First gen steering wheel clunk FIX

2004 Toyota Tacoma mainly stock... did this mod today and really wish I would have done it sooner. I'm not too mechanically inclined compared to a lot of users of this website - Easy to do for sure. Ensure you use a sharpie to mark the two columns for matching it up when you put it back together, also ensure you get your welds ground flush and flat.

It truly does make the truck handle brand new.

 

Wow.
I've been chasing this issue of mushy, clunky steering and scary wobbly front end issues since I bought the truck 3 years ago. Have replaced steering rack bushings, tie rod ends, done alignment ....all with small incremental gains that never really solved the issue.
Recently took my truck to a trusted mechanic, and they quoted me $1400 parts&labor to replace the intermediate steering shaft and U-joints.

Then, I found this thread and the TTORA thread.
Did this fix on the weekend: 2hrs from start to test-drive. I used the roll-pin method as I didnt have access to a welder.
I could weep with joy. Drives like a new truck.

Thanks to all those who tracked down the source of this problem, and put in the time to document it for the rest of us!

 

Old thread revival. This is great, plan to do the repair next weekend. Recent offroad trip had me lagging behind due to concerns with the 'steering clunk'.

 

this should be stickied.

 

Forgot about this post. Completed the fix and the clunk is gone. I did experience what seemed like tighter feeling steering but have gotten used to it now. Deffinetly worth doing