4route
New member
On Saturday, I was making a turn and my steering shaft broke off where the shaft meets the steering wheel box. It is now in the shop awaiting the entire shaft from Toyota (because they don't sell it in sections, you have to replace the entire steering shaft) for around $1,000 plus labor, and the part won't get in for another 10 days.
At first, I posted about this on Toyota120.com because I wasn't sure what caused it. However, I found out tonight that I am not the only person this has happened to. Apparently, it has happened to someone else as well, and for probably the same reason. We both had our steering shafts break in the exact same spot as well.
It's nothing to get worried about yet, but at this point, we're guessing it is due to the body lift installation being done incorrectly. It is NOT because of the body lift, but because of the installation .... so this does NOT mean you should be worried if you have a body lift. It just means that if you get one in the future, be CERTAIN to follow the instructions to the T.
The guy helping me install mine back in 2003 or 2004 had done it on his before and said he didn't need to use the instructions when we were doing mine ... and I trusted his knowledge on the subject. Unfortunately, I shouldn't have, and because of it, too much tension has been on the steering shaft since then and now it is broken.
If you are concerned, you can look inside the cabin area down near the pedals and make sure there are no cracks on the steering shaft where it comes through the fire wall and goes into the steering wheel box.
I want to make clear again though that it is NOT because of the body lift, but because of a bad installation.
At first, I posted about this on Toyota120.com because I wasn't sure what caused it. However, I found out tonight that I am not the only person this has happened to. Apparently, it has happened to someone else as well, and for probably the same reason. We both had our steering shafts break in the exact same spot as well.
It's nothing to get worried about yet, but at this point, we're guessing it is due to the body lift installation being done incorrectly. It is NOT because of the body lift, but because of the installation .... so this does NOT mean you should be worried if you have a body lift. It just means that if you get one in the future, be CERTAIN to follow the instructions to the T.
The guy helping me install mine back in 2003 or 2004 had done it on his before and said he didn't need to use the instructions when we were doing mine ... and I trusted his knowledge on the subject. Unfortunately, I shouldn't have, and because of it, too much tension has been on the steering shaft since then and now it is broken.
If you are concerned, you can look inside the cabin area down near the pedals and make sure there are no cracks on the steering shaft where it comes through the fire wall and goes into the steering wheel box.
I want to make clear again though that it is NOT because of the body lift, but because of a bad installation.