What is wrong with my steering?

[fihnguy]

Howdy, all!

Just to add to the story because maybe it does have some thing to do with, which I very much doubt and probably just a coincidence, everything was fine with my steering until I replaced my shocks (Bilstein 4600). This is when I noticed that the steering wheel was a little weird. It is hard to explain, but it would kind of get a little "stuck" when turning left. I don't mean literally stuck, but you would need to apply a certain amount of pressure to "break" it and then it would steer just fine again. After going straight for a little bit, it would do the same. For those familiar with it, the best way I see to explain is it felt like the top nut was way over tightened on a vehicle with strut mount bearings. The reason I know how it feels is because I did just that on my vehicle 15 or even more years ago and this exactly how it felt.

Anyway, I thought I would mention it, who knows, maybe it does have something to do with it.

I replaced the power steering fluid about a week ago and that thing seemed to go away. Or so I thought. A couple of days ago it came back. Finally today, my wife drove to a meeting and she could not turn the wheel at the parking lot when heading back home. I took the vehicle for a test drive and yes, it is significantly harder to turn the steering wheel and it is "sticky", i.e. once you turn it, it would not come back and has to be turned manually back to the straight position.

To add to the story, when I changed the steering fluid it was significantly cooler and today it really warmed up to, I would say, above 35 degrees Celsius. The fluid level was kind of closer to the upper end in the tank. Today I checked and it is about 2 millimeters above the maximum level. Does that matter?

So to conclude, I am afraid my steering pump is failing. I have never had one fail for me and I have no idea what the symptoms are. I did drive a vehicle without power steering though and know how that feels.

Any advice on how i should proceed? Could it be something other than the pump? Anyway to test things out? Generally, wtf am I to do?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[lightfreak]

There’s a common problem with the steering Colum intermediate shaft. The ujoint gets corroded and causes stiff steering.
You can try spraying it with lube and see if it gets better. If that’s the case you might want to look into a replacement in the near future. There’s a few very detailed threads on here about it.

 

[AuSeeker]

There’s a common problem with the steering Colum intermediate shaft. The ujoint gets corroded and causes stiff steering.
You can try spraying it with lube and see if it gets better. If that’s the case you might want to look into a replacement in the near future. There’s a few very detailed threads on here about it.

This is exactly what I was thinking as well, especially since this is a T4R up in Canada, i.e. ice and snow country/rust/corrosion, and almost all who has the issue with the intermediate shaft it is because of rust/corrosion.

 

[Bossman]

As [MENTION=76420]lightfreak[/MENTION] indicated, here are some threads on the intermediate steering sub-shaft (or also commonly called the steering shaft u-joint) issue:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/153652-2005-4runner-stiff-steering.html

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/96639-steering-column-u-joint.html

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/198707-greasing-steering-intermediate-shaft-u-joints.html

 

[fihnguy]

Thank you for the replies, guys! I greatly appreciate them.I will spray the joint today and see what happens. I knew I was missing something and had no idea that this is a common problem.

Did a brief search for the u-joint and did not come up with much at this point. Looks like most of the offers are for the whole shaft. Any sugggestions where to get one?

Thanks again!

 

[AuSeeker]

Thank you for the replies, guys! I greatly appreciate them.I will spray the joint today and see what happens. I knew I was missing something and had no idea that this is a common problem.

Did a brief search for the u-joint and did not come up with much at this point. Looks like most of the offers are for the whole shaft. Any sugggestions where to get one?

Thanks again!

I haven't read of anyone just replacing the U-joint, most have replace the shaft/U-joint assembly.

That of course doesn't mean that somone hasn't done just the U-joint, if you can get the the exact dimensions of the U-joint you maybe able to source one from somewhere, if you can find a local driveline company or a place that rebuilds power take off/PTO shafts they maybe able to match up the old one.

That all being said most who have replaced the shaft had fun gettin the old one off because of the rust, I would suggest while you're in there spraying the U-joint to test if it's the issue you also spray down all the bolts and the splines. etc. so it can start working on the rust to make removal eaiser, even if you just replace the U-joint you will have to remove the shaft to do so and make sure when you put it back together you get the splines lined up exactly as it was before you removed it.

 

[fihnguy]

Thanks a bunch, [MENTION=149207]AuSeeker[/MENTION]. Appreciate the advice!

Yes, I will spray everything today.

This is a joint that fits, according to the listing: https://www.amazon.com/4520335310-Universal-U-Joint-Toyota-Febest/dp/B00DM9XGSE. And this is the only i can find so far. One of the 2 reviews says that it perfectly fits a Corolla, lol. I wonder what the quality is like though.

 

[Bossman]

When I had to replace my intermediate steering shaft, the only place I could source it was from Toyota. Definitely a pricey replacement part. There were no aftermarket options available at that time. There might be options now.

Toyota Part # 45203-35310

https://www.toyotapartsdirect.ca/p/...2-SHAFT-INTERMEDIATE/47783789/4520335310.html

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog...4.7l+v8,1428892,steering,steering+shaft,11373

This video might be helpful for install:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqPF_SNueyg

 

[fihnguy]

Thanks, Bossman! Yes, that one was the cheapest Toyota one I could find. There is now an aftermarket shaft available at Rockauto, which is cheaper. I would be happier if could get away with replacing just the joint though

Edit: Yes, the one you added to your post is exactly it. I would prefer to keep the original shaft and replace only the joint though if I can find one. Maybe it will even be my first write up here, lol.

 

[AuSeeker]

When I had to replace my intermediate steering shaft, the only place I could source it was from Toyota. Definitely a pricey replacement part. There were no aftermarket options available at that time. There might be options now.

Toyota Part # 45203-35310

https://www.toyotapartsdirect.ca/p/...2-SHAFT-INTERMEDIATE/47783789/4520335310.html

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog...4.7l+v8,1428892,steering,steering+shaft,11373

This video might be helpful for install:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqPF_SNueyg

Yes OEM is pricey, but an OEM shaft can be had for less than $100 if one acts fast since this is the "last" one.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/GENUINE-TO...322513226790?_trksid=p2385738.m4383.l4275.c10

 

[Bossman]

Yes OEM is pricey, but an OEM shaft can be had for less than $100 if one acts fast since this is the "last" one.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/GENUINE-TO...322513226790?_trksid=p2385738.m4383.l4275.c10

Good catch, [MENTION=149207]AuSeeker[/MENTION]

But that is $100 US dollars … much more in Canadian dollars … and if we can get it across the border without any sort of Trump tariff

 

[Bossman]

Thanks, Bossman! Yes, that one was the cheapest Toyota one I could find. There is now an aftermarket shaft available at Rockauto, which is cheaper. I would be happier if could get away with replacing just the joint though

Edit: Yes, the one you added to your post is exactly it. I would prefer to keep the original shaft and replace only the joint though if I can find one. Maybe it will even be my first write up here, lol.

Of all the threads that I have read on this forum, I don't believe anyone has tried to replace just the u-joint. I imagine it would take a good mechanical skill set to extract the existing u-joint from the shaft and then properly insert a replacement. Not that it couldn't be done, but likely easier to replace the whole shaft.

Having said that, as [MENTION=149207]AuSeeker[/MENTION] has indicated, those shafts often do not come out easily. My recollection is that my mechanic had to put a welding torch to mine to get it out.

 

[AuSeeker]

Good catch, [MENTION=149207]AuSeeker[/MENTION]

But that is $100 US dollars … much more in Canadian dollars … and if we can get it across the border without any sort of Trump tariff

Yes so it would be about $133 Canadian and I doubt the free shipping applies to Canada, but stll much better than $305 and shipping, but keep the link in case the rust turns out to be a nightmare!!

I know that Trump is giving ya'll the "shaft" so to speak, but I don't think it would apply to this shaft! :shrug:

 

[fihnguy]

Good catch indeed. Comes to about 180 CAD, presumably duties included. I will look around a bit more and if it is still available after I realize that the best option is to replace the whole shaft, I will buy it, lol.

 

[TechWrench]

Good catch indeed. Comes to about 180 CAD, presumably duties included. I will look around a bit more and if it is still available after I realize that the best option is to replace the whole shaft, I will buy it, lol.

I had the same problem with my intermediate shaft years ago, and I did find a source for just the u-joint. but when it arrived, and I had a chance to look at how the joint was fitted into the shaft, I decided to just get a replacement shaft. The joint is held into place by having the outer edges of the yoke holes for the end caps peened over the end caps. I didn't want to try to take it apart, and find out I couldn't get it back together, so I ordered a new shaft. Once installed, steering was back to normal.

 

[fihnguy]

I had the same problem with my intermediate shaft years ago, and I did find a source for just the u-joint. but when it arrived, and I had a chance to look at how the joint was fitted into the shaft, I decided to just get a replacement shaft. The joint is held into place by having the outer edges of the yoke holes for the end caps peened over the end caps. I didn't want to try to take it apart, and find out I couldn't get it back together, so I ordered a new shaft. Once installed, steering was back to normal.

Thanks for input, TechWrench! And

Yes OEM is pricey, but an OEM shaft can be had for less than $100 if one acts fast since this is the "last" one.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/GENUINE-TO...322513226790?_trksid=p2385738.m4383.l4275.c10

Sold! Lol.

Yeah, I read some reviews about the Febest parts (the company that makes the u-joint I posted somewhere above) and it seems like they have problems with rust and overall quality is not the greatest from what I understood. I mean there are mixed reviews, but I am not taking my chances. Granted, I was not able to find any reviews on u-joints specifically, rather some hubs and bearings, etc. And then TechWrench's comment kind of pushed me over the board :lol:

 

[fihnguy]

Just took a look at it and thought I would post a pic of the infamous joint (yes, I know it is past midnight here, lol). I sprayed a couple of bolts on top of the shaft, so some WD40 leaked down; thus, the "wet" on the photo. The second photo is of the top part of the shaft before spraying.

 

[fihnguy]

I should add, that I really expected it to be bigger.

Edit: That's what she said!

 

[Bossman]

WD-40 is a good product for many applications, but when I was checking on the condition of my intermediate steering shaft u-joint I used Deep Creep by Seafoam. It almost immediately loosened up the joint, thereby pinpointing my problem. Lubrication was only a very temporary solution, as my u-joint was corroded just as bad (or worse) than yours. The Deep Creep will also help with all those rusty bolts as well, to make removal easier.

 

[fihnguy]

Thanks, [MENTION=26691]Bossman[/MENTION]. I have never heard about that product before. I will look it up.

I forgot to mention in the previous post that after spraying it with WD-40 and going for a ride 5 minutes later, it was working like new.

FYI, if anyone else needs a shaft, they have another "last one" in that same listing (somewhere above), lol. According to the tracking info, mine is supposed to be here tomorrow! Which I really find hard to believe.