Guys, gals, and fans I need advice.

22500 miles ago I replaced my inner tie rod on my 97 4Runner SR5 because a dealership said it was failing and worn. After I had it replaced there was still a little clunk and play when placing my hands on the tire at the 9 and 3 o'clock positions and moving the tire back and forth rapidly.

I had Firestone tell me that the bushings on the rack and pinion looked warn but not to worry about it. So I didn’t.

Two days ago I felt a clunk when breaking, then I felt it again while just driving on a freeway, today I felt it accelerating and breaking. Also when I moved the steering wheel back and forth there was the same clunk.

So I jacked the truck up, and tested the left front, the same side I had the tie rod replaced. There is a lot more play on the wheel than I remember.

So my question is twofold.

1. 1. What can cause the same tie rod to fail in 22500 miles?
2. 2.Should I have it replaced again or be looking for the culprit and then replacing everything?

Advice is greatly appreciated.

 

"more play" is kind of vague. Did you verify that it is in fact the tie rod causing the play? Could also be that the rack bushings are more worn than they were. Clunk when braking sounds more typical of control arm bushings. Have you checked them? I would definitely replace the rack bushings if they are worn. I know energy suspension makes a kit. Not sure who else makes them.

 

Truck?

If its a Tacoma then they are bad for the rack a pinion bushings wearing out and can cause a clunk and you can normally feel alot of rough "jarring" in the wheel on bumps.

It is also possible to get deffective parts off the shelf. Happens all the time. Normally most new suspension parts carry lifetime warrantys... might be worth looking into.

 

He said its a 4runner. Same rack as a Tacoma I believe, so probably have the same issues

 

Ah yes i see it now >_< but yea same front suspension.

 

Remember that you have inner & outer tie rods on both sides - maybe the other side is worn and you're feeling that when you move the opposite wheel.

Another possibility is the rack guide/bushing. I don't have the link, but do some searching as I know there are a few archived threads. This guide resides directly behind the large hex fitting on the driver's side rear of the rack. At some point, Toyota transitioned from a roller version to a plastic cup - or vice versa. In the more than 267,000 miles I've put on this truck, I've replaced the entire rack, individual rod ends, rack bushings, and have also adjusted the guide I speak of.


Andreas

 

hi hi hi

 

whsta

 

my toyota truck will start an run when i get to 3rd gear it will not just go on you have to let off the gas an let it catch up you can not just gas on it an go on please help i have done fuel pump cap wires plugs roter bug come on im pulling hair an dont have much to start

 

Try finding a thread that applies or start a new one. You also might try using capital letters and punctuation. I really have no idea what you are mumbling about.