Telescopic Steering Wheel 2004 LS430
09-19-12, 03:40 PM
#1
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Telescopic Steering Wheel 2004 LS430
This forum is great and has given me the guts to try a DIY. I took my '04 LS430 to Lindsay Lexus in Virginia who wanted $500+ to replace a bad motor in my steering wheel because it wouldn't telescope...but I knew it worked, I could hear it! So I took it apart...please see photos. Be careful removing the plastic top and bottom, it has tiny parts that interconnect and you must take your time...no need for prying with tools, just play with it and it will fall apart. Photo 1 shows the bare telescoping screw as found on the left side of steering column. Photo 2 shows it when the mounting bracket is removed (10mm). Photo 3 shows the cracked rubber bushing where the telescoping screw would turn! Not sure which part number this is at Sewell (http://lexus.sewellparts.com/oem-cat...S430-2004.html)...maybe part #45768? Photo 4 shows what the screw looks like with the rubber bushing removed, note direction of the bushing in photo 2! Photo 5 shows the tilt screw, looks clean, no problems...is the screw supposed to be dry? So a $500+ part (minus labor) actually cost $2.84? Hope the photos help.
Last edited by loughery; 09-19-12 at 04:34 PM. Reason: corrected Title
09-20-12, 06:50 AM
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$665 for replacement?!
Here is the original quote from the dealer to replace the entire motor. Gee, the motor whirs but it doesn't telescope...we'll have to replace the entire motor! This forum rocks!
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09-20-12, 09:17 AM
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Follow-up with Dealership
Just back from service center. The manager came out to look at my situation and was very impressed by "my" homework, and even smiled when he saw my schematics printed from Sewell 
He ordered the part and agreed to fix it for free! He acknowledged that he never saw what I had pointed out, they just always replaced the motor! Also commented that there should be no grease, maybe work was done before.
Anyway, Kudos to this forum! And Kudos to SewellParts.com for having prices 1/3rd the price of the dealership. The dealership price for the bushing is more than double Sewell, and the dealer prices on other "nice to have" parts are three times more than Sewell!
He ordered the part and agreed to fix it for free! He acknowledged that he never saw what I had pointed out, they just always replaced the motor! Also commented that there should be no grease, maybe work was done before.
Anyway, Kudos to this forum! And Kudos to SewellParts.com for having prices 1/3rd the price of the dealership. The dealership price for the bushing is more than double Sewell, and the dealer prices on other "nice to have" parts are three times more than Sewell!
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05-19-14, 12:37 PM
#10
Upon doing my tilt motor today I inspected the telescope motor and noticed that same exact part you pictured was definitely showing its age and rubber was torn but everything still worked. I will note to replace this next time I'm ordering from sewell. Did you ever confirm the correct part number? 45768 and 45761 both needed?
I think many telescope motor jobs at the dealer probably just need this small part but they still charge full price.
I think many telescope motor jobs at the dealer probably just need this small part but they still charge full price.
Last edited by bmore430; 05-19-14 at 12:41 PM.
09-14-14, 04:40 PM
#12
I love it loughery!!
It's great to save that much cash.
Yesterday I had to either replace ($500) the driver side 2011 Lincoln Town Car mirror, or try and fix it. I took the motor mechanism from a junker 2005 model Town Car, and swapped it into the 2011's housing.
Took just over and hour to do, cost nothing.
It's great to save that much cash.
Yesterday I had to either replace ($500) the driver side 2011 Lincoln Town Car mirror, or try and fix it. I took the motor mechanism from a junker 2005 model Town Car, and swapped it into the 2011's housing.
Took just over and hour to do, cost nothing.
09-14-14, 05:41 PM
#13
4576860011 is the full part number, or just 45768 BUSHING, TELESCOPIC STE
As I recall, they are supposed to have a split like that so you can get it over the D shaped nut or "slider".
As I recall, they are supposed to have a split like that so you can get it over the D shaped nut or "slider".
09-14-14, 05:43 PM
#14
MikeRX80, You can also got to a Toyota or Lexus dealer hand have them program the car to leave the tilt/telescope wheel in one place when enter and exit. This allows you to move it manually but saves wear and tear on those parts.
09-14-14, 06:12 PM
#15
Thanks for the part information. I purchased the Toyota Dongle to program the steering wheel to stop its auto settings but had some trouble getting it to detect the connection. Next time when I get around to it. For now hopefully that rubber bushing will fix the issue.