Power Steering mystery - now a drive shaft mystery...

So, the missus and I got out of PA for the last few weeks and have been driving around the southern states. Currently in the Florida Panhandle. I tell you this because we've been flat towing my Tacoma (it is a manual) for the last few thousand miles.

Yesterday I noticed dead spots in the steering. Like either the rack is loose or the pump cycles in and out. The college of Google pointed to power steering fluid change or rack issue, pump issue, basically anything else.

I did "refresh" the fluid with Dextron III (bought at AutoZone) - drained the power steering reservoir and refilled it. No change.

I'm having a hard time believing the power steering rack is going because of flat towing behind the RV.

I did start another thread but don't want to come to any conclusion on the final post until I figure out the exact cause:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/flat-or-dinghy-tow-a-tacoma-why-not.606488/

One more note - the day before I noticed the issue we did drive about a mile through wet rainy sand so the under carriage is covered in sand. Don't think this has anything to do with it but worth mentioning.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Edit - I did check the wheels for play and there was none. Either up or down or side to side.

 

OP, let's see. Uh, an '07, and lives in the north east, perhaps where roads are salted.....look very carefully at the lower steering intermediate shaft, the one that connects to the steering rack. The ujoint there. Me thinks there lies your problem.

 

Good idea. I'll check it out. RV campgrounds usually don't like you working on your truck at a site so I'll have to be stealthy .

 

I checked out the intermediate shaft and it does look a bit crusty but didn't flex/move when I applied pressure with a screw driver.

I dropped the truck off at a local shop here :-| to have them check it out. Still have 1000 miles to go and have to figure out the issue. They looked at it called back and said the issue is coming from the tires being cupped due to dragging behind the RV. Told them to rotate the tires and then drive it.

Of course while I was there they said there was way to much play in the carrier bearing and should be replaced. Now I did replace the carrier bearing a year and a half ago so am skeptical... Going to have them replace it and I'm taking the old carrier bearing for reference. I'm skeptical of shops "finding" stuff wrong. The do have a 4.6 out of 5 stars on Google. We'll see....

 

I'd coat that steering shaft with Fluid Film. It will lubricate the universal joint and slow down the corrosion a bit. (Look at it this way, it can't hurt.) I'm still skeptical of that shop's findings. Besides, the symptoms you noted fit a binding steering shaft to a T.

 

A $3 can of WD40 would have easily confirmed the intermediate shaft as the problem or not the problem.

BTW, I'm sure shops in Florida have never seen rust to that extent and aren't aware of what it will do to the intermediate shaft U joints.

 

So the plot thickens....

It appears the steering issue is due to a slow failing pump. Cold weather causes the dead spots and such. Don't have any reason to disbelieve since heating up the engine seems to make it much better.

BUT....

After the replacement of the carrier bearing I now get a serious vibration. We thought the tires were cupped from towing behind so went and had them all balanced. Didn't help. Took the truck back to the shop and he rotated the tires back and while it was up on the lift ran the truck. We watched the drive shaft vibrate way to much. The current theory is the carrier bearing was being destroyed by the vibration so replacing it brought the vibrations to the truck. Now when I brought the truck it there was no vibration now there is..... They only replaced the carrier bearing and the center u-joint. I had previously put Spicer u-joints in so those were good.

Anyway, tomorrow I'm taking it to a drive line shop and have them fix it. Don't really have a choice since flat towing it will still turn the shaft and eat the new carrier bearing. May go with a single piece drive shaft if they can do it but ultimately need it fixed.

I due believe the shop is an honest shop and trying to work with me. He said if it was his issue then he would work with me on the money. This whole mess tires me out since I brought it to the shop for the steering pump.

Currently in Pensacola, FL.

More to come tomorrow....

 

I’m still betting my lunch money that your initial problem is an intermediate shaft U joint. Describe in more detail what you mean by “dead spots”. If you turn the steering wheel more and more into a tighter circle, and the steering wheel goes easy, hard, easy, hard, about every 1/4 turn, it is most definitely 100% a steering shaft U joint problem.

 

Already on my list of thing things to do when I get back to PA. Change the pump and the intermediate shaft. A little to crisply for my taste...

 

some vehicles can be towed to NO disadvantages

others not so much

the front end is hunting .............yet NO fluid is being pumped thru

same with some transmissions

with engine running.........sitting still in drive/nuetral pumps are working

trans fluid is being pumped thru

when towed s o m e fluid is being circulated................driveshaft is turning

yet pumps are not workin

 

You could be right - but - would cause rack failure not pump failure. Also manual transmission. I'll keep you posted. Will post a wrap-up to my towing thread at the end of this trip.

 

Is the steering in the Tacoma unlocked when you are towing it? It should be if you are towing it all 4 wheels on the ground.

 

Yup. Key in the ignition on the accessory position. Been towing cars for quite some time so absolutely on my check list every time I tow.

 

not a rack issue, it is the u joint on steering shaft binding. highly unlikely a rack or a pump issue.
the driveshaft vibration, look carefully at the hanger bearing it can be installed "upside down" or just unbolt it spin 180 and put bolts back in and recheck it for vibration

 

U said ‘ dead spot ‘ in the steering

the front end is hunting..................unless the alignment is way out !!!!!

when the engine is on

fluid to the rack

the rack at the very least attempts to. ‘ center ‘

without that the wheels want to go there separate ways


have it Ur way ???

 

This is likely an intermediate steering shaft issue. It's next to the drivers exhaust manifold. Have someone turn the wheel and watch if its binding.

 

How the hell can tires cup when flat towing
Wouldn’t that be the same as driving

 

And the steering coupling u call that crusty holy cow change that thing out

 

My steering shaft looks way worse than that and it works haha I'm assuming all the ujoints are good becuase that would be fairly obvious. Maybe they damaged the driveshaft somehow changing the bearing and ujoint?