4runner Pulls to right. $50,000 spent. WTF?

[numbbrrr]

OP, did you ever have your steering wheel removed and re-installed?

I've asked about the steering wheel. I know the dealership took apart the steering wheel to replace a airbag recall. Then they took it apart a few weeks ago to replace the "steering angle sensor" but a steering wheel can't put "pressure to turn right" can it? like a ghost? I would think the wheels themselves pretty much do what they want to do and what direction and the steering wheel just follows...? The wheels are 100's of pounds..the steering wheel is probably 20 pounds. So 20 pounds can't really cause 100's of pounds of wheels to turn can it? Not without me turning it myself...?

 

[numbbrrr]

BTW my steering wheel always feels like its "Pushing" hard to the right. When I let go of the steering wheel it never wants to "settle" in the middle 12 oclock position. Instead it wants to settle at about the 5 degree out of 360 degrees. i was told they couldn't make the steering wheel perfect at 12 oclock because then the alignment would be bad. I have Camburg UCA and am told SPC will have more adjustabllity and might fix that. Long story short I"ve always thought this off centered to about the 5th degree angle and pushing to the right feeling in the steering wheel IS THE PROBLEM! What fixes this?

 

[T4R2014]

Did you ask the mechanic if he checked the nut behind the wheel?

 

[03_4x4Runner]

That's the the link. I don't think it's that. I had a new rack and pinion put in by one shop and then that didn't fix it. So I took it to another shop a week later and they told me the new rack and pinion's rubber mounts were too lose and I had to replace it again. So I returned the first one and they put it in...still same problem. On top of that now when I go around exit ramps at 25-30mph my ABS on left hand side starts grinding and pumping the brakes. This started happening after the said I needed a new steering wheel angle sensor. i had them put that in too. All the sensors seemed to be fine but now I have the original steering issue and now an ABS issue.

Was it an OEM rack and pinion or aftermarket?

 

[numbbrrr]

Did you ask the mechanic if he checked the nut behind the wheel?

I did mention that and they sort of brushed it off. I will mention it again. But even if they fix it so that it's at the 12 Oclock position. That's just going to be cosmetic and won't really help it from veering to the right?

 

[numbbrrr]

Was it an OEM rack and pinion or aftermarket?

I don't know. I'll ask them tomorrow, the first new one from another shop was OEM but they said it was bad. So they replaced it with a new one.

 

[Bmnorm2]

Bent tie rod? Do you have recent alignment results you can share?

 

[brokedownwallet]

Has it ever been in an accident? Even if it was a minor fender bender, if there's any slight warping in the frame, suspension is a sensitive setup that can compound small issues.

 

[DirtDogger]

Got to thinking about this a bit and realized i had certainly seen it before.

My wife has a ‘20 T4R SR5 Premium and fresh of the lot at 5 miles it had a horrible right pull. Seemed to dart right when turned right and fight me when turning left.

We went through the tires in about 10,000 miles and during that time we had the dealer align the vehicle 3 times. Every time it was “perfect” and never needed an adjustment. Until I asked the dealer to replace the tires as warranty and asked to see the results of the 4 wheel alignment (I’m ASE certified).

The result came back that the rear thrust angle was out by 2 degrees which was pushing the rear of the vehicle left making it want to go around and pushing the front to the right. Not a “pull” right but more of a “push” right.

She now has 62k and has never had anything more the regular rotations done. That’s saying something for Toyota steering on the roads in Maine.

Hope this helps.

 

[Saker]

I have a been trying to fix my 2012 for 8 years. It pretty much snaps to the right to about the 5 degree out of 360 degrees. When I'm going 60mph on a highway it will turn into the next lane to the right in 3 seconds. COMPLETELY into the next lane. Is this normal? How many seconds does it take for yours to get into next lane if you take your hands of the wheel? I have spent now $50,000 dollars trying to fix this. NOT $5000 .....$50,000. It always feels like the steering wheel does not settle at "12 oclock" position. I've replaced tires, Upper control arms 3x, lower control arms, rack and pinion, wheels, brakes, tires, calipers, steering wheel angle sensor. Probably more but I forget. I've been to about 8 shops over the years.They tell me it's fixed, I pay them, I leave and test drive it and it's not fixed. Now it's worse and the ABS sensor? on the right wheel keeps going off if I go around a clover leaf, exit ramp at 30mph...so now its worse. The right brake starts growling and pumping? IS any of this normal or any ideas?

8 years, 50K later & multiple mechanics....mmmmmm this is rich!

 

[Saker]

I'm all in for seeing some alignment results

 

[Rack]

You really have to know when to quit playing "Wack a Mole" with auto issues thinking the next fix will be the last fix. dump the thing.

I had a GMC pick-up that we named "Christine", every day it was something new.
It was finally donated to a charity. lesson learned

 

[emmantik]

I've asked about the steering wheel. I know the dealership took apart the steering wheel to replace a airbag recall. Then they took it apart a few weeks ago to replace the "steering angle sensor" but a steering wheel can't put "pressure to turn right" can it? like a ghost? I would think the wheels themselves pretty much do what they want to do and what direction and the steering wheel just follows...? The wheels are 100's of pounds..the steering wheel is probably 20 pounds. So 20 pounds can't really cause 100's of pounds of wheels to turn can it? Not without me turning it myself...?

Just FYI. There are splines where the steering wheel attaches to the column/rack. If installed and you are off a spline to the right or left, your steering will be off. Pic for reference from when I removed my steering wheel. Hopefully the tech who did the re-install marked the splines accordingly so to re-install in the exact same way.