1st GEN tundra rack; conrtol arm trouble.

i went to a big o tires today to get my truck inspected.

Ive been hearing a mildly annoying "squeak" coming from my front passenger side wheel.

Turns out i have a worn bushing and rack that is giving "some play"

I was recommeneded to get a new rack and pinion and new upper control arm.

I went to another mechanic (mom and pop type) and they had went on a test drive with me advising i shake the wheel a bit in a serpantine-like motion. We confirmed it in fact does squeak, but doesnt necessarily affect handling directly(for now)

I went to a third mechanic, to get a last opinion and had told me similar to the other one, stating: it sounds like its just a squeak, and that to fix it would mainly be for ergonimic purposes.

Now i would like to ask the forum to see what they think/advise..

- i got my LBJ addressed back in 2015
- i have a 2 in lift 5100s bilsteins and a leveling kit in the rear
- ALL shops are trying to tell me its a $2000+ job
- im leaning to buying a SBC adj. Control arms and install em at a buddiea house. Am unsure if that would alleviate any stress on the rack, or even if one would affect the other
- buy an oem rack an pinion and install it myself as well? (Im pretty green in making my own repairs)

 

First off ... we don't know if you're 2WD or 4WD because that info wasn't provided, and it's not in your truck info under your forum name on your post. Which is it?

$2k is absurd unless they're using OEM rack with all new inner/outer tie rods. If they're going with aftermarket, and they're not including the tie rod ends, I wouldn't pay a dollar over $1250.

If you go SPC buy with the Eibach label, you'll pay less for exact same product, same box, different name on the box. I doubt the OEM uppers are "creating stress on the rack".

Did you inspect all your bushings? Like...

• UCA rubber bushings, where the bolt passes thru?
• Lower shock mount bushing on each side?
• Swabybar bushings, where it attaches to the frame at various points?
• Swaybar end link bushings, where the link pinches onto the swaybar?
• Steering rack bushings?

You'd be looking for cracks in the bushings, if there's a sleeve in the rubber bushing, is it centered? (especially with lower shock/strut mount)

I know you're adamant it's up front, but did you inspect the leaf packs? At the end/tips of each leaf, there should be a round plastic wafer that prevents the leafs from rubbing and squeaking.

Did you spin-test the wheels independently to see if you hear squeaking, to verify it's not the bearings?

Did you check all rubber accordian-style cone-shaped boots on the tie rod ends and ball joints, and squeeze the boots to confirm they're not cracked or dry? Any boots missing?

These are all the things I'd have been checking. But I'd have already jacked up the truck and started it, then

If I was replacing the UCA, I'd definitely take a minute to upgrade. I'd go with SPC/Eibach or JBA. If squeaks piss you off, unless you are pretty routine about maintenance, you're probably going to hate uppers that use a uniball/delta type ball joint. JBA and SPC/Eibach are both sealed more-standard style ball joints.

 

Front end squeak when turning is always LBJ until proven otherwise for me.