over an overpass, where the pavement changes height even the slightest amount, it will through you all over the road. We replaced all 4 tie rods (had slack) and checked every bolt we could get to on the front end (all tight) and did the same on the rear end (all tight). Checked leaf spring bushings for worn eye bushings (tight). Brand new 31-10.50-15 Firestone MT's inflated to 35psi. He got a very good price on it and has a little to spend to fix it up for a hunting truck, but will have to be driven on interstate to camp. Any suggestions as to where to go next? Thanks.

 

Steering rack bushings tend to wear on tacomas they use rack and pinion steering. I'd check there first. Balljoints would be an area that can cause this as well. Check wheel bearings for play also.

 

Sounds to me like a problem with the shocks. if this is only present after hitting a bump

It might need a new steering stabilizer as well.

I am sure you checked that the frame is not comprised allowing to wallow like a breaching whale.

Where the tires balanced??

That could make a big difference in handling

 

Id start with the shocks and steering stabilizer, then if it still persists Id take it in for an alignment.

 

since you replaced the tie rods, probably needs alignment. While your there have them inspect the ball joints, rack and pinion and shocks. If those are original shocks at 110K, probably time for new ones.

 

at 250K I've already gone thru two sets of shocks, did the rack and pinion and replaced all the bushings on the front end and upper ball joints too.

 

Thanks fellas. He had new shocks and struts put on and had it aligned before we put the tie rods on, and then had to have it re-aligned after the new rod ends. We looked at the rack & pinion, but it didn't look loose, but guess we could replace the bushings and try that, thanks. If you get on the interstate and get above 55-60, it will scare the crap out of you... LOL. Don't know if it has ever been wrecked though. Could the rack & pinion itself be the problem, even though it feels tight when we shake the wheel?

 

sounds like who ever did the alignment did a poor job, sounds like what I experienced and it turned out to be improperly aligned.

 

When doing an alignment the first thing most good techs usually check is all the front end components to make sure none of them will affect the alignment. But it does sound like the alignment is way out of whack. The only times I have had scary experiences like that in any of my trucks is after installing things like 4 inch lift kits that completely whack out the alignment. Makes for a scary ride to the alignment shop. But fine afterwards. About 5 years ago I had sears do an alignment on one of my mustangs after installing springs, shocks, camber plates, and control arms front and back. They screwed it up so bad I had a white knuckle ride all the way home. Morons.

 

Could be the tires are just that bad .

I load 1000 plus pounds on my 2000 Tacoma on a regular basis No problems .

A bad tire or two on the front can cause it to act like this

It seems like every thing else has been looked at.

Just because a tire is new does not mean it can`t be bad!!

I would love to drive this I would most likely know right way what the problem is.

Goodluck.

 

Try this, I did it yesterday, super easy (go to page 2 for the easy way to do it).

http://www.ttora.com/forum/showthread.php?t=161689

 

I have to wonder just what he is comparing the ride with.

I would think if one has a suspension /handling issue it would be all the time not just hitting a bump at speed .

Brings to mind frost heaves in Michigan with a first timer once He sure learned why one needs to put more than two chains on a 40,000 pound coil loaded suicide.




A empty truck is going to ride rougher maybe then what you are used to.

It is so very hard to get a good description of the problem.

But changing lanes with no movement of the steering wheel is a whole other story.

Then if you have wagon tracks they also will have you fighting the vehicle.

Who can really say

 

i say ball joints or wheels bearings. both of those can make a car/truck wander all over the road. sounds like everything else has been done

google how to check wheel bearings and how to check ball joints. both are quick and easy to do. just gotta jack the front end off the ground

 

i vote ball joints. Its exactly how my truck felt before I did'em. It would jump half way into another lane after bumps.

good luck

 

If they failed to check wheel bearings and ball joints

When they are so simple to check and about the easiest. .

How does one do a alignment with bad tie rod ends??

Where you told at this time they needed replaced

Go through another front end alignment .

At any time did your friend mention this problem during the course of both these alignments.

Now I suppose the front end techs could have been work release from the local school and clueless.

You would think someone would look at their work.

Before doing a alignment you check all the front end parts that could cause a issue.

Finding any you get the customer explain till they replace bad parts or have them replaced you are just wasting the money on this alignment.

 

We went ahead and replaced all 4 ball joints(just so he knows they are new) and also replaced the rack & pinion with a remanufactured unit... He had it re-aligned and one of these fixed the problem... LOL! Thanks fellas for all the input and advise.
I have a 99' Tacoma and we were fixing to swap wheels and tires to see if it made a difference... glad it's fixed, cause that would have been a lot of work for nothing, LOL! Thanks again!

 

So how much did all the parts cost???

Since you replaced the ball joints how much play did they have??

What brand did you go with ??

What did the alignments cost.

What were the final numbers on the last alignment ??

Who did the alignments so we know to stay very far away.

has your lawyer filed suit against the alignment shop for failure to spot a serious dangerous problem ??

 

Do you really think the OP will answer all of these questions??



Andreas

 

Of course not!!:jessica::jessica: