Steering Knock (with video)

Hey guys, I'm new at this forum but have been over at ToyotaNation for quite some time. Looking forward to getting to know everyone here.

Your help will be appreciated with this one... within the past week my steering has developed a "knock" sound when I move the steering wheel back and forth. The truck has right at 50,000 miles. I've tightened the steering rack bolts, flushed and refilled the power steering fluid, checked all of the ball joints, and the steering shaft u-joints. The u-joints have no play in them that I can tell.

Attached is a Youtube video of the sound... If I can't figure this one out its off to Toyota.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OhTFLSGBio&feature=player_embedded

 

interesting. if i were you id get a mechanics stethescope and start probing

 

Thanks for the tip fixer5000. Ill do that tomorrow when I have the time. Anyone else have a clue as to what this could be?

 

Sounds like your intermediate shaft is giving out.
I would check that out.


Also, there's no need to run out and buy a mechanics stethoscope, just use a good size length of fuel hose or even a long screwdriver to listen in for sounds.

 

Thanks Bosmob, I will definitely look into that. Thanks for saving me money on the stethoscope too!

 

no offense but a stethescope works 100 times better and youll always have a use for one. they can be had cheap too. hows your hose work close to an idler pulley? still got all your fingers?

 

PSUTaco85, have you had this problem in the past? The knock sound is getting louder and its driving me nuts. Fixer5000, I think your right in that the 20 bucks for a stethoscope isn't bad... I was thinking it would be a lot more expensive. But Bosmob's idea worked for now.

 

Cool, thanks. Like that flex in your pic btw.

 

That's what the screwdriver is for...

I understand a stethoscope will work better, but I'm trying to save the OP time and money so he can figure out the problem quicker.

 

Well I pulled off the tie-rod boot to have a look inside, and from what I can tell the inner tie-rod looks fine. I haven't done any tie-rod work before so I posted another video with the boot off so you guys could take a look. If I can figure this out I'll post a DIY thread for the fix.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uB86ruIblE

 

I'm pretty positive that it is your intermediate shaft.

Here's a video of a 4Runner that had the same problem. The guy even replaced the steering rack yet the problem persisted.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqPF...ADvjVQa1PpcFOUyC-ssxxqIeWXpYoZMXNZJy7xlInZ4_A=

 

Bosmob, you are the man! Thanks for finding that video and all your help. I guess I will pull my intermediate shaft off sometime this weekend and will go from there.

 

hey, don't know if your still having this issue, but i have an 06 dc with 110 000 miles and i have the clunk and play in the steering. I pulled the boot off and noticed that my rack has the same rack guide slop that the 04 and previous years had. Ive been looking for a guide kit to avoid the dealership but i think getting the cap and spring and guide through them is the only option.

Little bit of a different rack but same idea as on 05+

Found this through the Google:

http://www.yotatech.com/f2/how-replace-steering-rack-guide-pictures-215931/

 

ToyoTaco,

I ended up strapping down the rag joint on the intermediate shaft with zip ties instead of replacing the whole thing. When I pulled off the plastic cover inside the cab, I found lot of play around the rag joint, and searched this forum for a solution.

I'm leaving for work now, but will try and find a link to share when I get home. While not the most recommended of solutions, I've put about 20,000 miles on the truck since the zip tie fix without one problem.

 

Has anyone actually solved this issue?
I am having the same thing going on.

 

I ended up strapping down my rag joint with zip ties and putting a piece of credit card inside the center of the rag joint. Definitely a sketchy fix but that seemed to fix it. I've put 40k miles on the truck since I did that and the sound is gone. I've gone off-roading multiple times since the fix and the zip ties haven't budged.

 

Thank you for the update regtaco!
I do not think my issue is having to do with the rag joint or mid steering shaft.
I'll keep this thread updated with my findings.

 

If you take off the plastic cover under your dash and shake the intermediate shaft at or near the rag joint and there is a lot of play, that's your issue. I checked everything (ball joints, UCA and LCA bushings, steering rack, tie rod ends, etc) before finally figuring it out.

 

I will check that, I am not experiencing any knock while turning the steering wheel. Only over bumps and when I lift the passenger tire off the ground and push on the tire at the three oclock and 9 oclock position.

 

Ah well my guess is inner or outer tie rod. The ball joints on our Tacomas (in my experience) are indestructible.