Tire vibration and Leaking steering rack

[DannyLlama]

Hoping to get some help from the community with my vibration and steering rack.

I have rebalanced my tires multiple times recently and keep getting vibration at around 50 and 70 MPH. Everywhere I go say that it's just a balance issue.

Thought it was it was a tie rod issue but a few places have confirmed otherwise.

The tire roads connect to the steering rack? So in troubleshooting, I took pictures and showed the dealer. they recommended I change the entire steering rack, which is $2,000 :yuck::yuck::yuck::yuck::yuck::yuck::yuck:

Checked power steering fluids and looks normal levels

WTF, i've never seen a steering rack fail on any car, let alone a T4R. Granted, it's a leak at this time ... So i dont know how urgent this is or what i should do at this time

and of course, this happened 2 months after warranty ran out

 

[tristero]

[MENTION=76550]cbielat[/MENTION] and a few others had issues

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/2742815-post487.html

 

[philsey]

My 2010 looked exactly like that at ~85000. The seals leak, and the fluid weeps through the bellows. In 10k more miles, it never leaked enough to get to the add line. I did begin checking it frequently. The fix was a $2000 new rack, which I opted to keep postponing.

I never did have any symptoms like you're reporting though - drove perfectly right up until I traded it.

 

[JSparky]

Happens in Grand Cherokee’s all the time.. not us. I know a few guys replaced theirs here but they were all higher mileage and wheel’d hard. I’d keep an eye on fluid levels for now.

If it’s any consolidation thankful a steering rack replacement is relatively easy for us, in the current model v8 Grand Cherokee they have to pull the motor to replace the rack

 

[shrub1]

My passenger steering boot is slightly wet. Is this something a Toyota would say is not under warranty due to a lift?

 

[renau001]

I had good experience working with Toyota corporate on something that failed just outside of warranty and getting it covered. Look into it, could be worth your time.

 

[DannyLlama]

I had good experience working with Toyota corporate on something that failed just outside of warranty and getting it covered. Look into it, could be worth your time.

Do you mind sharing more information? contacts etc...

Appreciate all the other feedback. My concern is a failure on the trail, which so far i'm not reading this to be the potentional case.

 

[renau001]

I just called tel:800-331-4331. It was a separate issue. Water pump on a Highlander (2008 model) that failed prematurely. I just politely but firmly asked if they would cover the cost. It was within mileage warranty but beyond the year warranty. So it was an out of warranty repair that they covered.

 

[DannyLlama]

I just called tel:800-331-4331. It was a separate issue. Water pump on a Highlander (2008 model) that failed prematurely. I just politely but firmly asked if they would cover the cost. It was within mileage warranty but beyond the year warranty. So it was an out of warranty repair that they covered.

Thanks for the information. I will give that a try.

This is a shot in the dark. Can some of you take a look under and see if you have similar findings? I'm just wondering how common this is. Considering my power steering fluid looks fine and its at normal levels. This is confusing... No torn boots either.. how is there a leak?! :shrug:

Edit - I have read a few threads with this issue. NO need to crawl under you right

 

[philsey]

My 2010 looked exactly like that at ~85000. The seals leak, and the fluid weeps through the bellows. In 10k more miles, it never leaked enough to get to the add line. I did begin checking it frequently. The fix was a $2000 new rack, which I opted to keep postponing.

I never did have any symptoms like you're reporting though - drove perfectly right up until I traded it.

The point I'm making is this: From my experience, driving with this weeping a long time, I never experienced the tire shaking you describe. I'm not sure one causes the other.

 

[DannyLlama]

One more question to the group regarding steering rack replacement.

New steering rack or rebuilt.. any experience or recommendation with either?

 

[JSparky]

I just saw this yesterday and thought of you actually haha. May be worth giving them a call. Pulled it from the GX club on Facebook, someone posted it over there.

 

[flyrv9]

Seems to me you haven't really confirmed the steering rack is the problem other than the dealer looking at the grease on the boots and telling you to replace it. I'd do some more troubleshooting before I spend 2K on a new steering rack.

I'd get under there and shake all parts of the steering system and see if there is any play. Then jack up the truck and repeat with the load off the steering componets. Make sure you use properly placed jack stands and do it safely. If you're not sure or comfortable doing this, then take it to an independent mechanic and have them check it out.

An alignment shop is another option for checking things out.

 

[DannyLlama]

I just saw this yesterday and thought of you actually haha. May be worth giving them a call. Pulled it from the GX club on Facebook, someone posted it over there.

Looks interesting and will probably cost the same as an OEM.. too bad 2010+ isn't in there

its really disappointing to me that this failed, considering Toyota's reputation

 

[philsey]

Looks interesting and will probably cost the same as an OEM.. too bad 2010+ isn't in there.

** Why not just call them?

its really disappointing to me that this failed, considering Toyota's reputation

** Danny, didn't you read my posts? I went 10K and the fluid never got to the and-line. And I had NO symptoms. Sure, something is weeping. Do what you want, but I don't know why you're jumping to assuming that rack is that bad.

.......

 

[DannyLlama]

[MENTION=51186]philsey[/MENTION] What I'm hearing from shops is that it's OK to keep driving on the road but I have had a few caution off road. Therefore, I don't want to take a chance on being stranded in the middle of no where and paying a 2000 tow bill + the repair.

Soooo my friend, while your information gives me on road hope... it doesn't give me so much off road comfort

 

[philsey]

[MENTION=51186]philsey[/MENTION] What I'm hearing from shops is that it's OK to keep driving on the road but I have had a few caution off road. Therefore, I don't want to take a chance on being stranded in the middle of no where and paying a 2000 tow bill + the repair.

Soooo my friend, while your information gives me on road hope... it doesn't give me so much off road comfort

Yup. Didn't think of that. Mines strictly a DD. That $2000 weighed, well, $2000 worth in my decision to buy the '18. Same dealer that diagnosed it didn't even look under it when I traded it. Well, I did give it a good cleanup first.

 

[DannyLlama]

Yup. Didn't think of that. Mines strictly a DD. That $2000 weighed, well, $2000 worth in my decision to buy the '18. Same dealer that diagnosed it didn't even look under it when I traded it. Well, I did give it a good cleanup first.

Good call on the swap +2k saving on a new ride.. I have too much money in it to do that

 

[philsey]

I didn't give up much: killer HID setup, which wouldn't find in the '18, plus newish Michelins.

I was just curiosity shopping for a good 2017 deal, and my clever salesguy offered me an '18 for 10% off MSRP, and $19,5 for my '10. Coupled with the eventual $2k rack, was enough to jump. I didn't even look at another SUV. :rockon:

 

[DannyLlama]

I wanted to update this thread and give status for others that may experience the same

I checked out a local shop and was told that I shouldn't worry and don't have to replace anytime soon. My steering fluid levels are normal and haven't had to top it off. I suppose it's a very minor leak.

The mechanic pealed back the clamp and nothing seeped out meaning that there's isn't a "leak" per say as much as a seep.

He did mention that 3 drops of fluid will make the stain that I have on the boots.

Here's a comparison of how my boots look over three months