Front end / steering loose play

They all do it .

The TSB is the way to go if you can get it done

 

I think I've found the location of the problem (for me at least). If I crawl under the truck and grab the steering shaft around where to goes into the firewall from the front, I can move it about 1/4 inch either way. There is place in this part of the shaft but no where else. The steering wheel itself is solid as is the part of the steering shaft that goes down to the wheel. It's just that middle section. I guess that is the "intermediate shaft."

I think I might try a test to find out if this is the problem. It looks like I can run a zip tie around the shaft and to the frame. I may tighten it up just enough to keep the loose play out. I guess I'll have to put some grease on it so it will slip when the wheel is turned. I'll drive it around my field to see if it stops.

Whoever mentioned some rubber bushing near the firewall sounds like a fix. From what I can tell, it would appear that a bigger bushing where the shaft goes into the firewall would fix the problem. I'm not due for an oil change for abour 4000 miles so I'll know for sure then.

thanks for all the replies....jed

 

I had the TSB done and while it's better, the problem still persists. They also aligned my wheels and the steering wheel isn't exactly straight. I really don't want to go back to the dealer since they can't recreate the problem apparently and the closest dealer is $45 in gas minimum. This is very frustrating.

 

I know it has been said that driveline issues can't cause steering issues, but I do have a question. At highway speeds, my truck shakes badly & can be felt through the floor, seat, shifter bounces around. Can this cause any sensation through the steering wheel since the intermediate shaft passes through a rubber bushing that is attached to the firewall? I am going to have my tires road force balanced Tuesday to see if this makes a difference. I just can't figure out why I notice the steering wheel shake so much when the whole truck is shaking. My transmission was pulled last year when dealer replaced my throwout bearing. Problem has gotten much worse since then. I don't know, maybe I'm grasping at straws??? Thank you for any suggestions.

 

after 1100 miles and 3 off road adventures since the TSB, the movement/rattle feeling in the steering wheels is back just like it has always been. I would say that it was fixed like new for about 1-2 weeks but slowly has reverted back to the same old bs...

today i pulled off the steering column cover inside the truck and could move the "intermediate shaft" a few millimeters in any direction, this is exactly what im feeling while on rough roads and square bump lips around town.

 

I've been reading these forums since I had my 09 but never registered until now. I started having the similar play in the steering about 4k miles on my 2012. It's become progressively worse and now at 7700 I finally got the shop to make an appointment to take a look at the steering rack. I was at the stealership today for a good 2 hours test driving it with the shop forman trying to duplicate the issue. Not until we parked the car turned it off and moved the steering wheel with the windows rolled down was I able to have him hear the clunk/popping sound when turning the wheel back and forth. The noise does compliment the play I've been experiencing. Oh yeah even at 7700 miles it still hasn't even been off road yet sad to say. I suspect some other kind of defect causing this issue possibly bushings in the steering rack? Just keep in mind to have the truck turned completly off, in park and if you can try and park the truck half on and off a 1" elevation. A 2x4 might work since the front wheels of my truck were in the parking space half on/off where the cement curb meets the asphalt(about 1-2 inches in elevation change ). At first they tried to tell me it was the indermediate shaft and I had to wait till a Tsb came out for my year. My appointment is for Monday so I'll reply back what try find when I get the truck back.

 

So I got a 2012 Toyota corolla as a rental while the shop inspected my 2012 DC with 7800miles on it. It did the same thing! Only it was much worse than my DC. I could barely keep it straight on the road and was thinking wow is this what I have to look forward to if it's not fixed? In the end the shop has ordered a new rack. Its on back order for two weeks.

 

Stealership replaced my steering rack with only 8k miles. The problem started at 4k. I took it in every 1k when it started. I finally called corporate logged a case and when the repair shop called to see how my repair went I let the person know. The shake, wandering and clunk noise is gone finally. We'll see how long it lasts. The funny thing is now that the rack is fixed I can feel the play in the intermediate shaft I read so much about.

 

The problem came back again. Have them check the driver side lower control arm assembly. They replaced it on mine after they did the rack replacement. Steering rack issue seems to be coming back now.

 

Is anyone having this issue with a 2013? Took my 2013 on its first logging road this weekend, only has 4k miles on the odometer. When things got rough it felt like there was slop or a disconnect in the steering wheel for a very brief period. No noise tho. My first truck so not sure if what I'm experiencing is normal but my I never noticed the sensation in any of my SUVs.

 

Worked for me, removed 95% or so of the play.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/88077-steering-column-fix.html