1985taylor1925
Senior Member
Some of you have done this repair:
Diagnose and Fix Steering Play/Rattle - TTORA Forum
I took my steering column off a few days ago, and this was not my problem. The joint that is welded in the above thread is rock solid on my steering column. No play whatsoever. However as I was trying to diagnose the knock that occurs somewhere between my steering rack and steering wheel I found what I think might be the source. Take a look at this picture
The joint circled is where the steering shaft goes into the sleeve.
Heres another shot. Toyotas diagram
A goes into B, which is bolted onto the frame beneath the dash. Any of you who have taken this off know exactly what Im talking about.
So basically when I grab the steering shaft and shake it there is play in that joint. The lining in the sleeve in plastic, so Im guessing it has simply worn out over the years, allowing the shaft some room for horizontal movement in the sleeve. And that translates into some small clunking between the steering rack and steering wheel while going over bumps. (Please no suggestions as to other front end components that could be warn out. Almost every suspension component in my front end is new OEM, and I have looked at every other possibility thoroughly.)
So that sleeve is $250 from Toyota. And it would be a pain to change because the ignition housing is basically riveted to that peice. So the solution I have come up with thus far is to use an insert bearing. Like this guy
I know the steering shaft has a 1" diameter. So I would slide a 1" bearing over it, and then have it welded to the sleeve. Like this (sorry about the terrible art work)
So the bearing would be welded to the end of the sleeve using three or four steel brackets, and then the allen screws would be tightened to the shaft so there would be no play in the joint. I hope my pictures give you an idea of what Im thinking here.
What do you guys think? Please throw in some other ideas if you have any. I know some of you are engineers and would have some great insight here. Ive been dealing with this knock since I bought the truck, and would bd ecstatic to get rid of it.
Diagnose and Fix Steering Play/Rattle - TTORA Forum
I took my steering column off a few days ago, and this was not my problem. The joint that is welded in the above thread is rock solid on my steering column. No play whatsoever. However as I was trying to diagnose the knock that occurs somewhere between my steering rack and steering wheel I found what I think might be the source. Take a look at this picture
The joint circled is where the steering shaft goes into the sleeve.
Heres another shot. Toyotas diagram
A goes into B, which is bolted onto the frame beneath the dash. Any of you who have taken this off know exactly what Im talking about.
So basically when I grab the steering shaft and shake it there is play in that joint. The lining in the sleeve in plastic, so Im guessing it has simply worn out over the years, allowing the shaft some room for horizontal movement in the sleeve. And that translates into some small clunking between the steering rack and steering wheel while going over bumps. (Please no suggestions as to other front end components that could be warn out. Almost every suspension component in my front end is new OEM, and I have looked at every other possibility thoroughly.)
So that sleeve is $250 from Toyota. And it would be a pain to change because the ignition housing is basically riveted to that peice. So the solution I have come up with thus far is to use an insert bearing. Like this guy
I know the steering shaft has a 1" diameter. So I would slide a 1" bearing over it, and then have it welded to the sleeve. Like this (sorry about the terrible art work)
So the bearing would be welded to the end of the sleeve using three or four steel brackets, and then the allen screws would be tightened to the shaft so there would be no play in the joint. I hope my pictures give you an idea of what Im thinking here.
What do you guys think? Please throw in some other ideas if you have any. I know some of you are engineers and would have some great insight here. Ive been dealing with this knock since I bought the truck, and would bd ecstatic to get rid of it.
