Hit a pothole now steering is getting looser

have a 1999 4Runner, 380,000 mi and was kept in a garage, it would go down the road, let go of the wheel and stay in a straight line with the steering wheel centered.

But 2? weeks ago at night after heavy rains a huge pothole opened up, going 45mph hit it, very loud and I was swerving, worst pothole hit in my 50+ years of driving.

now to go straight the steering wheel has to be 45 degrees tilted? cannot see the Fuel gauge. And noticed yesterday I had it the other way 45* to go straight? then noticed in turns, go to turn and it keeps on straight, then it starts to turn. something very loose that got worse in 2 weeks.

Its been 30 years since I last worked on suspensions. No tools really, no compressor, no lift, no gato. dont mind investing in some tools now and want to replace just about all of it but wanted to ask experts who have done it what you would recommend? Any diagram of it, what is good to replace, whats probably going to be needing replacement?

maybe I can get photos of each side and I understand a shop cant diagnose without going under there, but if a persons done the work I'm hoping its: replace this thing and that thing anyway, because if its bent this way, then that part will need to be replaced if the other is brand new.

Im trying to buy another vehicle because it doesnt seem safe even going around town

 

I’d take it to a shop let them tell you what’s going on. Then from there I’d decide whether to invest in tools. If there is a lot of damage it could be an insurance claim. I understand you probably don’t want to pay for a mechanic to look at it but Firestone will look at it for $50 and tell you exactly what’s wrong and what needs to be replaced. They’ve even allowed me in the shop so I can see for myself. From there I decide if I’m going to do the work myself or take it in. But I have tools and a compressor. My point is you could end up throwing a lot of parts etc at it and not fix the problem. In addition you need to buy tools.

 

Yes what youre saying is true. we have a place called Ken Towreys theyll do a free estimate, put up in the air, etc. Id have to have someone help do the work as im partly disabled and its miserable. And they have also let me in the work area and I like that. before moving, I had bought a nice creeper, sockets and alot and just needed a toolbox. one day noticed it looked emptier. 3 bicycles gone, the creeper, the tools, a heavy duty floor jack, 3 ton? and months later the landlord made some comment about the stolen tools from my garage, yeah so the thing is I never told him, I watched and waited. i had left a few tools in there as I was moving, to fix things, gone. I said, next day, what about those items? he says oh you must have put them outside on the porch. what a liar. But your saying this gave me an idea whom to ask to check it, thanks.

 

Sounds like it got knocked out of alignment. I would start by bringing it to an alignment shop and ask for an alignment. They should notice if anything else is broken while doing the alignment.

 

what about the steering box? what happens if some recirculating ball bearings are ruined and the preload becomes looser? seems like that would do what its doing, and the alignment is clearly off. had this 10 months, interstate driving, same streets same intersections go to turn and it doesnt go, have to turn more now. steering box, and it looks to be leaking. would like to get the manual but they run $400 or so on ebay?