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Has anyone replace their steering shaft before? The steering shaft near the top of the steering wheel makes a clunking noise when I moved the steering left and right while parked. It also violently shakes when going over bad road surfaces. Is the steering shaft one piece or 3 pieces? How hard of a job is it? TIA
Since it isn't a common replacement item, I could purchase a complete steering shaft for around $100. It sounds like a knuckle is lose. Just need to know if it can be easily diy.
I had this problem in a 4runner. The u joint does not go bad easily but there is a coupler between a short shaft and a longer shaft that has "teeth" at the ends and the shafts have "gear grooves". The idea is that the teeth and grooves prevent the shaft from slipping when you are turning the steering. Eventually the teeth starts eroding the grooves and create some play there.
Since the teeth are only at two ends of the coupler, the quick fix is to loosed the nuts on coupler and slide it by 1/4 inch or so in either direction. This will put the teeth on an un-worn spot of the shaft grooves.
Of course, common places like tie rod and bushings can be the problem. Since you are looking for steering replacement, I assume you have ruled those out already.
I had this problem in a 4runner. The u joint does not go bad easily but there is a coupler between a short shaft and a longer shaft that has "teeth" at the ends and the shafts have "gear grooves". The idea is that the teeth and grooves prevent the shaft from slipping when you are turning the steering. Eventually the teeth starts eroding the grooves and create some play there.
Since the teeth are only at two ends of the coupler, the quick fix is to loosed the nuts on coupler and slide it by 1/4 inch or so in either direction. This will put the teeth on an un-worn spot of the shaft grooves.
Of course, common places like tie rod and bushings can be the problem. Since you are looking for steering replacement, I assume you have ruled those out already.
Tie rods, lca bushings, etc are less than 10k miles. I rebuilt the whole front suspensions.
Can you set your steering wheel to the following 4 positions and compare severity of clunking noise and shaking:
1. Steering wheel fully extended, and tilted fully down
2. Steering wheel fully extended, and tilted fully up
3. Steering wheel fully retracted, and tilted fully down
4. Steering wheel fully retracted, and tilted fully up
If by changing position, the noise or vibration is improved or worsened, then you can narrow your search in the steering column assembly. Otherwise if the various positions do not impact the noise and vibration, then you can look elsewhere. I suspect the problem is in the steering column assembly...
Thanks rkw77080 for the suggestion. Why didn't I think about adjusting the steering wheel position earlier to see if the symptom improves. With the Steering wheel fully retracted, and tilted fully down , the vibration and shaking are kept to a very minimum. This makes sense because there is less play with steering wheel column. My original setting is almost fully extended and tilted up. I also feel the steering is tighter, perhaps is has to do with a new position. Rkw77080 might be right about the issue being faulty steering column assembly.
Well I replaced the front and rear brakes yesterday and the noise in the column when slowing down is gone - I hope it stays that way. There was also a small rattle when going over bumps which is still present - anybody have an idea on what that may be?
Steering shaft replacement.
