Trying to figure out the cause of the hard steering in my 14 T4R SR5 with about 125K miles. Seemed to come on slowly as the fall progressed and temps dropped. I thought maybe back in October the steering was a little harder than normal, but it was so slight I didn't think much of it. I am in upstate NY and as temps dropped into the 40s and lower the symptoms got worse. It is stiff to turn about the same in both directions.

Searched the 5th gen forum, didn't find much on the hard steering issue. Most of what I read are with 3rd and 4th gen.

Checked fluid, very slightly low, just topped it off - no change as expected. Tire pressure ok. Replaced the serpentine belt today which I had been meaning to do for a while - no change. Also read about intermediate steering shaft u-joint can bind up over time. I lubed the lower u-joint from the exterior, no changed but I'm assuming the lube will take some time to penetrate the joint some.

Next I would think is fluid flush/change and I have read at least with 3rd and/or 4th gen, there is a screen at the bottom of the reservoir that can get plugged up over time.

I haven't found a video or write up on cleaning the 5th generation reservoir screen; did see a replacement video. Reservoir seems to only be available from Toyota for $100+, so trying to avoid that.

So wanted to see if anyone has run into the hard steering with a 5th generation and what was the fix and assuming there is a screen in the reservoir, has anyone had luck cleaning it?
Thanks in advance for any help.

When you had the serpentine belt off - did you try to spin the PS pulley by hand? Seems like it should spin freely with no binding.

Thanks for that, I should have checked the PS pump but didn't. Should be easy enough to take the tension off the belt and see if it spins freely. I'll try that in the morning.

It's most likely your intermediate steering shaft. If the joint is rusted up badly, the lube won't even get in to do anything. Mark it's position and pull it off from the rack end - it will be apparent that it doesn't bend in one axis.

Jeremy, that was it. I hit the lower joint good with Aero Kroil yesterday. Took the truck out this morning and could tell right away it was loosened up. Felt about 80-90% of normal when I left and 100% or almost 100% when I got back. Looks as though it wasn't too bad if 1 night sitting with Aero Kroil got it back to 100% or close to it.

I am going to spray the joint again tonight and hopefully it will be good for at least a while. Seems like a common issue with Toyota's (maybe other makes as well). I'll plan on replacement soon. Looks as though that shaft is a Toyota part only at about $150. Didn't see any aftermarket on Rock Auto.

Just replaced mine for the same reason a few weeks ago. Not a bad job, but separating the rusted together shafts was a bit of a pain. Start spraying them down with oil now. I used a chisel to wedge the clamp apart and an air hammer to coerce it off.

Seriously, mark the alignment and keep track of the steering wheel. I was doing a bunch of other work at the same time and ended up installing it 1 or 2 splines off and noticed my steering wheel was off center, no big deal, I thought. About 1/4 mile into my test drive the dash lit up. The $500 steering angle sensor in the spiral cable bricks itself when it doesn't jive with the rest of the sensors, and can't be reset.

Reviving this one as my 11 Trail just started acting up. 99k miles but it's of course 10 years old in new england. sprayed it with Wurth HHS-K and it's fine currently. I have changed a few of these on Tacomas (one literally fell apart taking it out) but when trying to look one up for mine on 3 different OE parts sites it seems they don't have a part number for trucks without a smart key? When I think smart key I think the fob style for vehicles with push button start. But I didn't even think that was offered on 4Runners?

Yeah, mine was the shaft seizing up from sitting with salt because of COVID. Lots of WD40 and spinning the wheel back and forth fixed it right up.

In my previous experience this is not a really long-lived fix. If you start feeling any play in the steering get a new shaft ASAP. On one of my tacoma's I lubed it 2-3 times (I barely ever drove it in the summer so it sat a lot) then I noticed some play in the steering. Not much mind you but boy when I went to change it the shaft came out in two pieces. Had that come apart on the road it could have been deadly.

45203-60181 is what you need

Does anyone have a picture of the ind shaft that we should be spraying to keep it loose, etc? Best to use penetrant oil spray or a different type of lube? Thanks so much.