2005 4Runner Stiff Steering

[Caffeine27]

When I start up my 4Runner in the morning the steering wheel is very stiff. fter a while is seems to loosen up, but is still a little hard to turn. It is like manual steering.
No fluids leaking.
Steering wheel fluid is full.
Any suggestions?

 

[zopperman]

When I start up my 4Runner in the morning the steering wheel is very stiff. fter a while is seems to loosen up, but is still a little hard to turn. It is like manual steering.
No fluids leaking.
Steering wheel fluid is full.
Any suggestions?

is the reservoir over filled? harder to turn when stopped v moving?

 

[Caffeine27]

Resevoir is full.
Never tried to turn when stopped, but I wll try and post.

 

[Caffeine27]

Just tried it. It steers easier when it park and moving the wheel from side to side.

 

[SureShot516]

is it hard steering all the way throughout or does it feel like it's binding in certain spots?

 

[Caffeine27]

I would say all the way througout. Maybe a little easier when turned to the very left or right.

 

[Hapeacres]

I believe there is a knuckle in the steering shaft which gets bound up from age. I had to replace mine once and viola, like new steering again!

 

[SureShot516]

correct, the intermediate shaft however that usually binds in spots not tight steering throughout

 

[Bossman]

If the steering is stiff and you suspect that it is the intermediate steering shaft, you can do a quick diagnosis by spraying the knuckle with a lubricant (WD-40). If the steering loosens up, this may be the cause.

Lubricant will only be a very temporary fix. Failure of the component is imminent - you don't want to be driving when it completely seizes!

Like Hapeacres, I too recently replaced this intermediate shaft, and used Deep Creep to pinpoint the cause. Knuckle had completely corroded and was seizing up.

 

[earthrealm]

is the reservoir over filled? harder to turn when stopped v moving?

mine is harder to turn when stationary...freer while moving, i thin its bindng neae certain spots

 

[Bossman]

Here is a link to another thread about stiff steering attributed to the intermediate shaft, complete with pictures.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/96639-steering-column-u-joint.html

 

[haro]

:iagree:
I was having the same problem. the mech. put some wd40 and it was like new again until I replace it (intermediate shaft). they only sell it at toyota dealers. I paid $170 that's including a discount.

 

[wsgoat]

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/96639-steering-column-u-joint.html

 

[andreylights]

is it hard steering all the way throughout or does it feel like it's binding in certain spots?

I know I am bringing up the old thread, but this comment caught my attention as it describes my issue precisely.

A couple of days the steering suddenly got pretty heavy (like was mentioned in the above comment only in certain spots tho) and it doesn't come back to the center.

Any advice? Is it the u-joint? How much time do I have before it gives up completely?

 

[hinmo24t]

I know I am bringing up the old thread, but this comment caught my attention as it describes my issue precisely.

A couple of days the steering suddenly got pretty heavy (like was mentioned in the above comment only in certain spots tho) and it doesn't come back to the center.

Any advice? Is it the u-joint? How much time do I have before it gives up completely?

i just posted about this in another thread i believe called 'common steering issue' i ordered the shaft, 3 bolts, and yoke for replacing. i sprayed mine w wd40 and it smoothed it out - so try that thru the drivers side wheel well flap up top and see if theres any difference after.

 

[MikeinNH67]

I had the same issue, lubed it with penetrant then I added grease too. I'll have to replace it sometime soon but it is way better.

 

[ZLJUANN]

Im going to share my recent story:

This past weekend I went on a mountain run. On the way back down, my steering went dead.

I did some troubleshooting: No leaks, no pump whining, steering was completely stiff lock to lock. I sprayed the rusty to heck U joint with PB blaster and no change after some time. Fluid was murky but no signs of damaged parts.

Decided it had to be the pump. considering the rig has 369,000 miles it wouldn't hurt to start there anyways. I replaced the pump with the cheapest amazon one I could find. Got it the next day for 60 bucks. Came with no gaskets/crush washers/seals. Considering this was all experimental, it was no big deal. I reused the old ones. Buttoned everything back up and 2 hours later, steering is back.

I drove down the block and the steering died again. I revved the engine and it came back. Only 1 explanation: there has to be blockage from the old pump's soft fail. Sure enough the fresh oil was filled with metallic particulate. Im guessing some passage got so blocked that the fluid in the reservoir wasn't getting contaminated but it all got dislodged when I drained the system. I drained and refilled several times and its been better but I will do a full flush today and it should cure it.

Don't be like me and reuse seals and gaskets, especially if its your only car. This is my daily side rig so I can afford for it to blow fluid everywhere and have it sit around when I experiment. YMMV.

Resources:

Steering Column U-Joint

HOW TO: 2UZ-FE (V8) Power Steering pump replacement and fluid flush | Toyota 4Runner Forum [4Runners.com]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07M67TRL2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Jason Marietta]

I would say all the way througout. Maybe a little easier when turned to the very left or right.

What did you end up finding? I'm dealing with a similar issue. The steering feels stiff all the way through out.

I've got an 03' 4 wheel drive with 257k on it. Had the lower control arms replaced about a year ago and recently had the steering rack and power steering pump replaced. The car drives much better but the steering is still noticeably stiff.

The mechanic who did the rack and pump said the intermediate shaft seemed fine when they removed it to do the work. Should I just tell them to replace the intermediate shaft? I don't know what else it could be. The LBJ were replaced with the control arms.

Any recommendations out there?

 

[AuSeeker]

What did you end up finding? I'm dealing with a similar issue. The steering feels stiff all the way through out.

I've got an 03' 4 wheel drive with 257k on it. Had the lower control arms replaced about a year ago and recently had the steering rack and power steering pump replaced. The car drives much better but the steering is still noticeably stiff.

The mechanic who did the rack and pump said the intermediate shaft seemed fine when they removed it to do the work. Should I just tell them to replace the intermediate shaft? I don't know what else it could be. The LBJ were replaced with the control arms.

Any recommendations out there?

If you read this entire topic and any of the other topics linked you would know the way to determine if your issue is the steering shaft is to liberally spray the u-joint on the shaft with a good penetrating oil spray such a PB Blaster or even WD-40, if the stiffness frees up then replace the shaft, if it remain the same then you have a issue somewhere else in the system.

No reason to spend good money on replacing the shaft UNTIL you know for sure that's the problem, it real easy to do what I described above to know if the shaft needs replacing, and no reason to pay someone else to do the test for you, buy some penetrating oil and spray down the u-joint and work the steering back and forth then take it for a drive and see if there's an improvement.

 

[Jason Marietta]

If you read this entire topic and any of the other topics linked you would know the way to determine if your issue is the steering shaft is to liberally spray the u-joint on the shaft with a good penetrating oil spray such a PB Blaster or even WD-40, if the stiffness frees up then replace the shaft, if it remain the same then you have a issue somewhere else in the system.

No reason to spend good money on replacing the shaft UNTIL you know for sure that's the problem, it real easy to do what I described above to know if the shaft needs replacing, and no reason to pay someone else to do the test for you, buy some penetrating oil and spray down the u-joint and work the steering back and forth then take it for a drive and see if there's an improvement.

Thanks. I gathered that from the replies. I'm just at a loss on what else it could be. I have tried WD40 on the u-joint and did not get an improvement.

Knowing that I replaced the lower control arms with LBJs, rack, and power steering pump, and wd40 is not working on the u-joint, where else would you recommend looking?

Do you think that the upper ball joint could cause resistance?

And know that I did not replace all the parts in a blind effort to resolve the stiff steering.