Steering wheel "rattle" - anyone else?

[Devbot]

So I've had this noise for as long as I've owned my 4Runner and although I'm not totally concerned about it, I've definitely been curious what's the cause and if anyone has something similar. I could be going crazy but it seems like it's gotten worse and more consistent lately. Video posted below. Only happens in this direction from top dead center, and the sound is very clearly coming from inside. Tried inspecting the steering stalk while turning but couldn't spot anything weird leading me to believe it's either natural or perhaps something internally is beginning to wear out. Thoughts?

Video here

 

[JoeT4R]

[MENTION=549924]Devbot[/MENTION] I too have a noise that comes from the steering wheel, but I only notice it when I’m driving at higher speeds with wind blowing hard. Doesn’t sound quite as crunchy as what can be heard from your video, but I’m wondering if our steering wheel sounds have any correlation with each other. I have absolutely no clue, but are there any bushings or anything along the steering wheel column/pole/thing that attaches to the rack? I’ve only ever messed with mine when I installed a steering extension as a result of installing a body lift. I’d venture to say the sound only developed then, but that was in 2017, so I can’t really remember completely if I had it or not before the body lift

 

[Unner]

There's a slip joint in the steering column that can get sloppy and lead to a dead spot in the middle of the steering. The fix for that is to drill a hole and put a roll pin in, or put a spot weld on it. I did the roll pin.

My steering column cover rubs my steering wheel when turning and always has also. Did you look around the plastics there to see what is touching and possibly making the noise?

 

[Kanoe]

So I've had this noise for as long as I've owned my 4Runner and although I'm not totally concerned about it, I've definitely been curious what's the cause and if anyone has something similar. I could be going crazy but it seems like it's gotten worse and more consistent lately. Video posted below. Only happens in this direction from top dead center, and the sound is very clearly coming from inside. Tried inspecting the steering stalk while turning but couldn't spot anything weird leading me to believe it's either natural or perhaps something internally is beginning to wear out. Thoughts?

Video here

Down under the brake pedal there is a plastic shroud around the steering column. Hidden there is a back to back u-joint set up with a plastic centering disk. It changes the direction of the steering column from more horizontal to more vertical. It's possible that the noise is in there, there are a lot of parts there to wear out. Pull the 3 x M6 bolts out of the plastic shroud and have a peek.

 

[jgue467]

So I've had this noise for as long as I've owned my 4Runner ......it's either natural or perhaps something internally is beginning to wear out. Thoughts?

It is "natural" for 3rd gens, in fact its a Feature.

If you haven't dug into this forum feature, you should under the heading of:

3rd Gen Informational Threads --- A MUST READ For New Members

There exists this heading: 3rd Gen FAQ, Tutorials, & Documentation Reference v2 - Toyota 4Runner Forum - Largest 4Runner Forum

Which then leads to this heading: Diagnose and Fix Steering Play/Rattle | TTORA Forum

Ah there is the answer and solution mentioned by Unner.

Mine only 'rattles' when going a tad too fast off-road, I just turn up the stereo...Luck.

 

[Bad Luck]

It is "natural" for 3rd gens, in fact its a Feature.

If you haven't dug into this forum feature, you should under the heading of:

3rd Gen Informational Threads --- A MUST READ For New Members

There exists this heading: 3rd Gen FAQ, Tutorials, & Documentation Reference v2 - Toyota 4Runner Forum - Largest 4Runner Forum

Which then leads to this heading: Diagnose and Fix Steering Play/Rattle | TTORA Forum

Ah there is the answer and solution mentioned by Unner.

Mine only 'rattles' when going a tad too fast off-road, I just turn up the stereo...Luck.

That’s good info, but did you listen to the video? That’s definitely not any rattle I’ve ever heard. More of a grinding/groaning. I’ve never heard that noise in any 3rd gen I’ve driven.

 

[jgue467]

That’s good info, but did you listen to the video? That’s definitely not any rattle I’ve ever heard. More of a grinding/groaning. I’ve never heard that noise in any 3rd gen I’ve driven.

You're right, not the 'steering rattle' and I too have not heard that. Sounds like it is rubbing on something, I'd get underneath there and have someone move the wheel like he's doing in vid and look carefully at everything moving.

We had an '03 camry that made a similar sound, my son sprayed wd40 here and there on steering shaft under dash, its went away and did not return!

 

[Devbot]

That’s good info, but did you listen to the video? That’s definitely not any rattle I’ve ever heard. More of a grinding/groaning. I’ve never heard that noise in any 3rd gen I’ve driven.

The video makes it sound a little worse than it is, it's almost identical to the sound of plastic jostling around. If I had to compare it to something it would be similar to a cheap 90s toy being moved about - which is oddly fitting, now that I think about it ound: Kinda similar to the rattles and creaks they would have
At any rate I'll perhaps poke around this weekend and use the advice from above, if I get the chance. I wouldn't be totally shocked if it's maybe hitting something; the PO tried to install an aftermarket alarm and kill switch at one point and somehow made a total rats nest of wiring everywhere he worked, most of which is behind/around the dash and kick panel.

 

[RandyBobandy]

I wonder if there’s something going on with your clock spring, mine used to make a creaking noise like I was steering an old pirate ship, then one day it stopped and never came back so I didn’t bother trying to diagnose it

 

[Romeo1]

For sure check the clock spring. I want to say there’s a bearing in the upper column too maybe? Hell I can’t remember, I looked at it last year when I had the steering wheel off.

One interesting thing mine does is when I go to full lock turning left, I get a rubber twisting binding sound just before lock, maybe 1/4 turn before lock or so. It only happens to the left too.

I’ll deep dive into it one of these days.

 

[Bad Luck]

I wonder if there’s something going on with your clock spring, mine used to make a creaking noise like I was steering an old pirate ship, then one day it stopped and never came back so I didn’t bother trying to diagnose it

Clock spring is a good guess! I had a chevy truck that made a creaking noise when turning that I ignored for the 10 years I owned it. It was coming from the clock spring.