steering wheel knock

[t4fan]

CJ3Flyr,
I have a loose streering that sounds like the same issue discussed here. Can you please describe how you did the adjustment (maybe mark on the photo posted earlier)? I am having trouble understanding exactly what to adjust here.
Thanks in advance.

dcon, Thank-you! :bigok:

I just did this adjustment moments ago. That slight knock was only sign my 75k mile 4Runner was aging. It's now like brand-new (except for the slight wiff of dog vs 'new':lmao: )

:cheers:

 

[CJ3Flyr]

CJ3Flyr,
I have a loose streering that sounds like the same issue discussed here. Can you please describe how you did the adjustment (maybe mark on the photo posted earlier)? I am having trouble understanding exactly what to adjust here.
Thanks in advance.

By turning to the steering the correct position I was able to work this project by lowering the rubber splash guard and going over the tire with a long 3/8's drive extension.

I did follow dcon's suggestions 'to the letter' including the torque spec. It did the trick and again, thank-you dcon

:cheers:

 

[t4fan]

Thanks for the neat trick from dcon and CJ3Flyr. My steering now feels tight and precise after doing this. Toyota must have a design flaw in their intermediate shaft, we shouldn't have to do this.

By turning to the steering the correct position I was able to work this project by lowering the rubber splash guard and going over the tire with a long 3/8's drive extension.

I did follow dcon's suggestions 'to the letter' including the torque spec. It did the trick and again, thank-you dcon

:cheers:

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Ok, sorry to beat a semi-dead horse but this is the best 20min I have spent on my 4Runner ever!:bigok: This totally restored the tight, right, "new" feel not that it was bad in any way but it wasn't 'like new'.

So worth the effort... Thank-you dcon!:cheers:

 

[F22nrptr]

Whats up guys, i just have to say, I have been searching for some lead on this issue for months now.

I own an 05 Tundra DCab, and NO-ONE in the forums beside myself except for one other guy has been experiencing this problem.

i am on my 2nd Tundra, truck is identical to the first, though now i have a little work into this one. everyone i ask is clueless,
and i WORK AT A FREAKIN TOYOTA DEALERSHIP hahah, im a service advisor.


im working tomorrow, and i CANT wait to try this

ive poured hundreds of dollars into this issue because i love my truck, new rack, new lower shaft, new intermediate shaft, paying guys to help me look into it, and no-one on the truck forums (TundraSolutions.com, and TTORA.com) has any idea

only other lead ive had was to spot weld the upper shaft where it would collapse into itself in the event of a front end collision, the other Tacoma guys sometimes have to do that, because the splines begin to get loose.


ill let you know how it goes guys

thank you.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

im working tomorrow, and i CANT wait to try this

Welcome and please let us know if it helps the Tundra. If it works I want to know what the techs say... I am curious what their 'take' will be...
:cheers:

 

[F22nrptr]

sooo, yea, that didnt work for me haha


i did find out however that the whole bottom end of the upper shaft moves around and makes a "knock" kind of noise, soooo im gonna change the whole upper shaft and steering column next, if this doesn't do it, im selling the truck lol

 

[CJ3Flyr]

sooo, yea, that didnt work for me haha


i did find out however that the whole bottom end of the upper shaft moves around and makes a "knock" kind of noise, soooo im gonna change the whole upper shaft and steering column next, if this doesn't do it, im selling the truck lol

That sucks! Thanks for the follow-up. I like those trucks a lot. I hate to hear your having this kind of a problem!

 

[F22nrptr]

so i found my problem, the upper shaft inside the column has rotational play, right where it would compress in the event of an accident, there are no splines its only squeezed together. this is EXACTLY what the tacoma guys experience.

here is a phenomenal write up on it.

i ended up ordering a new shaft (since this truck is my DD), had the shaft welded in two small locations (you'll see it in the thread below), and im having it installed this week.

Diagnose and Fix Steering Play/Rattle - TTORA Forum

i wonder if this is REALLY what you guys are experiencing, try the vice-grip trick on the lower part of the upper shaft, that almost assures you have it or you dont.

 

[F22nrptr]

...fail, that didnt fix it, back to the drawing board, though i wonder if the universal ball at the tilt is shot

 

[popalzai]

By turning to the steering the correct position I was able to work this project by lowering the rubber splash guard and going over the tire with a long 3/8's drive extension.

I did follow dcon's suggestions 'to the letter' including the torque spec. It did the trick and again, thank-you dcon

:cheers:

i am sorry if its a silly question...i am feeling the same knocking in my steering wheel i was trying to understand this...as i understood i have to loosen these two bolts 1st and then slide this part up to 1/4" and then tighten the two bolts at 26ft-lb torue..do i have to use specific torque wrench which shows value of torque or can i use simple wrench?

My steering sliding yoke is not as clean as shown in the picture it has quite a bit of rust...I have 2007 4runner sr5 45K miles

many thanks

 

[Keone777]

Thanks! Slid up the thing 1/4inch and my steering doesn't rattle when going over bumps anymore. It has some play still that slightly makes the sound when I shake the steering wheel, maybe quarter inch play. Any thoughts on that?

 

[NY-T4R]

Thanks! Slid up the thing 1/4inch and my steering doesn't rattle when going over bumps anymore. It has some play still that slightly makes the sound when I shake the steering wheel, maybe quarter inch play. Any thoughts on that?

I am surprised you were able to move that joint... I thought the shaft had groves in it which the bolts line up with...therefore un-movable. huh.

Any way, I resolved my rattle by tightening One bolt inside near the firewall.

CLICK HERE FOR THE WRITE UP / PIC

 

[Keone777]

I did this plus tightening the bolt behind the steering cover in the cab mentioned in another post and the rattle is still there. I slid it up a quarter inch as mentioned.

Should I slide it up more or would that make the joint too weak?

Any help please.

 

[MBurzon]

I loosened the two bolts but had a hard time getting the assembly to slide up the shaft. I tapped with a hammer and tried with a pry bar but it didn't seem like I was making progress...AND THEN...

I gave up thinking I'd try another day. I jumped in my truck and drove around. The rattle is gone!

My hammer taps must have made it slide up after all. I am very pleased with this fix!

 

[WacoCharlie]

Going to try tomorrow

New R inner tie rod end, new exhaust system, new Bilstein 5100 (canned a perfectly good xreas system) and knock still there. I'm going to try it. I can feel a knock in my steering rack when I turn the wheeel from side to side -engine off. I;m over 1K and not cured..I will say the new 5100's did subdue it a wee bit...probably because the body roll is stiffer, the xreas was much softer.

 

[earthrealm]

so resurrecting an old thread, any updates?

 

[rossinabox]

By turning to the steering the correct position I was able to work this project by lowering the rubber splash guard and going over the tire with a long 3/8's drive extension.

I did follow dcon's suggestions 'to the letter' including the torque spec. It did the trick and again, thank-you dcon

:cheers:

Does anyone know the exact bolt type for these on the yoke? The head on mine have been fully rounded so I can't get a wrench on them. I want to make sure I have the correct replacement before I manhandle them off.

 

[Rob-F]

I got rid of the clunk, knock, and looseness feel on mine by removing some of the slack from the steering sliding yoke, I had to remove about a 1/4 inch of slack. You must leave some slack though to prevent the steering column from binding due to the body and frame movement. The steering sliding yoke is accessible through the left side wheel well. Be sure the bolts are torqued properly to 26ft-lb and that it steers smoothly after adjusting. When in doubt have a competent mechanic make the adjustment.

Hi, I joined the forum to get info on this specific issue. I have a 2001 4Runner. I get a loud knocking in my steering when driving on rocky roads and trails. It doesn't have to be all that rough or rocky. But on two separate trips to the Toyota dealer, they take it for a ride, drive it over the railroad crossing, and pronounce it normal. It is exactly like what everyone is describing here! The wheel feels like it wants to jump right out of my hands, banging hard left and right. I hear a loud knock that sounds like it's coming from under the housing behind the steering wheel. (I realize the sound could be getting transmitted up through the mechanism, and not really behind the wheel. But it sounds that way.) It is loud, metal on metal sounding.

It's a real disappointment on rough county-maintained trails in places like Imogene pass in Colorado. But now it happened even on a gravel road in Big Bend National Park.

I'm thinking of printing out the photo of the steering sliding yoke and showing it to the dealer. Will this adjustment completely eliminate the knock? There was no such problem with my 1989 Cherokee!

Thanks for this info so far!

 

[CJNowell21]

Rack and Pinion Bushings

Hello,
I have been tracking this same exact issue for several months now (the knock in the steering wheel when traveling over rough terrain and even heavy braking). After putting my 4runner on a car lift and really looking at everything in detail, my mechanic and I noticed that shifting the steering sliding yoke doesn't really address the issue. Shifting the steering sliding yoke will tighten your steering if it was loose to begin with but doesn't address any side to side motion. Therefore we kept poking around and noticed the Rack and Pinion Bushings are brittle and cracked. Further inspection revealed that the Rack and Pinion itself is slightly moving which was the culprit of my knocking noise. Simply replace the two rubber bushings which are roughly $30 for the set and in my case no more knocking will occur. Hope this helps.