2021 - Steering rack.. no options?

Hey guys,

My steering in my '21 has completely fallen apart. It honestly drives me bonkers and is getting to the point that its pretty sketchy to drive.

My steering rack bushings are 100% shot as hell. I have set up a camera and turned the wheel, the entire steering rack moves about an inch back and forth. Also, the U-joint where the intermediate shaft connects to the shaft in the steering column rattles and clunks like hell. You can grab the steering wheel and rock it back and forth and hear the audible clunk clunk clunk. Also when I turn, not even at full lock, it squeals like hell. I dont know if it's the power steering pump or what.

So my question is, yes i have over 90k miles, about 15k miles have been lifted (bilstein 6112, JBA UCA's) and 295/70r18 tires. I know ive shortened the life of certain components with these mods. But less than 100k on a 3 year old truck, mostly highway miles, and my steering falls apart?

Is there really no options to beef up the steering in the 2.5 gen tundra other than tie rod ends and rack bushings? I really don't want to spend an entire weekend dropping my front diff, probably $1k in parts, and taking apart my front end, just to put the same parts back in that will fail sooner than later.

Has anyone beefed up their steering? how are guys running 37s without overhauling their entire steering system every 30-50k? WTF

 

Those tires and moderate lift of 6112s should not be causing such issues IMO. Your issues seem unusual for that setup and 34inch tires. Perhaps you are running very aggressive wheel offset that is causing more stress on the steering?

There are some older threads on steering issues related to heavy 35s....search and you will find them. But overall, with your miles, mild lift and those tires....it seems unusual to have those issues...though treads here do indicate a few others have had some similar issues....but rare overall.

do some searching here, there are threads about steering rack replacements, upgrades, etc.