Steering Rack or Inner Tie Rod?

[4boer2]

Hello all, I am having trouble diagnosing a minor inconvenience and wondering if someone here could lend their opinion. Over very small bumps I can feel a knock through the steering wheel. I can easily reproduce it if the car is stationary and I saw at the wheel. On the ground I can't tell where it is coming from, so I got it on a lift. I shook the driver's tire at 12 and 6 and 9 and 3. Both tests felt connected and solid. Over to the passenger side 12 and 6 felt good, which means the wheel bearing is good, but 9 and 3 is where the noise is. See the attached video. I know the outer tie rod is good because I already changed it. I know it's not driveline or suspension related because the noise still happens with the weight off the wheels. So to me that narrows it down to the passenger inner tie rod or the steering rack itself. I think (and hope) it is the inner tie rod because if the rack was bad shouldn't the 9 and 3 test on the driver's side yielded the same result? What do you guys think?

Volume all the way up on the videos, I promise there are no jump scares.

IMG_4546 by Patrick Heyboer, on Flickr

FullSizeRender by Patrick Heyboer, on Flickr

 

[Jivewalker]

Interested in what you find. Might be your CV axle?

 

[4boer2]

After doing as much research as possible and coming up with no conclusion, I took it in to dealer today for an official diagnosis. I'm quite happy with that decision because I was completely wrong. "Inspected intermediate shaft. Found shaft steering rack side u-joint to be worn and dirty. Noise emanating from shaft. Recommend replacement of the intermediate shaft." I'll fix it at some point. Turns out some others have had this problem and I didn't need to create this thread, but I was so convinced it had to do with one side. This is why I am not a professional. Below are the threads with the same problem and solution.

2012 Toyota 4Runner SR5 4.0L V6 4WD AT Steering Shaft. Shaft, Steering Intermediate, NO.2 - 4520360181 - Genuine Toyota Part

Steering Rack Bushings
Ideas identifying this steering rattle? - Toyota 4Runner Forum - Largest 4Runner Forum

 

[rdruss]

Good to have a diagnosis and it's something you can do yourself, although a little pita it's not much $$$!