Where to whack the intermediate steering shaft... (2 Viewers)

[crashtest00]

I'm replacing my intermediate shaft tonight and I expect it will need some coaxing to get off. I've removed the two bolts on the slip sleeve and the bolt at the rack.

I'm inclined to try to tap it towards the firewall to get it off the rack but wanted to check to see if anybody had any nifty tricks for getting the intermediate shaft off.

 

[excessive]

are you doing it from underneath, or are you taking the steering column out ?

 

[crashtest00]

I'm hoping to avoid taking the steering column out. It looks like there should be room to slide the slip yoke up the steering shaft enough to get the intermediate shaft off.

 

[dealmaker]

LOt's of youtubes on doing this with 4th gen 4Runners. Maybe start there if their intermediate shafts resemble yours?

 

[Rednexus]

Use an air hammer. A cheapo one from Harbor Freight is usually $20-30. I used one to get the steering shaft off the steering rack on my GX470. It would have taken much, much longer with a normal hammer. You'll find many other users for an air hammer once you have one.

 

[whitec13]

I would be surprised if you can get it off even semi-easily being in Illinois. There are guys out west with perfect rigs that struggle with this removal due to corrosion. Unless you don’t drive at all in the winter and have fluid filmed annually, I would expect a decent fight ahead. I’m in Michigan and I dread the day I have to replace my rack due to it. I plan to remove it still attached and just replace.

 

[crashtest00]

Use an air hammer. A cheapo one from Harbor Freight is usually $20-30. I used one to get the steering shaft off the steering rack on my GX470. It would have taken much, much longer with a normal hammer. You'll find many other users for an air hammer once you have one.

I invested in a decent air hammer years ago. It doesn't get a ton of use, but it has saved the day on multiple occasions.

I'm more concerned about the slip yoke near the firewall. The yoke is pretty crusty.

Whitec13: I bought it in Texas but it spent a few very destructive winters in Wisconsin. It's def going to fight me.

 

[David310]

I put a rope around the section in red and pulled up towards the windshield. However, this is a southern CA car now in North TX. No rust.

 

[crashtest00]

Air hammer worked like a charm! Everything is loose. However, the slip yoke won't slide up the #1 intermediate shaft far enough to release the #2 shaft at the yoke or at the rack. I think I'm going to have to do some disassembly under the dash to buy a little more wiggle room. I need about 5-8 mm more, I think. It looks like I can detach the #1 shaft from u-joint under the dash and that ought to do the trick.