Rattle in steering wheel when hitting bumps and wash board roads....

[Mavic]

i have some play in something in the steering on my 98 trd...it feels like it may be in the steering rack. i have replaced all the bushings and inner and outer ty rods. the rattle still persists. i have no idea what it is and is extremly annoying. possible that the steering rack is goin out? do i need a new one. the truck has 93000 miles on it too. 4WD.

also have a rattle that is only evident in the rain when the under side of the truck is wet. i dont know how this works. sounds like it right under my feet.

[Mavic]

i do need help with this.

[Mavic]

it also started after i went and got a new transfer case seal put in.....



does anyone have the slightest idea of what the hell this could be? it is annoying the crap out of me.

[Mavic]

so far this forum has been of no help but i have faith maybe one day or month someone will know something about this weird damm noise.

[meithkiller]

My tie-rod ends went out at 200,000 miles and I found out that it was cheaper to replace the rack with a rebuilt than it is to purchase new tie-rod ends. I replaced the rack and have had no issues.

As far as the rattle, check your body mounts for looseness and also check the mounts on the xfr case and the xmission.

Good luck...

[Mavic]

the rattle under the truck happens when the rear suspension hits bumps like manhole covers and stuff. it is really exaggerated in the wet but sometimes happens in the dry....

[Flash75]

"it also started after i went and got a new transfer case seal put in"

That implies you had no noise prior to having a new transfer case seal installed. I don't see how that would cause a steering loosness or rattle. Are you sure the rattle isn't coming from the transfer case area? I would examine that area first. You didn't say which seal was replaced, I assume it was one of the driveshaft flange seals. Maybe the driveshaft wasn't tightened.

To check the rack you can have someone move the steering wheel rapidly left and right and listen for unusual noise or rattles in the area where the steering shaft is connected to the rack. Also listen and check in the area of the steering U joint. How much steering wheel free play do you have?

Tracking rattles and clunks takes some detective work because it's hard to tell exactly where the noise is located and it's sometimes hard to duplicate noise without driving the vehicle. Usually it's best to look in the area where recent work was performend if the trouble started when that repair was made.

Clifton