Hard to steer?

[fenrisx]

A couple of times when I first start my 4Runner it was hard to steer. Sometimes.. extremely hard.

First time.. I backed up to leave my house, and then when I went to turn right to pull out of the parking lot it turned some, but the wheel wouldn't turn anymore. I had to back up because it was going to hit the curb. Once I backed up it turned just fine.

I've noticed this a few other times here and there as well.. Sometimes the steering is stiff when I back out of the work parking lot. One other time it's been even harder to turn the wheel.

As far as the time it wouldn't turn any further I thought maybe it was my broken front sway bar links. The one on the driver side is broke at the top.. so it could have possible fallen in the way and prevented the steering from working? I know I should either A. fix that, or B. remove it.. but I've been lazy.

The other times where the steering just seemed stiff it was cold out. Could that for some reason causing it? Or maybe my power steering pump is going out?

This never happens while driving.. only when I first start the 4Runner to leave work.. or leave to go to work. (When the 4Runner has been sitting for a bit.)

What could be causing this?

[YotaFun]

Did you check the level of fluid?
Is your pump whining at all?
Look at your rack and see if you can see any leaks around where the steering column goes in.

Mine is leaking bad, and water has gotten in and when it is cold, my steering rack will do the same thing.

[fustercluck]

Show us your rack Avy....

[YotaFun]

Don't tempt me Fuster, I just might, ask Yotagirl and Dramamama about it ;-)

[fenrisx]

I'm not too vehicle savvy.. I was underneath there today trying to take the broken end link off, but it was rusted up pretty bad, and then on the end of the bolt was stripped(there's a place on the tip for an allen wrench). So I took the grinder with a cutoff wheel to it.. and solved that problem quick. I should have looked around more while I was under there, but it was already getting dark, and was dark by the time I decided the grinder was the best route to go removed the end link.

I'll have to check the fluid once I'm somewhere level.. I looked while I was parked in the yard, but it's a slight slope so that wasn't very accurate. It did seem to have plenty though..



Did you check the level of fluid?
Is your pump whining at all?
Look at your rack and see if you can see any leaks around where the steering column goes in.

Mine is leaking bad, and water has gotten in and when it is cold, my steering rack will do the same thing.

[YotaFun]

oh and it could be low and not whine to loud.
i know its a different application but it could cause a same symptom,
my 'second' mom has a suburban and she has been having problems with here steering, i took it for a test drive and i told here without even looking that the fluid was low,
we ended up getting to drinking that night and never looked at it, the next day she was driving to the grand rents house and lost all power steering, the reservoir was dry.
(remember to fix truck before you get drunk....)

[fenrisx]

I haven't noticed any whine.. I was going to check it today, but it has rained all day. I'll get out there tomorrow and scope it out some more. Hopefully just some fluid will help. Will any power steering fluid do?

If it turns out to be something else.. looks like I'll be spending some tax money. I found this one thing on ebay with upper and lower ball joins, inner and outer tie rods, both sway bar end links for $200.. not sure if that's a good deal or not.

[YotaFun]

I haven't noticed any whine.. I was going to check it today, but it has rained all day. I'll get out there tomorrow and scope it out some more. Hopefully just some fluid will help. Will any power steering fluid do?

If it turns out to be something else.. looks like I'll be spending some tax money. I found this one thing on ebay with upper and lower ball joins, inner and outer tie rods, both sway bar end links for $200.. not sure if that's a good deal or not.


look at your cap, ATF is used in the power steering system on our trucks
DO NOT PUT IN POWER STEERING FLUID

if it is used parts don't do it.
call north ridge for some quality parts
and for the sway bar end links
go to wabfab and get some quick disconnect ones :D

[fenrisx]

Nope, it's not used. All new. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ball-Joint-TIE-ROD-END-Sway-Bar-Link-KIT-Toyota-4RUNNER_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1205Q7c66 Q3a2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a1Q7c2 93Q3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZ item330296962080QQitemZ330296962080QQptZMotorsQ5fC arQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

I would go for quick discos, but I'm broke. ;) Matt said if he still had his he would give them to me.. factory, not quick disconnects, that is..




look at your cap, ATF is used in the power steering system on our trucks
DO NOT PUT IN POWER STEERING FLUID

if it is used parts don't do it.
call north ridge for some quality parts
and for the sway bar end links
go to wabfab and get some quick disconnect ones :D

[4runnerchevy]

This should be in the faq, but I just searched and in 10 seconds found this.

http://www.ultimateyota.com/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=26&topic=3088.msg35454

I knew we had already dug deep into this subject, at least once.

[fenrisx]

Another old thread revival.

I figured it would be nice if I updated my thread! The problem was my tires. A tech at Toyota test drove it, and said without 99% certainty that he thought it wasn't anything to do with steering components, and that it was the tires.

A few months later I get a set of Firestone Destination A/T's installed, and no more steering problem!