Steering U-Joint Replacement

[jleedog]

i also have steering wheel slop in my FJ62 (1-2 inches of steering wheel slop when the car is off). So tonight I went to inspect the 2 steering u-joints on the steering shaft but didn't find any slop at those joints.

i read in the manual that the max play at the wheel is 40mm or 1.57inches, which seems like a lot to me still.?.?

I now suspect its the steering gear housing because when i manually grab the intermediate shaft that connects to the gear box and try to rotate it with my hand, i can turn it and consequently, the little knub (worm shaft) about 10 degrees in either direction before hitting any resistance. During those 10 degrees, the pitman arm isn't moving at all.

that's not normal right? i would assume any movement in the steering shaft should be replicated in the worm shaft (aka the little knub that the last ujoint of the steering column connects to) and then replicated in the pitman arm? (or atleast nothing should happen since the steering pump isn't adding any hydraulics to help me with torque) So something is happening wrong between the worm shaft and pitman arm right?

this is confusing primarily because i had the gear box rebuilt last year, the tie rods replaced 2 years ago, and the knuckles rebuilt recently too.

it sucks because when i drive slowly (<20mph) on uneven city roads, the car is throwing itself left and right unless i have a white knuckle grip on the wheel.

thanks in advance

jason

 

[jleedog]

one last comment - i did try adjusting the adjusting screw as well. I turned it as much as i could at 70% strength and then backed of 1/8 of a turn to be safe.

jason

 

[mrt6644]

I have the same exact issue in my 89 FJ62. Lots of free play, seems like 2" at the steering wheel.
I replaced all the tie rod ends, rebuilt the Birfields with new wheel and grunion bearings, replaced the front leaf spring bushings.
There is no play at either steering shaft joint.
I am not very confident that at new steering box would cure this judging by other posts here.

Can someone tell me if the slip joint in the FJ62 steering shaft is serviceable? I've been told that you cannot replace the lower ujoints on the steering shaft.
So, other than replacing upper ujoints, what can you do?

i also have steering wheel slop in my FJ62 (1-2 inches of steering wheel slop when the car is off). So tonight I went to inspect the 2 steering u-joints on the steering shaft but didn't find any slop at those joints.

i read in the manual that the max play at the wheel is 40mm or 1.57inches, which seems like a lot to me still.?.?

I now suspect its the steering gear housing because when i manually grab the intermediate shaft that connects to the gear box and try to rotate it with my hand, i can turn it and consequently, the little knub (worm shaft) about 10 degrees in either direction before hitting any resistance. During those 10 degrees, the pitman arm isn't moving at all.

that's not normal right? i would assume any movement in the steering shaft should be replicated in the worm shaft (aka the little knub that the last ujoint of the steering column connects to) and then replicated in the pitman arm? (or atleast nothing should happen since the steering pump isn't adding any hydraulics to help me with torque) So something is happening wrong between the worm shaft and pitman arm right?

this is confusing primarily because i had the gear box rebuilt last year, the tie rods replaced 2 years ago, and the knuckles rebuilt recently too.

it sucks because when i drive slowly (<20mph) on uneven city roads, the car is throwing itself left and right unless i have a white knuckle grip on the wheel.

thanks in advance

jason

 

[bapmia]

I have the same exact issue in my 89 FJ62. Lots of free play, seems like 2" at the steering wheel.
I replaced all the tie rod ends, rebuilt the Birfields with new wheel and grunion bearings, replaced the front leaf spring bushings.
There is no play at either steering shaft joint.
I am not very confident that at new steering box would cure this judging by other posts here.

Can someone tell me if the slip joint in the FJ62 steering shaft is serviceable? I've been told that you cannot replace the lower ujoints on the steering shaft.
So, other than replacing upper ujoints, what can you do?

There are three shafts that make up the steering column on the FJ62. Sometime a picture is with a thousand words.

In the diagram below, 45210 is the first shaft and is located inside the column closest to the steering wheel. As you can see, it contains a joint on the end, but the joint is not serviceable. Instead, you must buy the entire shaft (45210-22050) at approx. $250.00 according to the various online parts dealers (and assuming it's still available).

The second shaft is 45220. This shaft attaches to 45210 on one end and contains the "large" u-joint (closest to the firewall) on the other end. The u-joint CAN be replaced by itself with a Toyota Corolla u-joint (search the forum for the year/part no.). I replaced the u-joint on my '89 FJ62 using a hammer and sockets to drive out the old joint. This job is not too difficult, but I strongly suggest removing the steering column (also not hard) so you have full access to the joint. If you want to buy the entire assembly (and, again, assuming it's available), the part no. is 45220-60050 @ approx. $120.00

The third shaft attaches on the one end to the large u-joint described above and on the other end to the steering box itself. The assembly is marked as 45260 in the diagram and has part no. 45260-60080 (approx. $300.00). The small joint on steering box-end of 45260 is not serviceable. Again, you have to buy the entire assembly.

On my 225K mile truck, there was some very slight play in the large u-joint--not enough in my opinion to contribute to the general sloppiness of the steering. For piece of mind and $15, I went ahead and replaced it anyway.

By the way, the diagram is for the FJ62. Be advised that the FJ60 is different.

 

[mrt6644]

Good explanation.
So its the 3rd part of the shaft that I am curious about (45260).
Is there a slip joint in there?
Is there any way to grease that?
Why isn't the small joint right at the gear box replaceable?

 

[bapmia]

Good explanation.
So its the 3rd part of the shaft that I am curious about (45260).
Is there a slip joint in there?
Is there any way to grease that?
Why isn't the small joint right at the gear box replaceable?

45260 consist of two parts that fit together. The shaft with the joint slips inside a sleeve. You can grease the shaft before slipping it into the sleeve (some folks claim to have eliminated the infamous steering clunk by doing this).

As for why the small joint on the end of 45260 is not replaceable, you'll have to ask Toyota's engineers. The joint appears to be riveted/press fit to the shaft, and Toyota does not sell the joint separately.

Based on the experience with my own truck and the manner in which the small joint is constructed, I cannot imagine that it would be the source of any significant play in the steering.

 

[mrt6644]

The whole drive shaft, 3 sections, comes out as a single piece?

 

[bapmia]

The whole drive shaft, 3 sections, comes out as a single piece?

The first two shafts (45210 and 45220) remain in the steering column. The only way to get them out is to disassemble the steering column itself--unnecessary to replace the large u-joint.

I can't remember now where I made the disconnection--at the large u-joint or at the steering box itself. I'm pretty certain you can unbolt 45260 from the steering box and pull the whole column out from the driver's seat. Otherwise, just make the disconnect at the large u-joint and then pull the column, leaving 45260 attached to the steering box. Either way, 45210 and 45220 remain in the column.

 

[ToyotaTechnical]

45260 consist of two parts that fit together....

As for why the small joint on the end of 45260 is not replaceable, you'll have to ask Toyota's engineers. The joint appears to be riveted/press fit to the shaft, and Toyota does not sell the joint separately.

Has anyone found a way to rebuild the "non rebuildable" joint? Assembly is NLA by Toyota now.

 

[ToyotaTechnical]

Has anyone found a way to rebuild the "non rebuildable" joint? Assembly is NLA by Toyota now.

I found the specs for the joint, but still no confirmed fitment:

From the following thread: Steering shaft u-joint - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/steering-shaft-u-joint.791040/

"diameter 16.05mm x length 38.90mm. The actual bearings are NSK ZY-108, but if the spider is damaged then they won't be much use on their own.
ujointstore.com (who knew?) shows a joint 16.0mm x 39mm so that's probably it. No snap rings - it is staked in place."

 

[Eurasiaoverland]

This is the joint you need:

https://partsouq.com/en/search/all?q=ST1639

I replaced mine recently. When you press the old one out, or the new one in, make a spacer to wedge between the yokes on the shaft/flange to remove the risk of breaking them.

 

[ToyotaTechnical]

This is the joint you need:

Thank you!

Just for future reference, part number:

Steering Joint: GMB ST1639 / Toyo ST1639