Steering Column U-Joint

You can get at it from underneath without removing much. Actually, maybe the skid plate as mine has been gone for years. You can see it if you pull the driver's side wheel off and remove the rubber sheet pieces that fall apart. The job of replacing the shaft is not an easy one. I bought an e-bay part for mine and it's still fine after a year or so. If you search my name there is probably a thread with tips I added.
 
I replaced the intermitant steering shaft on my 4runner last fall.
Old one was seized on pretty good. Tried an air hammer to try & get it off the lower spline but no dice.
Ended up using a dremel with a cut off wheel to cut away small peices of it at a time till it broke loose with a few whacks with a hammer.
 
i'm not yet sure this is the issue, but odds are it is. gonna try the lube route first. if it feels better, than it is the shaft joint. i might look into a low miles used one, since they seem to go over 200k. i think i might out source the labor. maybe 2 hours in an independent shop?
 
A lift and the right air tools is a huge help, I do not have a lift. I also cut mine off. Best way to make sure it's the issue is to lift both wheels off the ground and try to move them with the engine off. You may hear it binding.

BTW, there are youtube videos on this. Pretty sure Eric the car guy has one.
 
rwh963 said:
i'm not yet sure this is the issue, but odds are it is. gonna try the lube route first. if it feels better, than it is the shaft joint. i might look into a low miles used one, since they seem to go over 200k. i think i might out source the labor. maybe 2 hours in an independent shop?
Click to expand...

Lubing it is only a temporary fix but it will tell you if it's the ujoint or not.
WD-40 seemed to work better than other sprays I tried and getting a can with the extended gooseneck nozzle makes it easy to hit the joint real good.
From underneath, You can find that ujoint right above & behind where the driver side CV axle fits into the front differential.
 
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i've got ramps, and PB with a long straw. i'll do that first. used or new shaft, that may be a question depending on price spread.
 
here is as pic of the shaft joint. hit it and the bolts with blaster. let it soak in. the yoke looks good. i keep hearing about three bolts. two for the upper connection, one for the yoke?

looks like a difficult access zone, even with the shields dropped.

finding a low mileage used shaft would help keep the cost down. any recommended national sites?
 

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rwh963 said:
here is as pic of the shaft joint. hit it and the bolts with blaster. let it soak in. the yoke looks good. i keep hearing about three bolts. two for the upper connection, one for the yoke?

looks like a difficult access zone, even with the shields dropped.

finding a low mileage used shaft would help keep the cost down. any recommended national sites?
Click to expand...

If you're in there anyway why'd you install an old u-joint? Even through the dealer they aren't that expensive. You can also buy them on Rock Auto for $140.

More Information for SKP SK425603
 
rwh963 said:
here is as pic of the shaft joint. hit it and the bolts with blaster. let it soak in. the yoke looks good. i keep hearing about three bolts. two for the upper connection, one for the yoke?

looks like a difficult access zone, even with the shields dropped.

finding a low mileage used shaft would help keep the cost down. any recommended national sites?
Click to expand...

There are 3 bolts that need to come off, one at the bottom and 2 in the upper yoke. You will probably want to buy new bolts and the upper yoke. I snapped off 2 of the bolts & rounded off the third trying to remove them and had to cut the upper yoke off since it was seized on same as the other end of the shaft.
I cut the upper yoke off by cutting it in half lengthwise using a dremel with a cutoff wheel and it was easy to do through the wheel well.

I got the yoke & bolts from Toyota darts deal & the shaft from Amazon
These worked for my '04 4runner sport V8.
#45219-35160 sliding yoke
#90119-08560 Bolt (you'll need 3 of these)
 
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rwh963 said:
here is as pic of the shaft joint. hit it and the bolts with blaster. let it soak in. the yoke looks good. i keep hearing about three bolts. two for the upper connection, one for the yoke?

looks like a difficult access zone, even with the shields dropped.

finding a low mileage used shaft would help keep the cost down. any recommended national sites?
Click to expand...

I would highly recommend not going with a used shaft, it's likely to be on it's way to being if not in the same condition as the one you're replacing, especially since they don't have a zerk fitting to re-lube them.
 
This is an interesting concept from TacomaWorld that I've saved. Essentially swapping a greasable u-joint into the steering shaft so it can be maintained with grease. I haven't looked into the comparison between tacoma and 4runner steering shafts, beyond that they're different part numbers and look different. If the u-joint swap works for 4th gen too, that would be neat.

2nd gen Tacoma lower steering shaft rebuild DIY :) - TacomaWorld

Mine is also crusty, and I sprayed it down with White Lithium Grease. Had to respray recently after a bunch of snow and salt when it got stiff, so its nearing end of life
 
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y=mx+b said:
Mine is also crusty, and I sprayed it down with White Lithium Grease. Had to respray recently after a bunch of snow and salt when it got stiff, so its nearing end of life
Click to expand...

Here's what my old one looks like after I cut it out. Yours doesn't look too far behind.
 

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update: blaster may have smoothed out the joint for now. stopped at an independent shop, and they quoted 1.5-2 hrs for the job.

stopped last the toyota dealer, service writer quoted about $900!! parts and labor.
said the part was about $400, and plotted 3 hours labor. total rip!!

i will either do this myself, or pick up used or new shaft and hire independent.
i have lots of tools, ramps, confidence, but just like brakes, i don't want to get part way through and run into an issue, then i have to get a tow.

i think a low mileage part will run about $75 +/-. the yoke and bolts will be new.
 
rwh963 said:
update: blaster may have smoothed out the joint for now. stopped at an independent shop, and they quoted 1.5-2 hrs for the job.

stopped last the toyota dealer, service writer quoted about $900!! parts and labor.
said the part was about $400, and plotted 3 hours labor. total rip!!

i will either do this myself, or pick up used or new shaft and hire independent.
i have lots of tools, ramps, confidence, but just like brakes, i don't want to get part way through and run into an issue, then i have to get a tow.

i think a low mileage part will run about $75 +/-. the yoke and bolts will be new.
Click to expand...

Yikes, $400 for the shaft alone? I got mine on Amazon for about $180 and the yoke & bolts were another $20 or at Toyota parts deal.

Toyota parts deal also has the shaft.

45203-35310 - Genuine Toyota Parts)
 
I've been questioning this part for a while now due to some intermittent steering wheel shimmy around 55-60 mph. I thought the new wheels and tires cured my issue, but it just happened again this morning when it was a bit colder. The tires seem to mask it better though. Think this part could be the culprit even though mine doesn't look nearly as bad as some of these rusty ones? Either that or the lose steering column collapse joint that others have tack welded on the third gen is the other thing I was thinking.

(I've already changed rotors, calipers, pads, sway bar links, and greased all the front joints)
 
jlaw904 said:
I've been questioning this part for a while now due to some intermittent steering wheel shimmy around 55-60 mph. I thought the new wheels and tires cured my issue, but it just happened again this morning when it was a bit colder. The tires seem to mask it better though. Think this part could be the culprit even though mine doesn't look nearly as bad as some of these rusty ones? Either that or the lose steering column collapse joint that others have tack welded on the third gen is the other thing I was thinking.

(I've already changed rotors, calipers, pads, sway bar links, and greased all the front joints)
Click to expand...

how many miles? really about that rather than environment.
 
Hunter61 said:
Yikes, $400 for the shaft alone? I got mine on Amazon for about $180 and the yoke & bolts were another $20 or at Toyota parts deal.

Toyota parts deal also has the shaft.

45203-35310 - Genuine Toyota Parts)
Click to expand...

yeah, i can get the new shaft for $195 and yoke/bolts for about $25. i even went over to the parts dept. they confirmed nearly $400. that is full retail+. $900 for the job, he didn't blink! no way, i'll find another way.
 
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