Steering Wheel Not Returning to Centre PART 2

A couple posts ago I was talking about my steering wheel not returning to the centre. I went to my local Toyota and they did an alignment as literally everyone told me to do. So that’s done, the mechanic said that it still may not return to the centre because of a bearing that is only in the second and third gens that allows the steering wheel to return to the centre. He said it is the steering rack that is responsible for that aswell. However, he said my whole truck looks in great condition including the steering rack so I was wondering, would I need a new steering rack for the steering wheel to ACTUALLY return to the centre or should I not worry about it as it’s not really needed and I got an alignment? Thanks.

 

Has your rack ever been replaced?

2/3 racks that were replaced on cars I've owned were replaced wrong and needed the column centered to the rack

Can you turn more to the left than right?

 

@Running Board Man i don’t notice it. It could be possible though. And he said there were not issues either he steering rack so I assume that meant it was centred properly aswell.

 

Is there any binding otherwise other than it not returning on it's own?

 

Umm....... I'm gonna throw the BROWN BS flag on the "mechanic"

Get to another shop. Something is off with the LCA/UCA. You likely have worn bearings, bushings, pins........

Once upon a time ago, the Kingpin would bring the steering back to center. This is now part of the suspension geometry of the control arms.


Either this or the toe-in was set without the steering wheel being centered.

 

@Dm93 nope nothing else

 

LBJs.
I had a off feeling while turning and the steering wheel wouldn’t return to center on its own.
Replaced LBJs and the feeling went away. If you google LBJ failure, that is one of the only common symptoms I’ve seen pre failure