Excessive feedback at steering wheel?

[Whitey13]

After owning a 3rd gen forever, I recently picked up an '04 Limited 4wd.
My question/concern is that I'm getting a ton of vibration in the wheel over anything less than perfectly smooth highways. It's not the type of vibration commonly associated with out of balance wheels because it goes away when the road smooths out. I can't find a bushing kit like there is for my 3rd gen steering rack. Everything checks out visually underneath.
the shocks feel like they still have life in them even at 100k miles. The steering is heavy at times as well, so maybe a fluid flush and new belt is in the future.
Is this common? Any insight from anyone?
Thanks,
James

 

[SubSonic]

I can't comment on the amount of feedback you're experiencing, I don't get that sensation in mine. I do, however, agree with the "heavy steering" comment, but I somewhat expect it in an AWD.

You didn't mention if yours was a V8 - if not a V8 (and thereby not AWD) then I suspect you could get yours to feel freer by the actions you described. The firm steering in an AWD has always been what I expected since my first experience with an AWD V8 Explorer back in the day (mid 90s).

I remember reading a post on here a while back about someone who did a full synthetic fluid swap in the front diff (and maybe the PS pump too) and he said it helped his feedback and eliminated the minor "binding" us AWDers (V8 4x4ers) can get sometimes in tight turning situations. I just always attributed that to the tires and the fact that it is a 40/60 AWD...I haven't addressed mine as it isn't that bad IMO.

 

[Whitey13]

Thanks for the input, although it's a V6.
I got the wheels of the ground this weekend and checked out the tie rods. That came up with nada, so the search continues.

 

[PAULUNM]

Check out the post about removing slack from the steering yoke-

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?t=57115