yota81

I've got crossover power steering on my 85 4 runner, and during a wheeling trip yesterday, a problem with the steering showed up.

All of the mechanical linkages in the steering system are good and tight, no pump noise, no leaks. Truck steers great and get no odd issues while driving.

However, up near the steering wheel, when turning the steering wheel, it binds and pops. I've seen the U joint that sits a few inches away from the steering wheel, but it is tight. I've tried to get some movement out of the steering shaft under the hood, but get no movement and it seems tight. The noise and binding seems to be coming from the area where the shaft runs through the shield as it passes through the firewall, but obviously I cant see what is going on there.

Anyone have this issue or know more in detail what is going on between the steering wheel and firewall?

Thanks

SeattleCobra

Just your Yota talking to you? If it doesn't rattle and make weird noises, it wasn't made in Japan.

My 85 manual steering pops like that sometimes too. I've chalked it up to the likelihood that it's just torsion building up in the shaft and deflecting the shaft to one side. Once the torsion is relieved, the shaft through the firewall probably springs loose and bangs against its limits. Not a bad thing, necessarily. It is what it is. I've had plenty of other trucks with loose king pins that made similar noises when making hard turns in stationary positions. Maybe that's it? Can you post a vid?