Hi all. Need your expertise for someone who's familiar with the steering column and its parts.
After having bought the LX with hardly any steering, these items were already addressed:
• Leak from rack, replaced rack.
• Flushed power steering with Toyota Dex fluid, twice.
• Replaced PS Pump + Reservoir...replaced fluid again.
• Loose DS inner tie rod, replaced both inner + outer tie rods.
Finally read either on here or other forum that the intermediate shaft #2 (lower) U joints are probably to blame...mine is pretty rusty so I ordered one. In the meanwhile, I crawled under and stuck my arm between the inner tie rod and cv axle and sprayed down the U joints with white lithium grease. While not fully perfect, I'm guessing I'm getting about 90% of what the steering should feel like. Here's the problem. I also grabbed the shaft and wiggled/moved it to check for play. It looks like where it goes into the firewall...or maybe shaft #1(?), there's considerable play. I don't have another LX to check so I'm wondering if anyone has any input on this? Is this normal? If not, what parts am I looking at buying? The diagrams are pretty confusing.
I recorded a video from the top and hope this shows better. Link HERE.
Thanks all!
After having bought the LX with hardly any steering, these items were already addressed:
• Leak from rack, replaced rack.
• Flushed power steering with Toyota Dex fluid, twice.
• Replaced PS Pump + Reservoir...replaced fluid again.
• Loose DS inner tie rod, replaced both inner + outer tie rods.
Finally read either on here or other forum that the intermediate shaft #2 (lower) U joints are probably to blame...mine is pretty rusty so I ordered one. In the meanwhile, I crawled under and stuck my arm between the inner tie rod and cv axle and sprayed down the U joints with white lithium grease. While not fully perfect, I'm guessing I'm getting about 90% of what the steering should feel like. Here's the problem. I also grabbed the shaft and wiggled/moved it to check for play. It looks like where it goes into the firewall...or maybe shaft #1(?), there's considerable play. I don't have another LX to check so I'm wondering if anyone has any input on this? Is this normal? If not, what parts am I looking at buying? The diagrams are pretty confusing.
I recorded a video from the top and hope this shows better. Link HERE.
Thanks all!
