120 Steering Rack Adjustment

[bbuzz Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bbuzz]

Hi,
I am feeling a little 'rattle' through the steering on dirt roads and light corrugations or poor surface bitumen. Just a small indication I think that a shim needs adjusting or similar.
Does the steering rack have an adjustment?
Is there a quick way to change the oil in the power steering setup? I usually (in past vehicles), have just emptied the reservoir several times, filling it up, running the steering and then empty it again. I usually put in a Nulon bottle at the end too.
Anything wrong with this approach?

Bill

[adrian5800 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close adrian5800]

Re: 120 Steering Rack Adjustment

Hi,
I am feeling a little 'rattle' through the steering on dirt roads and light corrugations or poor surface bitumen. Just a small indication I think that a shim needs adjusting or similar.
Does the steering rack have an adjustment?
Is there a quick way to change the oil in the power steering setup? I usually (in past vehicles), have just emptied the reservoir several times, filling it up, running the steering and then empty it again. I usually put in a Nulon bottle at the end too.
Anything wrong with this approach?

Bill

The steering column shaft is in three sections, the end with the steering wheel attached has a bearing arrangement to locate it in the dash with the tilt adjust mechanism. This bearing often has a small amount of play - enough to cause a "rattle" or knocking sound when driving over rough ground. If its under warranty get your Toyota dealer to replace it. If not it depends on how much it bothers you. I played with the adjustment of the shafts where they connect to each other on the splines and basically preloaded the bearing a little by effectively lengthening the shaft on the spline joints. If the play in the bearing is excessive then the shaft needs to be replaced (around AU$300).

Cheers

Ades

[bbuzz Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bbuzz]

Re: 120 Steering Rack Adjustment

Bill, you need to jack up the front end so the front wheels are of the ground. Turn the wheel manually from side to side and have a feel for play, do this both sides holding the wheel (tyre). If there is no play just change the steering fluid (Dexron III). It is better to take off the return hose (smaller hose) and drain the steering system that way, gets the system cleaner. If there is play, well it is usually one of the tie rod ends, inner or outer. If you are not experienced in doing this type of work I would take it to a professional. I can run you through it if you feel you can do the job, you need the right tools. Make sure there are no fluid leaks in the rack itself. Report back if you wish.
Hope this helps.

Hi Talkteheroo,
Thanks for the report. I will get the guys to look at the rack at the next service. At least I know what they should be doing.
Thanks

Bill

[bbuzz Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bbuzz]

Re: 120 Steering Rack Adjustment

Hi,
I am feeling a little 'rattle' through the steering on dirt roads and light corrugations or poor surface bitumen. Just a small indication I think that a shim needs adjusting or similar.
Does the steering rack have an adjustment?
Is there a quick way to change the oil in the power steering setup? I usually (in past vehicles), have just emptied the reservoir several times, filling it up, running the steering and then empty it again. I usually put in a Nulon bottle at the end too.
Anything wrong with this approach?

Bill

The steering column shaft is in three sections, the end with the steering wheel attached has a bearing arrangement to locate it in the dash with the tilt adjust mechanism. This bearing often has a small amount of play - enough to cause a "rattle" or knocking sound when driving over rough ground. If its under warranty get your Toyota dealer to replace it. If not it depends on how much it bothers you. I played with the adjustment of the shafts where they connect to each other on the splines and basically preloaded the bearing a little by effectively lengthening the shaft on the spline joints. If the play in the bearing is excessive then the shaft needs to be replaced (around AU$300).

Cheers

Ades

Hi Adrian5800,
I will get it looked at from your comments and see what happens. Thanks for your insight.

Bill

[StevoVX Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close StevoVX]

Re: 120 Steering Rack Adjustment

Thanks for the topic Bill, I believe I have the same problem. Terrible knock in the steering column going over rough roads or bumps and the steering feels loose in same situations but nothing was picked up in the last service even when I advised them of the problem.

Steve

[teztinkv6Prado Member Find all posts View Profile Close teztinkv6Prado]

Re: 120 Steering Rack Adjustment

Bbuz,

Check the circlip at the top of the intermediate shaft. I stumbled onto this after getting jacked off with my prado having absolutely no road feel thru the steering wheel and a slight rattle over corrigations in the steering.
Follow link and scroll down for photos, (its in french me thinks) then take a torch and have a look.

http://foro.kdjoteros.com/general-f2/to ... cci%C3%B3n

I found my clip had dilodged and dropped about 5cm down the shaft.
Undone the 10mm bolt holding the lower spline, slid the shaft down, redid the bolt then persuaded the clip back into place with a flat blade screwdriver.
You will know when its in cos it make a hell of a click when in place.
Cost - $0.00 and about 20mins of time saved $680.00 at Toyota.

Cheers
Terry

[Luxxxy Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luxxxy]

Re: 120 Steering Rack Adjustment

I took my Prado to the Toyota dealer on the Sunny Coast and they said play in the shaft is normal and doesn't need fixing. What a load of BS

[StevoVX Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close StevoVX]

Bbuz,

Check the circlip at the top of the intermediate shaft. I stumbled onto this after getting jacked off with my prado having absolutely no road feel thru the steering wheel and a slight rattle over corrigations in the steering.
Follow link and scroll down for photos, (its in french me thinks) then take a torch and have a look.

http://foro.kdjoteros.com/general-f2/to ... cci%C3%B3n

I found my clip had dilodged and dropped about 5cm down the shaft.
Undone the 10mm bolt holding the lower spline, slid the shaft down, redid the bolt then persuaded the clip back into place with a flat blade screwdriver.
You will know when its in cos it make a hell of a click when in place.
Cost - $0.00 and about 20mins of time saved $680.00 at Toyota.

Cheers
Terry

Terry,

Thanks for the advice. Circlip was dislodged. Easy to put back, saved some coin.

Steve

[Madkore Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Madkore]

Just got my rig back from my mechanics and had them look at the whole steering column shaft. The issue mine appeared to have was as Adrian described, however the bearing on this middle shaft appeared to be so loose that it actually caused wear marks on the shaft itself. So after some issues with Toyota in getting the part from Qld as opposed to Japan (don't even ask!) it is now all back together and immediately the steering feels tighter and more responsive. And one drive over a set of train tracks has me believing this issue is now fixed. While I'm not going to post the extra price on here, the part from Toyota alone was not $300. For those of you have have the same issue as me, I feel your frustration. It would seem though that my issue is different to that experience by Stevo or Tez.., was not the circlip for me.

[Luxxxy Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luxxxy]

Toyota are replacing the entire steering shaft on Friday. Will be a welcomed change to insistent rattle it has now. Not paying a cent either which makes it even better.

[Madkore Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Madkore]

Warranty job Luxxxy?

Also, what year is your rig?

[Luxxxy Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luxxxy]

yeah mate warranty. 2005 model

[don1 Member Find all posts View Profile Close don1]

Hi luxxxy. Hi can you grab the part number for the shaft if possible. Thanks

[Luxxxy Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luxxxy]

No worries mate, will let you know tomorrow

[don1 Member Find all posts View Profile Close don1]

No worries mate, will let you know tomorrow

Did you manage to get the part number?
Cheers
Don