jerky steering : u-joint?

Been going on for a couple weeks now, intermittent stiff/jerky steering when cornering. Belt and fluid check out fine. It is especially bad when I have to fight the steering wheel to get it to return to center after cornering, and seems worse when colder. (under 40°F) Almost feels like the front tires are stuck to the road and I have to jerk it to 'loosen' them to get back to going straight again. I looked it up and found on another site a bunch of reports about the u-joint in the lower steering shaft which is apparently not serviceable and very exposed to corrosion. I read to spray lube on the u-joint and that helps but only until the lube wears/washes off then you have to repeat it. One guy said his dealer told him to just keep doing that until it totally failed. That seems a bit dangerous to me. Anyone else experienced this? What was the end fix?

 

Replacing the lower steering shaft will fix the problem. Don't know if the new part lasts any longer. If you have the extended warranty it is a covered repair. Spraying lube is just a way to diagnose the problem.

 

I'd have a hard time believing what that guy claims the dealer said to do about it.

 

Me too. Ignore the dealer because when it fails completely you will have zero steering control.

Get a new intermediate shaft and just replace it yourself.

A note of caution if you replace it yourself. Tie the steering wheel in position and do not move it. If you spin the steering wheel with the shaft disconnected the spiral cable will be trashed and require replacement.

 

What you describe is indicative of the ujoint on #8 in the diagram below seizing due to rust.




Just completed this job on a 2003 4runner, as it is a relatively common problem on the 4runners as well.
Suggestion would be to purchase the sleeve(#9 in the diagram) that splined shaft of the intermediate shaft(#8) goes into. In order to install or remove the lower intermediate shaft#2, the sleeve need to be slid towards the steering wheel on Item #7. The inside of #9 will be rusty and corroded and will make the job more difficult. The inside of the sleeve was so rusty, it would not go up the shaft and I had to cut the intermediate shaft with a sawzall to be able to remove it from both of the splined shafts.

Additional note - print a copy of the VSC reset sticky to have handy. When I was done with the job, it had been jostled enough, that I had to reset the VSC.

 

It makes me wonder why no one has developed a u-joint repair kit and a rubber boot to cover the lower shaft joint? Does anyone know of anything new?

 

I was thinking the same thing as I read this. It sounds like a horrid half baked design with no way to protect it from the elements which with supplementation of a boot to cover it would make it an otherwise full, well thought out design.

 

I replaced that not to long ago. Twas somewhat of a bitch, but still accessable through the wheel well.

 

Yes, be SURE to strap the steering wheel firmly in place before removing the steering shaft. That clockspring behind the steering wheel is an expensive little sucker.

 

I need to order both of these parts. Where did you find them for sale? Thanks!!!!

 

Best price I found at the time was through one of the Toyota dealers on ebay..... just search by the part numbers 4520304021 and 4521904010

 

Is there anything to look for with regard to quality of part? They always say you get what you pay for. Is a more expensive Intermediate shaft better than a cheaper one?

 

Maybe or Maybe Not..................................

 

Since this has been resurrected I will say that @Jon G has posted a thread on how to rebuild this shaft with a greasable ujoint from all balls. I have done he same thing about a year ago and no issues. Works great

 

Guys check this out !


https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2nd-gen-lower-steering-shaft-rebuild-diy.543377/

 

Also a shameless plug for my 007 Taco Pro build

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/007-taco-pro.527692/

 

I have the exact problem now on my 2005 Tacoma TRD. I cleaned and lubed the U-Joint and back to new. At least I know what the problem is and can fix it.

 

I read another thread somewhere that said to hit it repeatedly with penetrating oil like PB Blaster, and then lube with some water proof lube. I hit mine with blaster, then waterproof spray lube, and covered it with fluid film, then zip tied an oversized bike inner tube piece around it!

 

Hey folks,

I had same problem. Since we were on lockdown I opted for some WD40 to clean the U joint and then 3 in 1 oil for lubrication since they were all I had lying around the house. The jerking/stickiness was resolved immediately. A couple days later though I started getting squeekiness/rubbing sound when I turn the steering wheel. Wheel is still turning fine however. I hit the joint again with PB Blaster and Spray White Lithium Grease and no change to the noise. Anybody else experience this? Wondering if excess WD40 or 3in1 from the initial treatment dripped somewhere else and is maybe causing the issue.

Thanks!