TableSyrup

Ok, I just spent over an hour reading through posts on the steering clunk from U-Joint play, or bushing play, in the column ... (Under the dash, inside the firewall)

I do not want to zip tie mine and call it a day... not a 'fix' I'm willing to live with.

What I did not find was a source to the parts.

I can't seem to find a link to the bushing people were talking about buying (and replacing, fixing the issue) - I presume this is mounted to the firewall? (Lots of missing photo links, so sorry I'm not familiar)
I also can't seem to find a link to a replacement U-Joint....

I can't tell if the U-Joint is a replaceable component...
I know the assembly unbolts at the upper side clamp, but don't know if the lower end is the same or if it is fixed to the shaft, and I haven't torn mine apart yet to find out.

I would appreciate it if someone has a link to the u-joint assembly (If available) - or to the bushing... or both...

Thanks

Mr Jokster

iTrader: (8)

Which part? Is it 45209 on the bottom left? If so, the part number is 45206-30060 about a buck forty at the dealer.

TableSyrup

The shaft assembly is 45260 yes...

The part I have play in is the U-Joint in the top side of the shaft. It clamps to the column assembly with the bolt labeled 90119-08560

I'd like to simply replace the U-Joint... but I'm presuming that the U-Joint assembly doesn't separate from the shaft?
I would also replace the 'bushing' for good measure - but I couldn't find links to the part, and all photo links of that part were broken

There was a lot of info, but no links to parts.... lots of broken photo links... all sort of old posts that are currently dead ends.

Unless I missed something... in which case, sorry...

Essentially I want to find the parts, rather than replacing that entire 45260 shaft assembly (Which I also could not find online)

Mr Jokster

iTrader: (8)

My bad, I thought 45209 was the piece on top of 45260. The part number you want is 45260-30080 assuming your car was made after 8/1998. If it was made before 8/1998, then its 45260-30060. Parts gonna run about $320 at the dealer.

Found used for $85 on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1998-2000-01-2002-GS300-Steering-Column-Intermediate-Center-Shaft-Rod-Coupling-/251851140491?hash=item3aa37f6d8b&vxp=mtr
Or brand new aftermarket for $110

http://www.ebay.com/itm/STEERING-COLUMN-INTERMEDIATE-SHAFT-LEXUS-GS400-1998-1999-2000-/151565221170?hash=item2349fdbd32&vxp=mtr
Apparently its the same as the one off the SC430, in case you want to cross-reference.

TableSyrup

Hmmm... Man, I wish they had just made it a serviceable U-Joint replacement...

I may just get the micrometer out and track down a U Joint...

The $ isn't bad, this stuff just P'ss's's's's me off... such a waste to toss the whole thing over a simple u-joint ... and in reality, it's most likely just a worn out cup.....

We'll see... I'll dig into it a bit more tomorrow... if I track down a source and find it to be cheap and easy to repair rather than replace, I'll update or make a new post

Mods can feel free to kill this post if you'd like - didn't mean to clutter... I just came up short on my searches... sorry about that

tiger4life

iTrader: (16)

Please post a diy for however you fix it. I have the same issue.

Behemoth7

I had the exact issue, it's the intermediate shaft that is bad, and you can't just replace the joint you have to replace the entire shaft. I bought that new aftermarket shaft that jokester linked to, and it fixed the issue, no more clunking. I had mine installed by my mechanic though, I couldn't figure out how to get the damn thing out.

TableSyrup

Problem is, I wouldn't want to do the shaft without doing the bushing... isn't there a bushing at the firewall??? Which would be part of the 45260 assembly...

Is there a source for the bushing?

I'm trying to avoid tearing this apart before having the parts on hand to swap lol....

Mr Jokster

iTrader: (8)

This is all I have for sourced parts, I dont see any bushings. Could it just be a giant grommet that can be sourced at an industrial place?

TableSyrup

I guess I'll just have to tear into it and find out lol.. I was hoping to not have to rip it apart to have my head around it and see it all, but I guess I'll have to.

I guess when I do I'll take photos and everything too (Unless I missed something, the existing posts on the subject don't show everything, probably used to, but maybe that's what the broken photo links are lol).

I'll throw a micrometer on the bushing and see if I can source something.

The parts lists don't break down just the bushing. Seems as though at one time there was an aftermarket bushing manufactured for this, but I can't find it... doesn't appear to be available anymore... (Was in some pretty old posts)