Intermediate steering shaft

[Richrd]

Last winter some of you pointed out that my I'm steering shaft was bad. I know it's been a while but i,m ready to replace it.

The catch is pics I,ve seen show the u joint at the top, but on my car it's at the bottom.

Is either way ok, or is there a reason mines upside down, other than a dpo?

Thanks
Rich

 

[ads2539]

The u-joint is at the bottom on 4th gens. The u-joint at the top is inside the passenger compartment.

 

[Richrd]

Thanks, one last question,

Is the switch as bad as it looks, or not too hard?

 

[ads2539]

Thanks, one last question,

Is the switch as bad as it looks, or not too hard?

I tried doing the switch myself, but eventually had a mechanic do it. I live in the rust belt, so nothing is easy to replace. I’ve done a decent amount of work on my 4Runner myself, so I thought the steering shaft job would be pretty manageable. I didn’t have an air hammer to separate the steering shaft from the steering rack, and I didn’t want to damage anything with hand tools.

I got charged only ~1.25 hours labor for the job. I know a mechanic who doesn’t charge book rate for jobs. If he does something in two hours that the book says is a five hour job, he only charges me for the two hours it took him.

 

[gimlithepirate]

Thanks, one last question,

Is the switch as bad as it looks, or not too hard?

Totally depends. If you've got serious rust, its a PITA. Mine was bent (I have no idea how, but the main shaft bowed) but not rusted, so getting it off was pretty easy. I didn't have to remove any steering parts or anything. I just loosened the top, loosened the bottom, but a piece of rebar on the U joint facing towards the firewall, and had a friend hit it with a BFH. Took us about 20 good hard hits and it popped right off.

That said, if you've got rust it is a whole 'nuther ball game. The collar at the base of the shaft (after the U joint) has about 30-odd splines on it. If they are fused or caked in rust you're going to have a real bad time. Plan to bring heat and air tools to the party.