steering shaft joint almost completely gone

I finally picked my truck up from the dealership.

When I picked it up, I asked "upon inspection is there anything the tech recommends?"
"uh..yeah. Your RF wheel bearing is bad."
Alright...well thanks for telling me of this only on the day that I pick it up...Also, that's odd. When I dropped the truck off it was silent and smooth, but now it's howling like it's been bad for 20k.

Whatever, I guess.

Then I decide to investigate my massive steering slop, and I find this.


The dealer didn't say a single word about it. WHAT.THE.F#@K.
Is this a common wear item on 2nd gen Tacomas....? Perhaps this was covered during a previous recall that is now over? Or should it have been replaced with the frame since it's obviously prematurely worn due to rust?


Also, brakes are squishy, my A/C doesn't work anymore, the truck pulls slightly to the left, exhaust is significantly louder than when I dropped it off, but I guess those are my issues to deal with.

 

Did you have a frame replacement performed ? If so none of those issues are yours and the fact that they let you drive away with a wheel bearing that bad is dangerous as fk on a 4x4.

Edit - do not drive with that steering joint like that, it is broken and also dangerous AF

 

Did you recently buy this truck knowing it would need a frame soon?

 

Yes...I was beyond shocked to discover this was the source of the play in the steering. I googled the issue and found some other owners found play in the rag-joint inside the cab, right by the firewall, so I thought that was my issue. Boy, was I wrong.

But I'm not sure you are correct about it being their fault/responsibility. IF my wheel bearing was bad/going bad before dropping it off, I wouldn't expect them to be responsible for it, but I would expect them to let me know about it so I can make arrangements for it before the day that they need it needs to be removed from their lot.
The steering shaft, I do believe this is a rust-related issue, and I would expect that to be replaced. Maybe not, but at the very least they should have warned me for my safety.

Is this relevant...?

 

That intermediate shaft is a relatively known issue. I just bought a new one to replace it myself. It's a $175 part.

 

wow. thats really bad. sorry it happened but at least you found it and it didnt find you out on the highway at speed.

 

WTF ?? There is no way they could align this after the frame swap. I'd say it's a part you should pay for - but the dealer should be cited for letting you drive that out of the lot.

I'd go back and have a chat with the dealer - nicely - and tell him I'd pay for the part but no charge for the labor and re alignment - since they should have told you and changed it when it was disassembled. If he balks, I'd tell him I'll drive it to the nearest state inspection, haven it documented and then call the State inspection agency - and the local cops - to let them know what they allowed the highway !

 

Definitely going to be having words with them.

Just opened my fuel door to find this

They broke off my locking gas cap, but left the stub...

I have the key. They didn’t even ask for it.

I don’t even know where to start.

 

Seriously?!?

 

What dealership did you go to, so we can avoid them?

 

Now lots of people on here say to be all nice and sh*t about all this with the dealer. Screw that. You’re finding surprises left and right. Don’t be a pushover, man. Demand fixes for everything and additional compensation for your time.

 

Oh. Of course. I'm done teetering on the edge of "should I walk in there like a jerk and get it all fixed in 5 minutes, or should I just 'be grateful I got a new frame' and deal with it?"

This is absolutely unacceptable.
I notice how all the guys with more-money-than-they-know-what-to-do-with who were telling me to "stop whining, pay up and be happy" when the shop broke my shock and then tried to extort the money out of me to get my truck back are pretty silent right now. I know they just think I'm some spoiled, entitled young brat because they aren't in the situation, but I know how these people behave at restaurants when they feel personally disrespected.

I've messaged my service advisor 3 times since yesterday. Each time with escalating issues that need to be address. No reply.
My latest message was
"I went to get gas to find out my locking gas cap was broken off and the stub was lift screwed in. I couldn't fill up, so I ran out of gas on the side of the road trying to get home.
Please tell the service manager he needs to be available to speak to me when I come in tomorrow morning.
Also, please ask him if the dealer plans to cover the tow bill or if I should send it to corporate.
Thank you."

 

I have to think the mechanic forgot to take a few things apart or off before he separated the body from the old frame and then said WTH and tossed it it all back together without repairing his screw up's.

 

Probably a good idea to document everything and report it directly to Toyota.

This stealership must be horrible, Chances are that you are not the only one getting screwed.

 

Did they just use your truck for a parts truck and then put the bad stuff they replaced back on yours?

 

I just replaced my steering shaft, and it gives me perspective how bad yours is. You can see how much steering wheel play I have, but that translates to minimal u joint play. Your steering wheel must be a shit show.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fHzQnWHLlg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgo3c6ACkRc

 

I would guess that there will be a steering shaft recall in the future.