Knocking Noise In Steering

[scoutoz]

Greetings from Oz - my wifes 2007 Rav with a mere 38,ooo kms of careful driving (I rarely get to drive it) has developed a knocking noise when turning the wheel from side to side. Have booked it in for analysis but was just running through your forum and found the problem mentioned - with the culprit apparantly being the Intermediate Steering Shaft and some Technical pages to download. Couldn't get access until I joined up and then when I came back I couldn't find the comment! If anyone can refer me to those TSB's I think they were referred to I would be most appreciative. Unfortunately it is out of warranty so I am on my own here! Regards - Scoutoz

[scoutoz]

OK I found that item I was looking for and have printed out the TSB - the mechanic will no doubt be impressed by my diagnosis!! NOT - Scoutoz

[igormus]

you're not along matey

i ve changed mine a year ago due to the same symptoms -- it was under no guarantee, as well

cheers/Igor

[barkerboy]

Sorry to say we are selling our Rav4 and have the same knocking noise too. Never been too noticeable but seems to be worse than ever now. To the point prospective buyers refused the car recently so seems I need to get it fixed. I posted on here around a year ago about it and at that time took it to my local dealer who basically said it's a known problem but not a safety one so there is no extended warranty. His advice was it would cost over £1000 to put right so best to just live with it! It's now come back to bite me!

Assuming its the intermediate steering shaft can anyone advise how much they paid please?

[anchorman]

I think they are about £150 and most competent owners would do it theirselves.

[Gav rav]

I have a similar problem but it's when I'm doing low speeds and turning there is a knocking, I took it to Toyota who have diagnosed a worn steering knuckle which is going to cost me £350!

I havnt had it done yet!

Anyone else had similar ?

[anchorman]

If its the knuckle you can feel it in the steering wheel. If so, buy the part and either do it yourself or geta local garage to fit it.

Any chance of a price Kingo?

[DominicPriestley]

Anyone got the link to the TSB? Mine has developed a light knocking when at slow speedand turning. Going to get it looked at after long trip to Italy on Thursday.

[anchorman]

Yours has got the modified intermediate shaft. If anything it is those plastic washers at the top of the suspension legs - get it done under warranty.

4.3 knocking from suspension strut.pdf

[DominicPriestley]

Cheers Ancs.

It is only a slight knock when turning and doing slow speeds. Only started in last 6weeks or so.

[Gav rav]

Thanks Anchor, I can definitely feel the knock in the steering wheel, how much would the knuckle cost and is it a bit job?

Cheers

[benxt5]

Mr T quoted me for 2 different repairs last year for this. One was the intermediate shaft,£360 fitted, the other was the steering rack (or part of it) at £750 fitted. They said that they could not guarantee that either would solve the knock! So I could have spent a grand for nothing!!! Well done Mr T on that one...

They also said that my car was outside the numbers to count for the TSBs?!?

[anchorman]

OK lets get these knocks clarified.

A slight creaking or rapid knock just when turning and especially at low speed is the suspension legs. The parts are cheap but the legs have to come off so there is quite a bit of labour involved. Toyota will do them under warranty.

A heavy knock or rumbling especially when going over rough ground which you may feel through the floor if your foot is flat on the carpet is the rack. This is expensive but very rare. It is also worth checking the bolts that hold the rack are tight as they have been known to work loose.

A clunk that you can feel in the steering wheel when turning either going backwards or forward (sometimes standing still) is usually the intermediate shaft. I think these are about £160 to buy (KINGO WHERE ARE YOU?)and you can fit them yourself if you are reasonably competent off a set of ramps. You need an additional stainless steel clip for about a fiver to seal the rubber boot that fits on the rack. The UK bulletin is not good for instructions but the US version tells you how to do it. A couple of warnings;

1. Take care in marking all the parts in case the steering turns a bit and DO NOT SPIN THE STEERING WHEEL AS YOU CAN BGGR THE CLOCK SPRING CONNECTION TO THE AIRBAG. It is only designed to turn about one and half turns each way.

2. Be sure to nip the clamp bolts up tight so the new knuckle doesn't turn on the spline.

Here is the bulletin;

Steering pop.pdf

[Gav rav]

So it not the steering knuckle?

[CharlieFarlie]

Diagnosing noises on tinterweb is almost as hard as trying to work out what someone else is thinking ..

My steering shaft has been making the noise since I got it and 25.000 miles on its just the same.. No worse. Passed MOT no problem ten days ago...

Big Kev thought His one was clunking but after long investigation they worked out it was knackered knees....

[barkerboy]

Thanks anchs and everyone. I took it to 2 seperate Toyota dealers the other day. The same one as last year said it could be the intermediate shaft or rack so they usually advise to change both. This would cost around £1000. I showed him the TSB for the steering shaft and he agreed it could be that but until they replace it they wouldn't know. And on that score they have quoted me £355 for just the shaft it no guarantee of it working.

The other dealer spent a bit longer with the vehicle and said it was the intermediate shaft, no mention of the rack. They have quoted £365 but will take 20% off labour costs so should be a bit cheaper!

I rang customer services to complain and was told if it was under 5 years old and met other criteria such as full service history they would offer a good will gesture however it is now just over 5 and a half. I told them it was under 5 years old when I brought it to their attention last year but this hasn't cut any mustard so far!

I'm having the intermediate steering shaft replaced on Friday, let's hope it cures the fault eh!

Oh and just for clarity. The knock I get can be felt through the steering ONLY when turning the steering wheel when stationary or driving at relatively slow speed.

It is basically one knock or clunk, not a series and the sound comes from the steering column area i'd say, not suspension area.

I found an American guy on a Google search who had the same issues and said it was diagnosed with microphones in the end! Good idea maybe

[Gav rav]

I really dont know what to doas was going to but steering knuckle and ask local garage to fit?!

[CharlieFarlie]

And in English ??

[Davrav]

Fat finger syndrome Charlie - he means buy the genuine part and get independent garage to do the fitting..................

[Gav rav]

Thats it i cant write on phone!

[anchorman]

Thats it i cant write on phone!

Thats it i cant write on phone!

Wait until barkerboy's is done. I think his is the intermediate shaft given the description. That might help you decide.

BTW A well worded letter can sometimes be more effective than a phone call.

[benxt5]

Sounds the same as mine. Glad to read that the prices quoted are very similar to what I was quoted and for the same repairs.

Mine has been the same for 2 years getting on for. It seems to be a little worse in the warmer weather, much less noticable in winter but that may be due to increased background noise from slush and grit and rain etc...

Mine has also passed MOT and Mr T said that their was nothing wrong in terms of functionality and safety.

Let us all know if it does the job!

[barkerboy]

I'm please to report the Intermediate Steering Shaft was changed and that has cured the problem. Where I used to brace myself when turning it is now perfect, no knocks! To once again confirm the symptom was a single knock you could feel possibly more than hear when turning the steering wheel. It could be felt when stationary or at slow speed by turning the wheel left and right about a quarter turn.

The cost was:

£125.39 for the Steering Shaft T45221-42071

£6.81 for a Clamp T90460-64003

1.9 hours of Labour at £90 an hour

They then added VAT to them prices and gave me 10% off parts and %20 off labour giving a confusing total of £306.94.

The dealer was Motorline at Tunbridge Wells and worked out around £50 cheaper than Toyota Maidstone had quoted.

And remember if your car is less than 5 years old with full service history Toyota Customer Services may offer you a contribution.

[Gav rav]

Same symptoms as mine but toyota Cardiff definitely say it's the steering knuckle

Don't know wat to do now!?

[anchorman]

Steering knuckle is the steering interrnediate shaft.