hey guys,


So I have this problem, when my car is not in motion, or at a slow roll, and i jerk my steering wheel left to right (11 o'clock to 1oclock) I get this clicking feeling in the steering wheel. I feel it in the steering wheel and hear something in the engine bay. From the outside, I hear a much louder clicking sound. Also, when I accelerate from a dead stop, I hear clicking noises as if the struts/shocks are moving. Im assuming that since Im jerking the steering wheel back and forth, its moving the strut and banging against the lower control arm or something.

Im assuming something is loose in my suspension or steering. Have anyone had this problem? Am I safe to drive tomorrow (25 miles?)

What can I look for tomorrow when I get the car on stands?

 

i had a clicking feeling in mine too so i took it to toyota and they checked and said i had to replace the steering shaft...it was covered under warranty

 

yeah. I can always bring it into toyota but Im on a tight schedule tomrorow. I just need to make sure its safe to drive to school tmorrow

 

i drove with mine like that for a week or two

 

Never heard of this problem with the tc, but I know some GM cars have the steering click or crackle feel. Something with the bearings going bad, and the only way to replace them is by replacing the whole shaft?

Yea... not sure about that, but i'm sure you're fine to drive that short distance.

If it shakes on the highway or the sound gets loud when you hit bumps, i'd be concerned.. but from what you described it's more of a nuisance than a safety concern.

 

yeah, now that I think about it, its been making sounds for over a month now. It was much less noticeable but I always drive with my widows up. I only noticed it today because I was pulling into an atm, thus rolling down my windows and steering to position myself to get to the atm.

Ill see what toyota has to say about this.

 

really? i've been hearing some noises on mine too. i thought it was just the tires, but when i put fresh new tires on them, i still get that sound. it's not clicking, but it's loud enough that when i turn a bit to the right, i hear something too.

does it cost anything to have toyota check the car? i've never brought my car to the dealer, been doing everything myself, and it's out of warranty.

 

okay so i had my bother, who is a mechanic, take a look at it.

He looked in the upper driverside of the engine bay. He had me wiggle the steering wheel to replicate the sound. He said that the steering rack is moving quite a bit. He says that most likely my problem right there. The thing is, I got into an accident on that made the steering rack to be replaced. Im guessing that its not torqued down correctly.

Im going to bring it into toyota tomorrow and see if they can torque it to spec. Hopefully they wont say anything about it being replaced after the accident. If not, Ill ask for the specs myself and get under the car and do it myself.

Hope thats the problem.

 

If loading it (accelerating) makes it click and if turning and applying gas makes it click even louder, you possibly have a bad CV joint. One thing to look for is grease on/around the boot or a visible crack in the boot. Not having a damaged boot does not mean the joint isnt bad, but if you see a damaged boot then it most likely is done. A cracked boot allows the grease to leave the joint and dirt to enter.

Could also be an issue in the rack itself, but with some of your description it sounded a bit like a CV joint. If it is, you can get a new shaft for around $100 or less and the install is not terrible at all to do yourself if you know your way around a car and toolbox.


EDIT: You were responding at the same time I was :D Check out the rack first and then go from there!

 

i had this one too for awhile, not a click but a loose steering wheel feeling especially when turning the while while the car at stop or on very low speed.. my right CV axle was just replaced like 2 months ago not sure if the left went bad, but the sound is like a deep knock sound with a loose steering wheel feeling.. might have my steering rack checked as well

 

you know, that sounds a bit like me too. Theres play where I can wiggle the steering wheel before the car/wheel reacts. I dont remember the car having this problem before, nor I think it could be safe.

I guess more people are having this issue than I thought!

 

The two steering rack brackets that sit on the sub frame must have the nut on top being held with a wrench when torquing the bolt from below. I made the mistake of using an impact on it and calling it good after a front sway bar install. Really easy fix and you don't have to jack it up to do. I had the same symptoms. There are supposed to be tack welded in place (the nut anyway) but can break so you'll just need to hold the nut while you tighten from below. There should be 4 bolts total to tighten, two for each rack and pinion bracket.

 

Thanks a lot for that info. That should help if I have to get under there myself. Hopefully toyota will take a look and just do it for me. hahha. I doubt it.

 

ive been having a similar problem but mine only sounds when i accelerate from a dead stop with the wheels turned and mine sound like it is comming from the passenger side. i look under th car a couple of times but everything seems to be in tact.

 

ok mine was when i was stopped, i turn the wheel either way and it would click 4 or 5 times...i dont know about when i was driving because i wasnt paying attention but i took it in and they said the shaft is some how broken and that is why they replaced it thats all i know

 

It sounds like you guys have looseness and play in the intermediate steering shaft at the portion of the shock extender. The shaft is right under the driver's dash and kinda looks like a driveshaft from a rear wheel drive truck, only much smaller. Idk, but before taking anything else apart, I'd start there by injecting lots of all purpose grease between the inner shaft and outer shaft of the shock extender. It's easily accessible and you don't have to take anything apart. And it'll take you 5mins to do and to check if that's the heart of the problem. Just go to Walgreens and get a $3 needle or catheter with syringe and some grease from your local hardware store. Try that first. It works for me at every 7500 mile intervals. Just be careful not to rip the inner seal between the inner and outer shafts with the sharp needle. I find it best to insert it in with the eye of the needle facing away from the seal and towards the inner shaft.