Hi there, has any body done a tie rod flip on a Tacoma,4Runner? It seems its the solution to the drooped tie rods and would help the steering rack as the tie rods will be moved from below the steering arm to above it, reducing the tie rod angles and stress on the Rack bushings. The stress can be severe while turning with a lift, angularity and huge tires. Steering racks like the tie rods as parellel as possible to the ground. When there is angularity, there is always an upward force on the bushings which eventually wears out causing an annoying rattle and eventually an oil leak. I have removed the boots on some of my friends 4Runners and greased the rack so that when it slides it helps lube the bushings.You should put some lube in there at least once a year.The Steering rack seems to be the weak link on these vehicles. Also..the POLY RACK ATTACHMENT BUSHINGS are greatttt for tightening up the sloppy steering...Let me know about the Tie rod flip..

 

And would be a help to us Tacoma owners.

Anyone have an opinion?

How about How Tos?

 

Unless you can figure out how to de-taper(word?) and then retaper the knuckle, your best suggestion would be heim joints with a special bolt.

James

 

you'd increase the bumpsteer........

 

intersted also.

 

Do the tie rod ends bolt from the bottom up on tacos? I know on my 92 this would make the angles worse.....

 

They bolt on the bottom, if you mount them on top, during compression you will experience a toe out condition, giving you bumpsteer, not a good thing.....

 

To me, it sounds like this idea is simply not worth the effort. I have only heard of steering issues a handful of times on these boards and it's usually not been one of the components you mentioned in your original post.

Still want to go to Heim steering eventually though....

 

any pics of a steering setup with rod ends?

 

I think what milowilli is getting at is that when you lift it the angle is increased. by flipping the tie rod end to the top of the knuckle he is hoping to get it back to parrallel...i don't see how that would great bumpsteer if the angle is put back close to stock? I have seen them do this on jeeps....they reamed out the knuckle tapper and put in a sleeve that is welding in place. This sleeve puts the new tapper in the opposite direction and then you can reuse you stock Tie rod end.

 

even when lifted, the tie rod is still travelling on similar arcs to the a-arms. changing that arc is what creates the bumpsteer. its not that being parallel to the ground stops bumpsteer. that has nothing to do with it.

 

Most likely the jeep was a straight Axle, so it wouldn't be the same. With IFS you have to keep the tie rods parallel to the A-arms, changing the geometry will cause bumpsteer......

 

so any pics of rod end steering setups?

 

 

Some say it would help and others say it create bumpsteer. I honestly see where he is coming on the bumpsteer, however has anybody ever seen this done on another vehicle with IFS? I am curious because my steering rack is shot and it was before the lift and when I replace it I want to make sure it doesn't happen again. I also read somewhere that toyota uses Aluminum sleeves in the steering racks and Moog rebuilds them with steel sleeves. Anybody else heard this?

 

it could help with longevity issues, but it would create some bumpsteer.

so itd be a give and take. bumpsteer could be unsafe in some conditions though.