Sand dunes now steering wheel is not straight

B

Brian3676

New member
Took my 08 4Runner to the sand dunes. I didnt hit anything or do any jumping, just played around on the dunes and trails.

When leaving I noticed my steering wheel was turned about 45 degrees when the truck is going straight. Drives perfectly straight, doesn't drift off, wobble or anything odd. Only issue is the wheel is turned 45 degrees.

Removed inner and outter tie rods, they are perfect, lower control arms are perfect (ball joints, bushings, they are straight), knuckles are reinforced with TC gussets, and all is good, no cracked welds and are straight.

Removed rear links/arms. All perfectly straight.

Checked steering rack and bushings, rack did not move and bushings are good.

I am suspicious something happened inside the steering rack, maybe skipped a tooth? But I dont know thats possible without breaking a tooth or something. Whatever happened is effected the overall steering, not just one wheel because as I said it drives perfect. I dont think the steering shaft splines twisted in the shaft coupler, the 12mm bolts that pinch it are tight and I dont see any cracks.

Anyone have this happen or got suggestion? The wheel was flawlessly straight when I left for the trip.
 
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4th gens seem to be notorious for this. It used to happen to mine every time I’d take it off road till my alignment guy really put some grunt into tightening the front end. Problem went away until I replaced my tie rods myself. The steering wheel went off again after my first excursion off pavement. I guess I didn’t tighten them up quite enough.
I’d say put everything back together and over tighten the tie rods.


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That happened to me about the first of this month, avoiding a head-on in a corner.
Another crooked steering wheel

Not sure how tightening anything down is going to do anything.
It seems to be internal to the rack and pinion.
I even tried to 'force' it back the other way with a couple controlled braking turns to the other side...probably not the best idea, none the less it did not fix it.

That rack is $630 new OEM.
A few on RockAuto for much less.

Mine is dry, no leaks and still feels the same...no floaty loose steering feel or anything.
 
BackOff said:
That happened to me about the first of this month, avoiding a head-on in a corner.
Another crooked steering wheel

Not sure how tightening anything down is going to do anything.
It seems to be internal to the rack and pinion.
I even tried to 'force' it back the other way with a couple controlled braking turns to the other side...probably not the best idea, none the less it did not fix it.

That rack is $630 new OEM.
A few on RockAuto for much less.

Mine is dry, no leaks and still feels the same...no floaty loose steering feel or anything.
Click to expand...

Do you have a link for the new OEM rack for $630, the best I have seen is around $820.
 
Well all it needed was an alignment. After I spent hours inspecting it, took it to a alignment specialty shop, he inspected everything. Did a standard alignment and it’s good to go.
 
AuSeeker said:
Do you have a link for the new OEM rack for $630, the best I have seen is around $820.
Click to expand...

Dang the one i saw was for a 3rd gen.
RoyalSouth Toyota, Ebay.

I was just browsing around when i saw it so i guess i didn't look at the details close enough.:croc:

Looks like they have the OEM 4th gen for over a grand!:moon:
 
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