Steering problem

My 98 tacoma seems to intermittently loose control for a brief moment, usually around turns to the left. This just started happening and everything looks ok. Any thoughts?

I'd be lookin to the steering wheel position sensor if this truck is equipped w/one. Although, I am assuming this diagnosis as I am not quite sure what you mean by intermittently "loose control". Is the steering not responding at all?? Is it steering effort just increased or decreased?? Explain a lil more in detail what you mean exactly by "loose control" and hopefully you can get a better diagnosis. Hope this helps as much as it can.

Late

Intermittently like it doesnt happen all the time, It feels like I dont have any steering for a second, Like if Im following a curve to the left it suddenly over turns and doesnt respond to me trying to correct it right away. I did put a new steering wheel on about a month ago but I cant see that being the problem. Could it?

does the linkage slip at the spline?

Like I said, every thing seems fine. I will look more into that though. One day the truck in front of me dodged an animal in the road and I ran it over. I almost wanna say its been happening after that

I wouldn't think that a new steering wheel would cause this but quite often problems do stem from the last repair/customization. Just double check your install and inspect under the truck for any other possible obvious damage due to the road kill you came in contact with. If nothing else this sounds like an SWPS problem like I mentioned before. Again, I am not sure this truck is equipped w/one, but when they do have a bad spot in them, the steering feels sloppy/loose when it hits that spot. Google a search on what wires to do an ohms test on while turning the wheel w/the sensor disconnected and make sure your readings don't jump out of range. If they do then obviously the part needs to be replaced. Hope this helps some.

Late

Thanks. Ill look into that. If there are any other ideas Id appreciate the input. Planning on driving it to ITB. Its like a 6 hour drive and dont want problems on the way. Im also takin it in for an alignment so maybe they'll see somethin, who knows.

bump

best bet in my opinion, start at your wheels and go to your steering wheel checking and making sure everything's torqued and all right. generally, if it wasn't doing it before the steering wheel change, and now is, check your splines on the shaft and any adapters or what not your might have used. i'm not a toyota guy, just putting my 2 cents. but check your main components of what makes it turn. wheels, tie rods, steering linkages, steering shaft. i've seen a truck have a worn out ball joint, and when enough pressure was put on it, it would act the same way. i've also seen a car with rims that didn't fit the hub right, the wheel basically flopped around. stable enough going straight, but had no response in the steering, like it wanted to turn itself. it wouldn't really be a bad idea since you're going on a 6 hour trip anyway to be sure. i just did a quick search and didn't find anything on a SWPS, so check tighteness on everything.