Loose Steering Play: U Joint or something else?

S

Speedy123

New member
My newly bought 03 has a steering rack issue. I have about 1" of loose play of the wheel in either direction, at rest or driving. When I turn to left or right, just past the looseness when the steering engages, I get a little click/clunk in the wheel. Steering is linear, no shaking, a little stiff but not sticking or catching. I don't know what normal feels like for this vehicle. No other abnormal steering noises, vibration, etc. Alignment is fine, tracks straight with no wandering. My mechanic tells me it is a rusted steering wheel U-joint that needs replacing. I've done a lot of reading on this forum and not sure that my symptoms fit with that. I did read all of the threads about 3rd gen steering looseness and the fix from the TTORA board, don't see any cases of that in 4th gen. If I reach under the dash toward the floor and grasp the steering column, it moves with the wheel and no looseness or reproducing the clunking. It is an annoying feeling. Mechanic also failed it on the provincial motor vehicle inspection because of the steering laxity.

Is the U-joint the culprit? Do I shell out the $400+ for that repair, or do I in fact need a whole new steering column? I don't see any threads about bushings in 4th gen vehicles, etc.

So: play+looseness+mild stiffness+clunk== what??

Advice welcome............
 
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There is a fix for this in the steering joint , pretty easy cpl nuts to loosen . Let me see if I can search it up . You check in mods ?
 
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/96639-steering-column-u-joint.html






Speedy123 said:
My newly bought 03 has a steering rack issue. I have about 1" of loose play of the wheel in either direction, at rest or driving. When I turn to left or right, just past the looseness when the steering engages, I get a little click/clunk in the wheel. Steering is linear, no shaking, a little stiff but not sticking or catching. I don't know what normal feels like for this vehicle. No other abnormal steering noises, vibration, etc. Alignment is fine, tracks straight with no wandering. My mechanic tells me it is a rusted steering wheel U-joint that needs replacing. I've done a lot of reading on this forum and not sure that my symptoms fit with that. I did read all of the threads about 3rd gen steering looseness and the fix from the TTORA board, don't see any cases of that in 4th gen. If I reach under the dash toward the floor and grasp the steering column, it moves with the wheel and no looseness or reproducing the clunking. It is an annoying feeling. Mechanic also failed it on the provincial motor vehicle inspection because of the steering laxity.

Is the U-joint the culprit? Do I shell out the $400+ for that repair, or do I in fact need a whole new steering column? I don't see any threads about bushings in 4th gen vehicles, etc.

So: play+looseness+mild stiffness+clunk== what??

Advice welcome............
Click to expand...
 
I read that as well. One thing I didn't understand is where so much play/looseness would come from; other than stiffness, which I'm not even sure I have, it wasn't clear from the thread above exactly what symptoms I should be feeling with a bad u-joint. Anyway, I'll give it a go with replacement and see where I end up and I'll post back.

Unless someone else tells me it is a $25 fix I can do at home with some WD40, a kitchen knife, string, and a couple of popsicle sticks (which is the complete inventory of my current tool kit).
 
I don't think that free play in the steering system is typical of a bad steering u-joint. I would think that tie rods, rack bushings, or ball joints would be more likely.

Just my two cents.
 
Speedy123 said:
I read that as well. One thing I didn't understand is where so much play/looseness would come from; other than stiffness, which I'm not even sure I have, it wasn't clear from the thread above exactly what symptoms I should be feeling with a bad u-joint. Anyway, I'll give it a go with replacement and see where I end up and I'll post back.

Unless someone else tells me it is a $25 fix I can do at home with some WD40, a kitchen knife, string, and a couple of popsicle sticks (which is the complete inventory of my current tool kit).
Click to expand...

Since we are talking about a u-joint, which has needle bearings, it is very possible that one set, or more, of the needle bearings have entirely failed. When this joint stiffens and binds, because of rust, it will cause stiff/hard steering. In most cases lubricating the joint with a spray type lubricant will loosen the stiffness for a while. But, if allowed to continue, just like a driveshaft u-joint, the needle bearings could rust enough to disintegrate and fall out. This would create play in the joint which could explain the excess movement you are having. It should be easy to check. The u-joint is at the bottom of the steering shaft, near the steering rack. If you lift the plastic shield , that can be seen looking through the drivers side wheel well, you can see the u-joint. With someone to move the steering wheel back and forth, you should be able to watch the joint movement and see any excess play. If this turns out to be the problem, you will have to replace the lower shaft assy. They run about $200.00, plus installation labor, unless you can do the replacement yourself.
 
TechWrench said:
Since we are talking about a u-joint, which has needle bearings, it is very possible that one set, or more, of the needle bearings have entirely failed. When this joint stiffens and binds, because of rust, it will cause stiff/hard steering. In most cases lubricating the joint with a spray type lubricant will loosen the stiffness for a while. But, if allowed to continue, just like a driveshaft u-joint, the needle bearings could rust enough to disintegrate and fall out. This would create play in the joint which could explain the excess movement you are having. It should be easy to check. The u-joint is at the bottom of the steering shaft, near the steering rack. If you lift the plastic shield , that can be seen looking through the drivers side wheel well, you can see the u-joint. With someone to move the steering wheel back and forth, you should be able to watch the joint movement and see any excess play. If this turns out to be the problem, you will have to replace the lower shaft assy. They run about $200.00, plus installation labor, unless you can do the replacement yourself.
Click to expand...
That was really helpful, the play does seem to be at the u joint so hopefully that'll be the fix. Can't get it done for a couple of weeks, hope there's not a risk of catastrophic failure
 
Speedy123 said:
That was really helpful, the play does seem to be at the u joint so hopefully that'll be the fix. Can't get it done for a couple of weeks, hope there's not a risk of catastrophic failure
Click to expand...

With the understanding that nothing in life is guaranteed, given that the amount of rotation in this u-joint is limited and it spends most if the time barely turning at all, I wouldn't expect it to completely fail/fall apart in the near future.
 
Just as a follow up, had the U joint (lower steering assembly) replaced. Probably about 75% better with less play (but not totally gone), click feeling gone, less stiff. Not as good a cure as I was hoping for but can definitely live with it.
 
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