Steering knocking sound on rocks only

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ohwilliam

New member
So I finally bought a 4runner after lurking on this site and learning from everyone on here - THANK YOU! I got a 2002 silver Limited with 130k miles. It's pristine on the inside and it seems to run very well. There is one thing that I'm concerned about though. I took it up to the mountains this morning and felt something weird in the steering wheel. I'll do my best to explain it...

I was going over the millions of rocks on the 4x4 forest service trail and noticed some knocking felt in the steering wheel. It wasn't an up and down knocking, it was a side to side. So I tried to hold the steering wheel as straight as I could as I went over the rocks and bumps and it felt like something was loose. Instead of the steering wheel turning with the rocks and bumps, I felt the steering wheel getting knocked left and right at every bump. I rolled down the window to see if I heard the left and right knocking and I did not. I'm no master of the inner workings of automobiles but it felt like my steering wheel wasn't connected tightly. On smooth roads the steering is tight and there is no give. In parking lots the steering is tight and feels solid. It only happens on those rocks! Did I give a good enough explanation? It's hard to describe. Any help?
Thanks!
 
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ohwilliam said:
So I finally bought a 4runner after lurking on this site and learning from everyone on here - THANK YOU! I got a 2002 silver Limited with 130k miles. It's pristine on the inside and it seems to run very well. There is one thing that I'm concerned about though. I took it up to the mountains this morning and felt something weird in the steering wheel. I'll do my best to explain it...

I was going over the millions of rocks on the 4x4 forest service trail and noticed some knocking felt in the steering wheel. It wasn't an up and down knocking, it was a side to side. So I tried to hold the steering wheel as straight as I could as I went over the rocks and bumps and it felt like something was loose. Instead of the steering wheel turning with the rocks and bumps, I felt the steering wheel getting knocked left and right at every bump. I rolled down the window to see if I heard the left and right knocking and I did not. I'm no master of the inner workings of automobiles but it felt like my steering wheel wasn't connected tightly. On smooth roads the steering is tight and there is no give. In parking lots the steering is tight and feels solid. It only happens on those rocks! Did I give a good enough explanation? It's hard to describe. Any help?
Thanks!
Click to expand...

It's normal. Believe it's called the slip joint or something in the steering column. It is a design toyota added to allow the steering wheel to collapse in when in an accident or at least that's what I read on this forum. I'm not I big fan of it either but I'm getting used to it now.

I've read people tack weld the slip joint so it is solid and won't jiggle while going over bumps
 
Well that makes me feel better I guess... Still feels like it shouldn't do it. I've only driven 4x4 Ford pickups and they never had that "feature". Thanks for the response though and now I will stop being so paranoid.
 
Could be slip joint. Could also be inner/outer tie rods, lower/upper balljoints, loose rack guide, lower/upper control arm bushings, wheel bearings.

When were the above items last changed?

Get yourself a big rubber mallet, and a big ol' pry bar and start poking around down there. Also, read through the owner's guide sticky. If you haven't changed the above items or have proof of them being changed within last 100k miles, I'd get started asap. Slip joint usually presents as slightly loose steering and less of a knocking sensation. Of the things I suspect at this point, it's towards the bottom.
 
Sounds like worn tie rods. Easy way to check: jack up the front end and grasp the tire at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions. If the tire wiggles from side to side, it's the tie rods. From top to bottom, ball joints (lower).
 
All of my suspension and steering is tight and up to date but I also get this knocking sensation in the steering. Good to know Im not the only one!
 
My two FJ 60 Landcruisers, my '91 4WD truck, and my current 4Runner all did this. It's in the steering slipjoint mech as far as I can tell.
 
Three 4Runners, and none of them have done that. Steering shouldn't "knock".

I think a rag joint or loose ball joints or tie rod ends would do it all the time, not just on the rocks though. Steering rack bushings maybe?
 
Yup same here. When going on 4WD roads or just roads going up the mountain covered in smaller rocks my steering wheel knocks or "jiggles" the whole time. Really annoying.
 
Intermediate Shaft.

I have a similar knock that only shows up on rocky conditions that throw the wheels left/right.

I have found the loose connection is in the intermediate shaft, the double U-Joints that go through the firewall. Take the plastic cover off inside and I could feel the slop. 96 did not have the famous weldable slip joint so I know it is not that.

I went to a wreckers and found 3 to choose from which all had a bit of play, I chose the best one. It is 90% better than mine was. Only get the knock occasionally now and steering is much more precise.

Now that I have my old one in hand I'm gonna try to get the U-Joints in it replaced. The whole assembly from Toyota is stupidly expensive.

If anyone has replaced these joints already....

Thanks. Hope this helps.
 
Makes me feel better that I'm not the only one. I won't assume something's wrong now but I will check out the things mentioned above. Everything is original, pretty much nothing but cosmetic things have been replaced in its lifetime. It needs new swaybar bushings and steering rack bushings which I plan on replacing this month. Thanks for the help fellas!
 
KidVermicious said:
I think a rag joint or loose ball joints or tie rod ends would do it all the time, not just on the rocks though. Steering rack bushings maybe?
Click to expand...

This. I had new OEM LBJs and inner/outer TREs installed about 20k ago, and took it out on a pretty rough FSR this past weekend for the first time since and it still did it. No problems daily driving, and I've never touched the steering rack/bushings.
 
MONTYMTB said:
This. I had new OEM LBJs and inner/outer TREs installed about 20k ago, and took it out on a pretty rough FSR this past weekend for the first time since and it still did it. No problems daily driving, and I've never touched the steering rack/bushings.
Click to expand...

Wait so, do you think its the steering rack bushings then if all the other things didn't fix it?

My steering wheel has like play in it even while daily driving, not a knocking or jiggling play but just like if you turn the wheel an inch, it doesn't register in the rack / tires. I would love to get this play 100% eliminated.
 
Op, walk out to your truck. Open door. With your left hand, reach under the steering wheel and grab the column as close to the firewall as you can. Grab it firmly. With your right hand, move the steering wheel from side to side. Do you detect any play? We're looking for play greater than a 1/16th of an inch.
 
Supermoney said:
Wait so, do you think its the steering rack bushings then if all the other things didn't fix it?

My steering wheel has like play in it even while daily driving, not a knocking or jiggling play but just like if you turn the wheel an inch, it doesn't register in the rack / tires. I would love to get this play 100% eliminated.
Click to expand...

No, just saying that new LBJs and TREs didn't resolve it.
Here are a couple threads that cover the slip joint fix:

Diagnose and Fix Steering Play/Rattle - TTORA Forum

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/164396-diagnose-repair-steering-play-rattle.html

There's also another thread about fixing steering play - not a mod, just replacement of parts - but I can't find it now. Will post it if I do.
 
absalom said:
Op, walk out to your truck. Open door. With your left hand, reach under the steering wheel and grab the column as close to the firewall as you can. Grab it firmly. With your right hand, move the steering wheel from side to side. Do you detect any play? We're looking for play greater than a 1/16th of an inch.
Click to expand...

This. The slip joint is rarely ever the problem and it takes all of 15 seconds to find out.

Any other slop is because of the steering. This is the only Achilles heel of our 4Runners, our steering wears out quickly (not as quick as other manufacturers) and it starts to get sloppy. Inner and out tie rods, lower ball joints, sway bar bushings, steering rack bushings, steering rack guide, and sometimes even the rack itself will all go bad over time. Throw in frequent alignments, tire balancing and warped driveshafts and it'll keep you guessing for a while.

I just finished getting rid of all my steering slop and vibrations a month ago, and it was a lot of work.
 
It's easy to check and see if the slip joint is the issues as others have said. I know it is my issue. Does anyone know if the part from the earlier years is interchangeable with the later years? Nobody with an early 3rd gen, like 96-97, ever seems to have this issue so maybe those years got a more robust part that doesn't do this. I'm not too keen on welding that joint, but the longer I drive the truck the more I want to so I can get rid of that slop. Maybe I can replace it with a different part though and avoid the welding.
 
absalom said:
Op, walk out to your truck. Open door. With your left hand, reach under the steering wheel and grab the column as close to the firewall as you can. Grab it firmly. With your right hand, move the steering wheel from side to side. Do you detect any play? We're looking for play greater than a 1/16th of an inch.
Click to expand...

Yes there is definitely play. But... look at my next post for more detailed info.
 
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