Notices
RX - 1st Gen (1999-2003) Discussion topics related to the 1999 -2003 RX300 models

Squeaky Steering Wheel Problem (Pics and video)

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 3, 2014 | 02:45 PM
  #46  
DewHawk's Avatar
DewHawk
Driver School Candidate
 
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 44
Likes: 2
From: Iowa
Default

MY 1999 also has that issue when i turn sharp and it is cold.
Reply
Old Nov 13, 2016 | 09:45 AM
  #47  
cwatx's Avatar
cwatx
Driver School Candidate
 
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 27
Likes: 1
From: TX
Default

I started hearing strange squeaking noises when I would turn my steering wheel. I just sprayed some white lithium grease in the area shown in the pics in this thread, and
I no longer hear the noise.

Thanks CL!
Reply
Old Dec 19, 2018 | 05:29 PM
  #48  
greenphant's Avatar
greenphant
2nd gear
5 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 2
Likes: 1
From: GA
Default Add me to the list

2000 Lexus RX 300 Squeaky steering wheel. Sounded to me like if was coming from the actual wheel area but after reading this thread and seeing the pictures where it goes through the firewall at the floor I sprayed WD40 first then applied a couple of drops of 3 in 1 oil. I no longer hear the noise. I tried silicone spray at first but the noise returned after a week or so. Thanks to all you that contribute here, wonderful bank of knowledge.
Reply
Old Jul 7, 2019 | 07:35 AM
  #49  
threni's Avatar
threni
Driver School Candidate
 
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: NC
Default

But where exactly is this connection point, please?
Reply
Old Jul 7, 2019 | 08:39 AM
  #50  
salimshah's Avatar
salimshah
CL Community Team
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 1,385
From: Austin, TX
Default

Originally Posted by threni
But where exactly is this connection point, please?
Well one has to zero in to the source of the sound.
If you want to play the odds game, mostly it is where the steering shaft exits out of the cabin ... just follow the shaft down through the firewall. I would still recommend silicone spray.

Also welcome to Club Lexus.

Salim
Reply
Old Jul 7, 2019 | 10:56 AM
  #51  
greenphant's Avatar
greenphant
2nd gear
5 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 2
Likes: 1
From: GA
Default

Originally Posted by salimshah
Well one has to zero in to the source of the sound.
If you want to play the odds game, mostly it is where the steering shaft exits out of the cabin ... just follow the shaft down through the firewall. I would still recommend silicone spray.

Also welcome to Club Lexus.

Salim
Yeah, what he said.... down there on the floorboard at the gas & brake pedal. I tried silicone spray at first but the noise returned after a week or so, might want to try something heavier like 3 in 1 oil or the motor oil you put inside your engine. I'm going on 6 months since my last post with no more squeak noise after the 3 in 1 oil. Make sure you do it at the very bottom where it goes through the floor panel not just on top where it's easy to get to. Good luck! Happy TrailZ ................

Last edited by greenphant; Jul 7, 2019 at 11:03 AM.
Reply
Old Jun 29, 2020 | 12:38 PM
  #52  
DanMeyers1's Avatar
DanMeyers1
Driver School Candidate
 
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 20
Likes: 8
From: CT
Default My solution

You guys on this board are great. I bought my 2002 RX new in Nov 2002 (2003 was direct carryover so buying a 2002 saved me big time). Been taking perfect care of it since day one and I have 155K on it. Runs like new - maybe better. This "squeak when you turn the wheel" has been driving me nuts for five years. I'm not sure why I haven't addressed it but my wife pointed it out the other day so I came on the board. I started the RX, turned the wheel and found that the squeak was not coming from inside the wheel area (so taking that little panel off the side and spraying would not deal with it). It was coming from the floorboard area.I sprayed four shots of No Skweek® around the shaft, turned wheel a few times and GONE!

I swear by 'No Skweek' by the way. I think its far better than WD-40 and lasts longer. Thank you to all my fellow 1st Genners!!


Spray at these four points

I like this product better than WD-40

Last edited by DanMeyers1; Jun 29, 2020 at 12:42 PM.
Reply
Old Jun 29, 2020 | 07:16 PM
  #53  
maxSteel's Avatar
maxSteel
Racer
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,298
Likes: 322
From: nj
Default

Never heard of no-skweek. Funny mascot on the can.
Reply
ClubLexus Stories

Celebrating Lexus & Toyota from Around the Globe

story-0

10 Lexus Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

8 Tips for Improving Your Hybrid or Plug-in Hybrid's Efficiency!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-2

10 Best Lexus Models No One Remembers

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

TRD Off-Road Premium: Best 2026 4Runner, Except This One Thing

 Michael S. Palmer
story-4

Top 10 Lexus & Toyotas to Drive Before You Die!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Top 10 Lexus/Toyotas With The LEAST 5-Year Depreciation

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Lexus LC500 Convertible Auction: A Preview of Rising Values?

 Brett Foote
story-7

GX 550 vs TX 550: Best 3-Row Luxury Lexus Family Hauler

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

9 Best Lexus Models You Can Buy for Half Price (And 1 You Shouldn't!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

2026 Lexus NX Buyer's Guide: Models, Features, Prices & More!

 Brett Foote
Old Dec 13, 2022 | 05:01 PM
  #54  
steelgtr's Avatar
steelgtr
Pit Crew
20 Year Member
Liked
 
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
From: California
Default

Originally Posted by Pughnitive
CL strikes again! My steering wheel has been squeaking for about a year now and I finally found the time today to try and fix it. (It never really bothered me, but I did get sick of explaining what the sound was to new passengers. ) Looked up the issue on CL and found this thread, which was exactly what I needed.

I sprayed white lithium grease at the point where the olive green plastic piece meets the round rubber part. I have no idea what the actual names of these pieces are, sorry..Maybe this pic I doctored up from Shake1's original post will help.



Thanks everyone for your help!

Bryan
Could you explain where this photo is on the vehicle?

thx

bob
Reply
Old Dec 13, 2022 | 06:39 PM
  #55  
maxSteel's Avatar
maxSteel
Racer
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,298
Likes: 322
From: nj
Default

Originally Posted by steelgtr
Could you explain where this photo is on the vehicle?
thx
bob
Inside the car, where the steering column goes through the firewall.
Reply
Old Dec 13, 2022 | 08:59 PM
  #56  
steelgtr's Avatar
steelgtr
Pit Crew
20 Year Member
Liked
 
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
From: California
Default

Originally Posted by maxSteel
Inside the car, where the steering column goes through the firewall.
Thanks, I'll give it a go tomorrow!

bob
Reply
Old Dec 14, 2022 | 04:35 PM
  #57  
steelgtr's Avatar
steelgtr
Pit Crew
20 Year Member
Liked
 
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
From: California
Default

I tried white lithium grease spray and silicone spray but no luck Did it take a while to work for you guys or instantly?

bob
Reply
Old Dec 14, 2022 | 06:41 PM
  #58  
steelgtr's Avatar
steelgtr
Pit Crew
20 Year Member
Liked
 
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
From: California
Default

Originally Posted by greenphant
Yeah, what he said.... down there on the floorboard at the gas & brake pedal. I tried silicone spray at first but the noise returned after a week or so, might want to try something heavier like 3 in 1 oil or the motor oil you put inside your engine. I'm going on 6 months since my last post with no more squeak noise after the 3 in 1 oil. Make sure you do it at the very bottom where it goes through the floor panel not just on top where it's easy to get to. Good luck! Happy TrailZ ................
How do you access the "very bottom where it goes through the floor panel"?
Reply
Old Dec 21, 2022 | 07:56 AM
  #59  
steelgtr's Avatar
steelgtr
Pit Crew
20 Year Member
Liked
 
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
From: California
Default

Originally Posted by steelgtr
How do you access the "very bottom where it goes through the floor panel"?
Me too
Reply
Old Jan 4, 2023 | 08:22 AM
  #60  
rhmyers's Avatar
rhmyers
3rd Gear
 
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 3
Likes: 3
From: DC
Default 1999 Lexus RX300 - Squeek when stearing wheel turned

WoW -- Excellent Diagnostics. To Find a problem...you try ONE THING AT A TIME... and then you know where the problem is. and can fix it.
As a Mechanical Engineer ( Ya alot do not know **** about hands on work) but engineers and scientist call this "changing one variable at a time"

The previous 50 posts did all kinds of things including under the car ... they just sprayed the hell out of everything..
That is fine some times... you get a cover off and you might as well hit every possibility.
But you can NOT COMMUNICATE to OTHERS just where the problem is.
The problem with posting this way is others really did not identify where the problem is. WE still Did NOT Exactly where the problem is.
So we could waste a lot of time doing things that do NOT SOLVE the problem !!


There are three things:
1. Finding the Problem
2. Fixing the Problem
3 Communicating to OTHER PEOPLE. a. The exact source of the problem b. How to fix it.

Others often do not need to know all the trial and error on locating the problem. They just need to know where the problem is and how to fix it.
If they had done one thing at a time, and saw if it fixed the problem. It would be better.

This is an extreme example, but if you have a pain in you abdomen and the Doctor did a whole bunch of things, including an operation... etc.
It would not be good.

Slezey shops .. charge you for all that Diagnostics and Time, Parts Supplies ... that you do not need if they had had more precise location of the problem and the fix.

Hope the helps.. others



Originally Posted by cbrf23
This forum is great!
Just picked up an '01 RX300 for a winter / bad weather car and I'm fixing all the little things that helped me get it cheap (:

I just wanted to post up since people were hitting everything and not sure what the actual source of the noise was.

For me it was where the splined shaft enters the rubber boot on the floor.
I first sprayed inside the wheel from the little access door towards where the back of the steering wheel. Sprayed all around in there, did nothing for the noise even after turning the wheel back and forth multiple (15-20 or so times).

I then removed the panel on the bottom of the dash (2 X 8mm screws, rest are just clips that pop out) and I was able to clearly access that area where the shaft passes through the rubber boot.
Sprayed all round the rubber boot, did nothing. Sprayed the shaft all around (got in down the splines) and the noise went away.

Oh, and I used motorcycle chain lube (since I had a couple cans laying around and figured it would be a good lube that wouldn't wear off quickly).

Reply



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 09:18 PM.

story-0
10 Lexus Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Some luxury cars chase trends, but these Lexus models look better now than they did when they first rolled into showrooms.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-06 17:58:29


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Tips for Improving Your Hybrid or Plug-in Hybrid's Efficiency!

Slideshow: How to Get the Best Fuel Economy with a Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-05 20:54:44


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Best Lexus Models No One Remembers

Slideshow: 10 best Lexus models no one remembers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 17:33:28


VIEW MORE
story-3
TRD Off-Road Premium: Best 2026 4Runner, Except This One Thing

Slideshow: diving into 4Runner TRD Off-Road Premium's pricing, performance, fuel economy, features, and amenities!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-23 13:09:18


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Lexus & Toyotas to Drive Before You Die!

Slideshow: the 10 Lexus and Toyota vehicles you need to drive before you die.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-23 10:34:24


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 Lexus/Toyotas With The LEAST 5-Year Depreciation

Slideshow: Top 10 Lexus/Toyota models with the lowest 5-year depreciation rate.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-08 12:19:06


VIEW MORE
story-6
Lexus LC500 Convertible Auction: A Preview of Rising Values?

The LC hasn't even disappeared from the Lexus lineup yet, and we're already seeing signs of an explosive market.

By Brett Foote | 2026-04-06 09:25:02


VIEW MORE
story-7
GX 550 vs TX 550: Best 3-Row Luxury Lexus Family Hauler

Slideshow: comparing the pricings, specs, power, fuel economy, fun-factor, and features of the GX 550 Luxury+ and TX 550h+ Luxury.

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-03-19 13:44:11


VIEW MORE
story-8
9 Best Lexus Models You Can Buy for Half Price (And 1 You Shouldn't!)

Slideshow: 9 best Lexus models you can buy for half price and 1 you should avoid

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-03-19 12:01:07


VIEW MORE
story-9
2026 Lexus NX Buyer's Guide: Models, Features, Prices & More!

Here's everything you need to know about the latest NX.

By Brett Foote | 2026-03-19 11:56:59


VIEW MORE