inner tie rod, steering rack & bushings

[Nubie4Runner]

Thx to such a great forum!!
I'm a new 4runner owner - 96 SR5 237Km.
I love this truck, interior wise everything works perfectly. Somthing I'm not used to with most domestics. Rear window, power antenna, etc. all is good.

My problem; getting saftey inspection, Toyota dealership said inner tie rod has too much play. So I have that replaced by a trusted mechanic and still they find play. I have read about possible tie rod bearing or bushing that leads to a failed inner tie rod diagnosis?
If it's not the inner tie rod then the steering rack/bushings will be my next avenue, but I'm hoping I dont have to go that route.

Any help on inner tie rod assembly would be great!

 

[1985taylor1925]

Thx to such a great forum!!
I'm a new 4runner owner - 96 SR5 237Km.
I love this truck, interior wise everything works perfectly. Somthing I'm not used to with most domestics. Rear window, power antenna, etc. all is good.

My problem; getting saftey inspection, Toyota dealership said inner tie rod has too much play. So I have that replaced by a trusted mechanic and still they find play. I have read about possible tie rod bearing or bushing that leads to a failed inner tie rod diagnosis?
If it's not the inner tie rod then the steering rack/bushings will be my next avenue, but I'm hoping I dont have to go that route.

Any help on inner tie rod assembly would be great!

This may be your problem

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...-steering-rack-guide-pictures.html#post604234

I ordered the parts and am still waiting for them to get here. Does your front end feel really jittery?

 

[Nubie4Runner]

Yes I saw that and when I checked my rack I could see I have the old steering rack guide. I have the old outer hex cap which means the old bearing type is in there. I will replace that with newer OEM upgrade and hope it solves the inner tie rod play. I don't really notice any clunking at all and it is a bit jittery on bumpy highway and going slow over washboards. The new d/s inner tie rod did get some of the play out but still about an 1". I need a front alignment now and the Michelin LTX tread is just passing safety so hard to say once those are factored. I'll report back once I do the new rack guide, alignment, newer balanced tires.
I'm in GM heartland here in Oshawa Ontario :uzi:
When I went to make an appointment with a local expert alignment shop, he threw out some worse case scenarios they might encounter. Fingers are crossed when it goes in tuesday!

 

[Nubie4Runner]

just to update thread,
Had the alignment and new tires done and the improvement is enough for me to delay the bushing replacement. Prob will opt for a new steering rack down the road instead.