Tacoma Steering Column

Halfway through a 7 hour drive I laid on the horn at some imbecile on the road. Doing so lowered/loosened my adjustable steering wheel/column. Felt stupid but thought nothing of it. Readjusted and went on my way. I made a right turn out of a driveway the next day and it outright collapses. Something resembling a U Bracket drops on the floorboard. I’ve spent the better part of an hour or so meandering trying to fit it back in but it doesn’t seem to want to take. It appears this is a somewhat common issue but no online resources have provided me a solution. Seems like it can happen if you’re too aggressive behind the wheel (honking, using the wheel to pull yourself in the cabin, etc. All things I’m guilty of doing). It appears the bottom of the bracket(a term I’ll use for lack of a better one) will slide in just fine to the rails it needs to seat in, however, the top doesn’t want to comply. This part is definitely responsible for holding the steering column in place. Hoping for an easy fix. Regardless, definitely not laying on the horn or slapping my steering wheel out of frustration anymore Appreciate any help y’all can offer.

 

Take a look at this thread, post #1 shows that same part, and post #32 kinda describes the fix...

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/what-fell-out-of-my-steering-column.389187/page-2

 

I saw that. Going to tinker around with it after work and see what I can do. The explanation aren’t super thorough. I was hoping it was as simple as just reseating the bracket along the rails but it seems like I may have to remove the bolts along the top to do so.

 

IIRC the piece that fell out on you, was like a temporary clip. It kept the steering wheel in place for me to put two bolts in. Those were what keeps the steering wheel up and not the clip. I think that's just there as a safety clip incase the two nuts/bolts (can't remember which exactly) fail. I might be wrong, it's been a 6 months since I had mine apart but, I thought it might be worth noting just in case I'm correct.

 

Appreciate the info. I think it’s more crucial to the adjustable tilt function. Without it, the Column just rests at the bottom position, leaving the wheel on my knees. Is that what you experienced?

 

I just looked to see if I had pictures and I don't...sorry.

I completely removed my steering column when I did the dash tear down. IIRC I removed two screws one on the R and one on the L of that clip. The wheel dropped down to just being held on by that clip. I pulled the column toward me and the clip came out. I think there was one more screw that kept the angle of the shaft and one more screw that kept the shafts together. I was able to take the whole column and wheel together out. so 4 screws and that clip is all.

It's probably not the case but... I pictured your column wasn't put together with the top L and R screws properly. Like the clip was the only thing holding the column up. While I did have the clip support the weight of the column during disassembly and reassembly I don't think it should be the only thing that does. Hope that helps. Good Luck.

 

Still trying to figure this one out. Without the pin, you’re able to lock your steering wheel into a fixed position upright by pushing it all the way in, lifting up, and pulling back, seating it on the rails it sits on. The pin, from what I can tell, keeps the steering wheel from going too far forward and pushing it off the rail. How the pin actually fits in and functions aside from that I’m still not sure.

 

It was a while ago. I wish I had a picture.

This is the correct orientation as it gets installed.



It goes between these two nuts.... and correct me if I'm wrong.... those are the two nuts that keep the top of the steering column up. The clip is a safety in between those two. They just look like they are there but not being used properly. I could be wrong. What do they hold together currently?


I did have the whole area opened up, So that plastic exterior and there was a metal guard plate I removed after I removed the plastic exterior. There's also the upper and lower plastic exterior on the shaft. There's like one screw on top and those come off. I'm not sure you're gonna be able to get it back together without taking it all that apart. I hope I'm wrong Good Luck!