Stuck Steering

[JohnJMonroe]

I have a 2002 SR5 with a 2" lift. 180k miles. I purchased it a few months back and do not have much history on it.

While turning the wheel, sometimes it gets stuck or difficult to turn for a bit, then comes loose and continues to turn like normal. Not sure how else to describe it. Its almost like power steering cuts out for a couple degrees of steering wheel rotation. It is not consistent. Sometimes it does it and sometimes not. But it is getting worse slowly.

I searched and found a bunch of posts about leaking steering racks, and clunks, and shakeing. But nothing like this.

Has anybody else had this issue? I'm thinking new steering rack, but obviously a simple solution would be better.

 

[JohnJMonroe]

Huh. Nobody?

Well, I ordered a rack and the energysuspension mount bushings. Hope to swap them on this weekend.

 

[KidVermicious]

Did you find anything on lower ball joints? Stiff or notchy steering seems to be a common symptom right before they fail. If that's not it, I'd expect something amiss in the steering rack itself.

 

[JohnJMonroe]

Hmmm. I had not thought about the LBJ's. I will check them out. I do not know if the previous owner ever changed them and I recently put on a 2 inch lift. So that does kind of all add up.

I'll order a new set of LBJ's and swap them out as soon as they show up.

 

[JohnJMonroe]

Well, replaced the rack, Tie rod ends, lower ball joints, and put in energy suspension rack mounts. Still doing it. When I got my alignment done (toe needed to be adjusted due to new rack) the mechanic said he thinks its one of the joints in the steering column. He said its most likely the intermediate shaft. The online store I use (Camelback Toyota) shows the "intermediate shaft" as being the rag joint that attaches to the steering rack input. Another part is called the Yoke Assy and it is the u-joint and shaft that goes down to the "intermidate shaft". There is another joint in the main steering column itself. I think I am going to try and take some of these apart to inspect before I throw another $500 at it. God damnit.

Once again, it is some kind of binding that makes it feel like the power steering goes out at certain points in steering wheel rotation.