I have a 1992 Toyota Pickup. 2 Wheel drive. 22re. No power steering.

When I turn the steering wheel either direction regardless of speed it makes an audible clunk noise. I can also feel a clunk through the steering wheel. It is like it catches slightly and then releases. It has been gradually getting worse and more noticeable. There used to just be one point in the steering where it would clunk, now there are two. It makes the noise at a consistent point in the rotation of the steering wheel

Any ideas on what to look for? Worn ball joints, Gear box? Should I stop driving the truck until I can fix it?

 

By "consistant point in the rotation" of the wheel, do you mean like everytime the wheel is pointing at say 10 o'clock, or like 1/2 turn from straight, or...?
Do you notice any play in the steering wheel itself?
Have you looked down at the coupler between the steering shaft and the gear box to see if there is any physical movement in the rag joint when someone moves the steering wheel?
Have you inspected the idler arm?

Basically, anything that moves when you turn the wheel could be a culprit.

 

Look at the steering shaft too. Look at it while somebody steers left and right. You might me able to pinpoint the problem with your head in there. Steering coupler maybe. Stering stabilizer, if it has one. Control arm bushings. Anything that moves as said before.

 

my 4wd did the same thing when the idler arm bent the idler are was contacting the frame

I'm not 100% sure how the 2wd steering system is, but that would be something to take a loot at as well

 

Look, I know I've been drinking but c'mon. Proofread and spell check?


Overall, the 2wd and 4wd steering linkages are rather similar: steering box, relay rod, idler arm, tie rod / end links, and maybe a dampener.

Just some differences in the spindles: 2wd don't have axle shafts passing through them; and lower control arms: 2wd have 'struts' from the front crossmember behind the bumper down to the lower arm which has one bushing, and 4wd have lower arms with 2 bushings.

 

wow, and those keys I accedentaly hit were NO WHERE near the right letters on the keyboard, lol

it's been a long day man, gimme a break, lol

 

hehe. that's why I pointed them out.


Oh, and I forgot to mention that the t-bars on a 2wd connect to the lower arms and the caster / camber alignment adjustments are done by shimming a shaft that passes through the upper arm bushings, and a 4wd has the t-bar connected to the upper arms and camber / caster are adjusted by the cams on the lower arm.