My 96 $runner with 200k miles has had "notchy" steering in the past. This mainly happens when it's pretty cold out (near freezing is "pretty cold" in California). The nothciness goes away after the truck has been running for a few minutes. Now, the steering is feeling very heavy - like the front tires are really low on air (tires are at 40 psi, so thats not it). There is no squeeling, no howling, no noises at all from power steering pump or belt. PS pump does not leak any fluid. It had power steering fluid in it for awhile, but I replaced it with ATF. That made things better for 6 months, but now the "heavy steering" started.

Is this a sign that the power steering pump needs to be replaced? Any other things I should check first? Any unusual problems with changing the PS pump?

Thx!

 

check your tie rods and steering linkage to see if they're binding. Just put the front up on stands and have some one cycle the steering while you look at it. That alone should shed some light on your problem.

 

Lifted front tires off the ground and checked tie rods and steering linkage and all looked ok. The rt axle boot is torn, but I don't think an axle shaft/half shaft would affect the steering. Looks like i'll be swapping out the ps pump.

 

Yep, I'd look into the pump... Please post back with results.

 

Picked up a reman PS pump from NAPA for $140 (and $120 core charge!). Took a couple hours to remove the old, install the new, transfer the reservoir, pulley and brackets to the new, bleed the system, etc. No more "notchy" steering, no squeeling, things seem ok, but the steering still feels a little heavy. My girlfriend has been driving the 4runner the last few months as her daily driver, so I haven't driven it that much. It might just feel heavy compared to my ford company car, which has been my daily driver recently.

I'll put some miles on it this week, but I think it's all good.

Thanks for the input.

 

if you end up needing some more parts or seals or anything for the rack or the pump this site may help.

http://www.pskits.com/catalog/-c-61_...81990343e426b5

Mine seems to do the same thing sometimes. It got heavier when I replaced the old fluid with new which I thought was weird. I have heard of some people replacing some of the bushings in the rack with poly ones. Anyone know much about this?

 

Do you mean the bushings ON the rack (mount bushings)?
I just did that. Fun. Ha. Ha.
Well, it coulda been worse. I realized I needed them when I was under the truck messing with stuff and my husband happened to move the steering wheel back and forth. The rack wiggled a fair bit. I ordered parts from Wheeler's 'cause it's a 4runner and they had what I needed.
For the record, I did not have what I would describe as 'heavy' steering beforehand.

 

Hmm Ill have to take a look at mine, where again did you get your bushings from?

 

Wheeler's offroad.

 

I figured I should do an update to give others a heads up. I replaced the power steering pump and the notchiness went away, but the steering still felt heavy. One day I pulled into a parking lot, turned the wheel, and the left front of the truck dropped HARD to the ground. Turns out the left front lower ball joint came apart. I replaced the left side and was going to replace the right side in a week. The right side didn't want to wait - it came apart a few days later.

When these come apart it's not pretty - I'm very lucky that both times I was going less then 5 mpg. The lower ball joint comes apart and the bottom of the suspension (the A arm maybe?) just crashes into the ground. If I was on the freeway the truck probably would have flipped.

After changing the left and right lower ball joints, the heavy steering went away. I guess the old lower bj's had just dried out and were grinding away.

Hope this is a heads up to others to check the lower bjs. I assume mine were the originals. Strange that they both went out at 200k, within 100 miles of each other.

 

all i want is to make it until the new suspension comes in, so i can do it all at once (this winter). stop with the warning signs, people!

glad to hear it was only at low speeds- this is partially the reason we'll be purchasing a new vehicle for the wife to commute in. my commute is only 3 miles and not at highway speeds, plus i wouldn't have that 'guilty' feeling when I roll it

thanks for the reminder and mileage (i'm at 150k now, so that puts me a little more at ease).

 

BEWARE!! Just did mine at 153K and it's been driven gently, and they were getting bad. BTW, ordered mine online from Lakeland Toyota of Florida. Shipped to my door in 3 days and were a lot less than my local dealer (Hoover Toyota in AL)