Steering Column Slop on 09 DC

So I have been chasing several issues with my brand new DC for a couple months now. The dealer has don e everything under the sun to try and get rid off a shimmy I have at 50+mph. One of the things they have been ignoring is a loose feeling I get on dirt roads and stony drives. I think I have traced it back to the steering column. There is 4-5mm of slop in the shaft where is passed through the fire wall. All of the universals look god and there isn't any slop in the rack or any of the slip joints. I guess the real question is if this is normal or not?

 

I have def. noticed the slop in my 09"

 

I have noticed the same thing on my 09 when I take it on gravel roads. The steering wheel has an unsolid feel as if there is some play in the steering shaft. This is completely unacceptable as this is supposed to be a truck. I didn't buy a 4x4 to only drive on the interstate.

 

I kind have the same thing, i mostly notice a bit of a clunk when i hit bumpy sections of roads, exiting driveways and such mostly at speed. Often sounds like its driverside wheel well area but a few times i have thought it was the steering column.

 

Never paid attention. I will now.

 

Mostly, I am looking for someone who doesn't feel the slop to check there steering column and see if there is play.

 

mine does it...i thought it was something loose in the front end.

 

I swear there was a huge thread on this forum or the toyota ones where someone posted the schematic, and where the issue actually was.

 

Do you just reach under the dash and shake the column to check this ?

 

Did you check tie-rod ends? That'd be my first thing to look at.

 

x2... Theres a good chance its the tie rods

 

It is the intermediate shaft, see the attached schematic.

 

Yeah, I checked the tie rod ends and every other nut bolt and part in the front end. The only thing that seems out of the ordinary is the steering column. I originally found it when I had the drivers side jacked up and was horsing on the wheel and control arms. Pushing in the tire and wheel created a clunking noise. Tracing it back yielded the steering column issue. With the truck on the ground, reaching in and shaking the steering column creates the same issue.

 

It has to be the No.2 Steering shaft..... or it might be the sliding yoke

 

Sounds like my Civic with 250k miles on it... same problem ^_^

 

It is in the intermediate shaft, the assembly that looks like two plates bolted togather.

 

Ok, Anyone know how to fix it? Should i get the dealer involved?
It happens when ever i leave pavement.

 

That is what we are trying to get to the bottom of....

 

any word on this yet?

 

I havn't had a chance to get doen to the dealer. I checked my Dad's '07 TRD sport and there is absolutly no slop in the intermediate shaft. That truck has 23K on it. There is a guy I work with that has an '09 access cab 4 banger. It has a little play, but not as much as mine. I am still digging around. There are about 3 other guys that have trucks I am going to check...