Steering column rattle when driving over rough ground??

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

Mine was more of a knocking noise which sounds like it was coming from under the dash, not so much of a rattle as such. Very difficult to describe, but like you pjorek, it was only intermittent. Took my mechanic a few trips around the block before he stopped thinking I was imagining things...

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

Mine was more of a knocking noise which sounds like it was coming from under the dash, not so much of a rattle as such. Very difficult to describe, but like you pjorek, it was only intermittent. Took my mechanic a few trips around the block before he stopped thinking I was imagining things...

Sounds like you had the same problem as others on this thread, mine might be the air bag as per another person here with the 09 model. If I find bit of time I might just come over to your place so you can have a listen. It's starting to get annoying but haven't got the time right now

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

My 2003 has the annoying rattle/feeling of loosness on corrugated roads.
it feels just like as if the nut was loose and the wheel is vibrating around.
when stopped you cannot feel any notable play.
it was like that 1 year ago when i got it and in 30,000klms it has not got worse.
its not too bad i can live with it, but after reading this, i might go check my circlip and perhaps adjust the shaft lenth etc to see if i can make it better or worse amazing what you come acrodd here......... i thought it was just my vehicle.

[zutta Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zutta]

I'm trying to get mine fixed without giving someone my open wallet to do it

Took it to my local mechanic who after checking out my front end thinks some posts on these forums might be right, but can't get close to a price it will cost me, directs me to Coffs harbour Toyota as it's in the too hard basket .

Local Toyota have never done anything like this before and are clueless on a price but waiting a return call which I'm not expecting to be of much use.

Can anyone give me a contact for there mechanic who has done this fix so i can shed some light for these so called trades people in my area ?

cheers

adam

[zutta Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zutta]

Toyota quoted $950 for parts & $550 labour.

[zutta Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zutta]

Hope this helps out someone down the track with my problem and a few others with steering rattle problems.

So for me this issue started while going down dirt roads off the hard stuff, steering wheel felt like there was play in the shaft somewhere, like a up & down movement, In the last 3 months the problem got worse as i could feel it on sealed roads going over rough bits and by now going down a forest track in 1st gear i would get a massive shutter up steering shaft and could actually see steering column vibrate.

After some helpful advise from these forums i gave a heads up to my mechanic on the issue and he removed main steering assembly, straight off the bat they found a very bad worn upper shaft, The bearing had gouged its in print into it.

Anyway drives like a dream again, very happy with the outcome not sure on total cost yet but Main steering shaft assembly is around the $470 plus labour.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Zutta, can I ask how many klms has your prado done ??? and year model. Mine has very low klms for its age but I'm sure I feel the same thing every now and then .....Cheers Steve

[zutta Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zutta]

Zutta, can I ask how many klms has your prado done ??? and year model. Mine has very low klms for its age but I'm sure I feel the same thing every now and then .....Cheers Steve

2004- 235,000. i must add that i had 2 different mechanics go over front end and rule out any other things that it might be, Take it down a corrugated/rough dirt road you will feel it more.

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

Big ups to zutta for taking some pics for the rest of us.

The wear shown in the pics is reminiscent of the damage my car had when my mechanic showed me the steering shaft.

Seems you got a better deal than me on the parts though - grrrr!

[don1 Member Find all posts View Profile Close don1]

Zutta have you got the part number for these shaft. Would be easy for the spare part guys to look em up.

[zutta Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zutta]

SHAFT ASSY, STEERING MAIN_ 45210-35240

http://www.toyodiy.com/parts/p_G_200...KMEE_4501.html

LOL Madkore got my invoice friday, $600 for parts & $230 Labour. Just did 600km and feels alot better

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

I'm having my one diagnosed in two weeks time and I reckon it will be the same problem. It's 3 months out of warranty but I did report it verbally to the mechanics before it ran out so we'll try the out of warranty claim.

Zutta are those prices quoted at a Toyo stealership? or private mechanic?

[zutta Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zutta]

Private mechanic, My local Toyota techs had never replaced a main steering shaft before so i didn't feel the need to pay more for something they had never done before, they basically said they would replace the hole shaft ( 3 parts ) for $1500 )$950 parts-$450 labour. I have trust issues when it comes to dealerships :P. my local mechanic said it wasn't much to pull it out and asses it , his first process was to check the top shaft as it had the bearing on it. Thanks to Madkores heads up with his issue we were able to sort it out.

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

Well I just got back from the dealer and I'm still in the state of shock.

I got quoted for 3 different parts + labour depending on which I go with $1500 - $2300 (incl of labour)

These are the parts:

452506A760

Or

4522060150

Or

4520335320

I'm guessing one is 1/3 column, the other is the full main shaft and third one? no idea.

My car is 2009 KD120 Gxl so part numbers should be the same as zutta and hence the price???

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

Well I just got back from the dealer

There's your problem right there pjorek!