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So I finally got tired or putting grease on the front steering stops every other month and picked up a set of these steering stop caps off of ebay.
Total was ~$25 with shipping, but now I can forget about ever having to worry about that damn noise from the front with the wheel at full lock.
This is what I got a few days after placing my order:
It even had instructions on the inside of the flap
install took ~5 minutes with a few gentle taps of a hammer, these are NOT going to come off on their own
*note* the kit says it's for '89-95, but all IFS 4WD Toyotas from '86-'95 should be able to use these, mine is an '88
If you own a 1989 through 1995 Toyota 4x4 pickup (...and maybe even a 2-wheel drive, please check picture above to confirm you have the same style of suspension) or ‘89-95 Toyota 4Runner, or any model of T-100 pickup, you probably have heard the metal on metal creeking noise when you have turned the wheel all the way to one side to the other. This is probably because the cheap plastic bushings on the steering stops are weak flimsy plastic and have worn or broken off and now you have metal on metal rubbing (the metal on metal grinding sound is god-awful).... So I bought four stock new ones from the Toyota dealership (at the time they were ~$4 each for a total of $16... Now they are $7.64 each at the Pueblo Dealership) only to have them break off/wear through within less than a month! So I decided to make my own…I have had a set on my pickup for about 3-4 years now and no more creaking!
To install:
1) I recommend that you grind down or smooth out any rough edges on the curved metal surface (car side) that the steering stop bolt (wheel side) comes in contact with (this will help prolong the life of any plastic steering stop). If it is smooth, don't worry about this step. Remove any or all of the old plastic bushing on the steering stop bolt.
2) Secondly, turn the steering wheel all the way to the left and install the stop on the Front-Left and Rear-Right bolt. Use more medium hammer strokes rather than fewer heavy strokes. The stops have a recessed area (unlike OEM parts) to lock the stop in place. Then turn the wheel all the way to the right and install the stop on the Front-Right and Rear-Left bolt
NOTE: Because these stops are slightly larger than stock they might increase the turning radius slightly... but not too much. OEM is about 1/16" thick, these are about 1/4" thick. Compare this to the gap distance between the stop and metal plate...it is negligiable.
Also NOTE: If you do happen to wear through the stop, simply take some pliers and rotate the stop to a new, non-worn area, on all four bolts.
Dang it Corax, I'm just now getting into page 2 of your UltimateYota build for the 88 and you keep adding things to do..... I swear you're as bad as 4crawler...
I can't imagine how the originals can last that long... I replaced mine (worn to nothing) and they were worn back down in a few months. I even greased em a few times!
Dang it Corax, I'm just now getting into page 2 of your UltimateYota build for the 88 and you keep adding things to do..... I swear you're as bad as 4crawler...
Great find!!!
Wait till the weather warms up a bit, I have a whole list of mini-projects waiting to get done.
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Total was ~$25 with shipping, but now I can forget about ever having to worry about that damn noise from the front with the wheel at full lock.
In 2005, I paid $13.46 (including tax, but no shipping as I walked in) for four caps at my local Dealer. EBay is great if you're in the middle of nowhere, but it pays to always check at the dealer (IMHO).
And they will wear out, unless yours are made of Kryptonite. But mine have lasted for 6 years so far. And they work MUCH better than mere grease ever did.
And they will wear out, unless yours are made of Kryptonite. But mine have lasted for 6 years so far. And they work MUCH better than mere grease ever did.
That's good to know - if it's the same type of plastic, since these are thicker than OEM I should be set for quite awhile
On my 87 Pickup I just got a pack of rubber table leg bumpers from Lowe and popped them over my existing caps. Existing cap were still there but worn completely through. Haven't fallen off yet. under $2 for a pack of 4
Feb 10, 2011 | 12:59 PM
