Seth Carvill

link:
I have a 2001 tacoma, 4 cycle. I had the steering rack replaced from black ice/telephone pole in 2010. More recently I took truck in for alignment and was told that i needed my steering rack replaced because there was play in the inner tie rod, which when the boot was removed, showed excessive movement inside rack from tire wiggling, without other tire moving. One mechanic showed me this so I went ahead and had it replaced by a good mechanic shop recommended brand of remanufactured rack whose name i forget. After installation, they told me that they could not align the new rack due to a frozen bolt in one of the arms that is used for alignment.

I took it to another mechanic - I have moved back and forth from VT and CO and find that some Colorado mechanics have no idea how to deal with rust - so worth a shot. Second mechanic said inner tie rod was loose and he could not do anything due to that. Took it back to original guy for warrantee and he checked everything (with me looking) and it seemed OK. I was recently under the truck trying to wiggle things to find a squeak that can be heard from cab (happens more with cold engine, only at low speeds and not seemingly directly related to steering or bumps) Anyway, while I was under there I looked at the Steering rack again. Normal Rotational play at inner tie rod boot, with extremly minimal upward and side to side play - on closer inspection that play originates from further back, best as I can tell. Video attached. Is this normal? if not, do you think its the rack and should i go back again for the warrantee?

the steering is not that bad, but completely unchanged from before new rack - wheel "rests" slightly to right, but when held straight, the truck drives straight.

aowRS

Seth Carvill

Yeah, i wasn't sure. Its behind the inner tie rod. Is this movement normal? the vertical and side to side play I am finding in the inner tie rod appears to originate here

fierohink

As aowRS said, that's your haflshaft i.e. driveline component, it spins and drives your front wheels while in 4wd. Your tie-rod end is connected between your steering rack and spindle and not at all connected to the halfshaft or differential (the big part the halfshaft slides into). If you have play in the steering rack or tie rods, this video is of no use because it's of a completely different system.