79la

Hi everyone, been reading your Forum for a long time but never needed to post. You guys always have the answer...

Anyway, I'm hearing a noise coming from my steering Column on my 96 SR5 4Runner. I do alot of city driving and I basically hear it above 50mph and when I hit any type of bumps. It sounds like teeth chattering or some type of spring rattling. I have taken apart everything around there several times but can't seem to figure out what it could be. I even pulled the dash cluster out to see if there is anything loose there or behind it. I am able to duplicate the noise when the car is parked and just play with the steering wheel, moving it right to left quickly, it's like a rattle of some sort.

I seemed to have pinpointed that the noise is somewhere in the steering wheel or in the steering column assembly but can't seem to find anything. It could be actually in the steering wheel itself. I'm stumped. Any advise is much appreciated...

BajaRunner

So its not past the rag joint where the column attaches to the gear (rack and pinion)? If you're going over bumps I thought the motion of the tie rod ends might be suspect, but, it sounds like its further up the line than that.

MadCityRich

I had a noise like you described that drove me crazy for a while. Then I discovered it was just the key fob gently knocking against the dash.

Hopefully it's that simple for you.

MadCityRich

79la

No, it's not the Key fob. It makes the noise when I play with the steering wheel left to right quickly when its in park and it chatters when I'm driving above 50 and hitting bumps. I've literally been driving with the steering column cover off and dash light assembly and I can hear it...