Steering Wheel Play - Not the Slip Joint

[cblock406]

Hi Everyone,

I hate starting new threads but I can't figure this out.

My steering wheel can be freely turned (more of a wiggle) maybe a quarter of an inch either direction before it catches. I never noticed this until I recently started daily driving it and it is driving me effing crazy.

I previously welded the slip joint, which was also loose, and that made a big difference. I thought maybe the weld broke so I pulled everything out and it is still welded tight, there is no play in the joint whatsoever. I have had the column in and out more times than I can count now and I can't find the source of the play.

Has anyone else had this? Does anyone else's wheel do this? Any ideas other than the slip joint? I'm 99.99999% sure the source is somewhere in the column, this isn't a rack/tie rod/linkage issue.

Here is a video that shows it better than I can describe. Thanks for the help!

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/146366781@N04/45958350904/in/dateposted-public/" title="Untitled"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7893/45958350904_617e126697_c.jpg" width="450" height="800" alt="Untitled"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Kanoe]

There is the possibility that it is in the "Intermediate Shaft" in Toyota speak. The part that goes out through the firewall. There is a double U-Joint/centering disk mechanism in the plastic shield bolted to the firewall from the inside under the dash.

In operation it seems to work along the same lines as a double cardan joint in the driveshaft.

Mine had play in it, noticeably. I searched the wreckers until I found a nice tight one and swapped it in. 90% improvement. Note that mine is an early 96 and my part number only lists for 96 and early 97s. There is a different part number listed for late 97s onward. Not sure how the later ones are different.

I have tried to source the 2 U-Joints to rebuild my original but no luck so far. The replacement is still good.

I seem to be the only one who has dealt with this particular component. In the years I have been on here no one to my knowledge has mentioned this issue. I've mentioned it a few times and got no interest. Just putting it out there...

 

[Silver.T4R]

Not sure if this helps at all, but my 98 had about a 1 1/2in of play on either side that was most noticeable on the highway. I took it into my mechanic and he said the rack and pinion was stripped out and replaced it and its been significantly better since. I still have a slight bit of wobble somewhat similar to yours but I haven't welded the slip joint.

 

[thegipper]

Could be the rack as suggested above. Any play in your tie rods?

 

[cblock406]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I’m almost positive I have play somewhere in the steering column, it’s not tie rods, they are in good shape.

The steering wheel moves before the actual steering engages, almost like the splines on the steering wheel don’t fit quite tight enough, but that’s not actually the case.

I’m about to the point of just finding a whole new column and swapping it.

 

[jgue467]

...
My steering wheel can be freely turned (more of a wiggle) maybe a quarter of an inch either direction before it catches. I never noticed this until I recently started daily driving it and it is driving me effing crazy.
...

Check out the Owner's Manual. It clearly states 1" of play in steering is designed in by Toyo for our pleasure! Can it be 'tightened' up, perhaps. Do i care, not really..... Enjoy that Runner. :cowboy:

 

[octanejunkie]

Can you reproduce the wobble in park or just when driving?
While driving, does it translate to vibration?

The obvious things to suspect/inspect
-steering rack linkages (joints, shaft, etc)
-steering rack itself (sector shaft, bushings, etc)
-tie rod ends, inner specifically
-cv joints

 

[catrains]

Could be the rack as suggested above. Any play in your tie rods?

I agree rack wear 200K miles ..need 2 persons to check out the play location..

on some vehicles 100K racks wear but if used on bad roads pot holes whacking curbs etc..

 

[96RedRunner]

How about the rag joint have you checked it?

 

[cblock406]

Check out the Owner's Manual. It clearly states 1" of play in steering is designed in by Toyo for our pleasure! Can it be 'tightened' up, perhaps. Do i care, not really..... Enjoy that Runner. :cowboy:

I'd agree with you but I checked on a friend's 4runner and his is totally tight. You can actually hear it catch when moving it side to side.

Can you reproduce the wobble in park or just when driving?
While driving, does it translate to vibration?

The obvious things to suspect/inspect
-steering rack linkages (joints, shaft, etc)
-steering rack itself (sector shaft, bushings, etc)
-tie rod ends, inner specifically
-cv joints

I created another video with the car totally off. It does it when the steering wheel is locked. It takes almost zero effort to move it. Again, you can hear it catch. It's almost if a spline somewhere is loose but I don't think that's the actual case.

<a data-flickr-embed="true" data-header="true" data-context="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/146366781@N04/46690387801/in/dateposted-public/" title="Untitled"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7842/46690387801_eb0b9129f7_c.jpg" width="450" height="800" alt="Untitled"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

How about the rag joint have you checked it?

That I will check, although I'm pretty certain the problem is before the rag joint.

Thank you everyone for trying to help, much appreciated!

 

[T4topher]

How about the rag joint have you checked it?

I’d check this, the two halves of the plastic ball are what had play in my steering column.. Watch Timmy the Toolman video on steering column fix, we do it on my truck. Just cut out a piece of an old oil bottle to fit between the two halves of plastic.

Edit: if you haven’t already check the outter tie rods as well for peace of mind..

 

[phattyduck]

Look into rack guides too. Easier to replace than the whole rack...

I'm left with only the steering wheel slip joint play at this point (now with new OEM OTRE, ITRE, rack and poly mount bushings).

-Charlie

 

[cblock406]

I’d check this, the two halves of the plastic ball are what had play in my steering column.. Watch Timmy the Toolman video on steering column fix, we do it on my truck. Just cut out a piece of an old oil bottle to fit between the two halves of plastic.

Edit: if you haven’t already check the outter tie rods as well for peace of mind..

WHOA!!! I think you may have nailed it, I will definitely check this. I'd bet anything this is the culprit in mine, I'm 99.9% sure the issue is in the column somewhere. Many thanks!

Guess I need to start watching his videos!

 

[cblock406]

Look into rack guides too. Easier to replace than the whole rack...

I'm left with only the steering wheel slip joint play at this point (now with new OEM OTRE, ITRE, rack and poly mount bushings).

-Charlie

Fixing the slip joint in mine made a massive difference.

 

[Kanoe]

Seriously, take 10 minutes and pull the steering shaft cover from under the carpet on the firewall. The steering shaft IS NOT a 1 piece shaft. There is a complicated mechanism of 2 u-joints and a centering mechanism hidden in there. that is how the steering shaft is nearly horizontal in the steering column and nearly vertical where it exits the firewall in the engine bay. This assembly allows the steering column to make the approx 60 degree bend it makes.

Most of these I have checked at the wreckers have some play in this. I'd bet this is where yours is too. I'm guessing most people don't know this is even in there.

 

[cblock406]

I’d check this, the two halves of the plastic ball are what had play in my steering column.. Watch Timmy the Toolman video on steering column fix, we do it on my truck. Just cut out a piece of an old oil bottle to fit between the two halves of plastic.

Edit: if you haven’t already check the outter tie rods as well for peace of mind..

Circling back to close the loop on this thread. I took my column apart again this weekend (I had already welded the slip joint previously) and put a spacer in between the two balls of tilt mechanism as [MENTION=271883]T4topher[/MENTION] suggested. Put everything back together and the play I had is 100% eliminated. The steering is the tightest it has ever felt.

Very happy since I've been fighting this ever since I bought the truck and the slip joint was loose. Fingers crossed I never have to pull the column out and mess with it again!

 

[andre3k]

Circling back to close the loop on this thread. I took my column apart again this weekend (I had already welded the slip joint previously) and put a spacer in between the two balls of tilt mechanism as [MENTION=271883]T4topher[/MENTION] suggested. Put everything back together and the play I had is 100% eliminated. The steering is the tightest it has ever felt.

Very happy since I've been fighting this ever since I bought the truck and the slip joint was loose. Fingers crossed I never have to pull the column out and mess with it again!

What type of spacer did you use? Any pics?

 

[rightyouareken]

What type of spacer did you use? Any pics?

Check out Timmy's video here at 17:53. He shows how they cut a spacer and installed it.

YouTube

 

[cblock406]

What type of spacer did you use? Any pics?

No pics but watch the video. I actually used a thin piece of rubber as it was easier to cut. Good luck, hope you get yours figured out!

 

[andre3k]

No pics but watch the video. I actually used a thin piece of rubber as it was easier to cut. Good luck, hope you get yours figured out!

Thanks, Will do.