Truck steering issues

I could use y’all’s help if u have any ideas..

I have an 03 tundra 4x4 v8…
Things I have done

OEM LBJ
ALL NEW BRAKES all around CALIPERS/Rotors/Drums/Pads/wheel cylinders
Tie rod ends
New Tires
Steering bushings
New Power steering pump/lines/flush

truck turns more to left than right. I can complete 2.5 rotations to the left with steering wheel, 1.75 to the right ..

I have pulled steering rack and centered it but still continues to do the same thing.

I’m having steering issues and brake issues still, they have been bled correctly.

truck steering feels very loose
“Spongey”, if I hit a bump the truck shoots to the left very aggressively , if I brake it pulls it back to the right.
Also when I brake there is still shaking slightly at the end of brake.

not sure what to do at this point. if u can help it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

 

Sounds like your tie rod ends are not installed properly.

You didn't note brands for the parts or sizes for the tires. So it's hard to dissect.

could be shit alignment? Could be shit parts? Bad install? Who knowssssss

 

Did you do an alignment after putting the rack back in?

If the rack is centered, then I wonder if your toe adjustment / tie rods aren't adjusted properly. An alignment should fix that when the toe adjustment is done. If it's way out, then 1 wheel could be hitting the frame when turning to the right 1.75 rotations, but still allow 2.5 rotations when you turn left.

 

Thanks for ur reply, yea I had an alignment right after replacing everything

 

Was the alignment before or after you pulled the rack back out and centered it?

 

Alignment was done after everything was installed and rack and pinion centered . The tie rod ends are MOOG from Rock auto.

 

Are "steering bushings" steering rack bushing?

 

Yes.steering rack bushings.

 

Ok, I'll ask. Take a ruler. Measure the exposed threads on your tie rod ends. Same/same? Or is one spun out farther?

 

I was gonna ask but he said he got an alignment afterward. Sooo I figured those guys could catch that right?

 

2.5 v 1.75?

isn't that difference a full rotation on that steering rack? Seems like it is after rotating mine back and forth fully end to end to ensure mine was exactly centered. In my case, it was only then that I found the small little C on the steering rack to let me know when it was centered. I cant swear to it, but I'm thinking it was just over two full turns both ways lock to lock

Sounds suspicious

As shifty said, get a ruler and measure and/or count threads on the tie rod ends

Hearing first hand heard how some shops do the alignment and having replaced my steering rack and the TRE's myself I can see a scenario where this could happen, depending on the knowledge of the mechanic and quality of the alignment

 

Depends whether he went to a chain store where they just toe & go but DGAF about whether things are even or not.

Better to confirm, honestly. Only takes a minute. If he was 3 threads off in either direction, it wouldn't be blatantly obvious visually, but the end result would be extremely close to what he's explaining with 1.75 and 2.5 rotations lock to lock L/R. Or at least *I* think it would be close, mental-math-wise.

 

By the way, if that is the case, I would be very wary of the potential to break the clock spring when this is corrected

 

Suddenly "ah fuck my horn don't work, and I've got an airbag light, wtf?!"

 

Any luck with this? I'm very curious since I just recently replaced the steering rack and TRE's and had to work through the process of making sure all was aligned equally


I would be very surprised if the TRE's have anywhere near the same number of threads showing

it should be a very quick visual check from underneath

 

Passenger side has waaaaaay more thread than than the driver side. It’s threaded just about as far out as you can go

 

Yep, whoever did your alignment did a crap job on the toe adjustment. Have them fix it.

 

That's what I was waiting for. Alignment shop owes you a free alignment

someone else might could tell you if that's a concern with the clock spring. I don't know how you would tell when it is in the middle. Could possibly require disconnecting the steering from the steering rack.

if that's not an issue I believe that alignment shop should simply get the wheels turned with the steering wheel One full turn Different (in the direction where you don't get a full turn) from now and then get the tie rod ends even. Should most likely be the same number of threads on each side.

i'm sure someone else can give you A more eloquent explanation and more specific details

 

I definitely will get it checked out, but the main thing is it drives straight but when I hit a bump it shoots left VERY aggressively, then if I press the brakes it brings it back to the right and my steering wheel is turned 1/4 to the right as it drives straight it makes no sense

 

The whole steering feels wierd like loose af

 

One of your settings on alignment is off. Make them give you an alignment sheet. You wouldn't believe What I have seen. But let's just say mine was doing the same thing and it was corrected once they did the alignment properly

I believe mine was the camber that made it pull hard in One Direction if you had a bump. And yes, I seen her call the brakes doing something in the other direction.

 

The bad alignment could at a minimum be contributing to that

when mine was off, especially the caster, it felt so unstable I didn't want to drive it

 

As expected!

The only thing you can really do in this case would be to measure or count the exposed threads on one side, then the other, add them up and divide by 2, and get both sides dialed to that amount. That should, in theory, get you in the ballpark. Then you may need a fine tune.

The factory service manual, which is readily available for download online, shows how to recenter if needed.

 

I’ll try to tackle this weekend, I appreciate you all!!!