Hi all, newbie here! Anyway, I've searched diligently for a solution to this already and the only two guys who I found that had this never replied back with "the fix"?!?

I followed these directions (http://ttora.com/forum/showthread.php?t=161689 - Post #40 Option) but ran into an issue when trying to insert the shaft spline at the pedal area. Every time I tried to line the spline up and insert...it would push in because of the play/movement in the lower rubber coupling attached at the steering gear on the rack.




I unbolted the spline at the attached at steering gear (rack) then buttoned it back up once I got the steering wheel spline pushed back into the shaft at the firewall.

When I buttoned everthing back up and took her for a spin...the play was gone...but the steering wheel was crooked and the steering was stiff?!?

Now it isn't laborious steering...just very stiff. No noise at all.

I'm wondering if when everything was detached...I may have spun the u-joints that are in the firewall and that is why it is binding?

OK, please help if you can. It's making me crazy!!!!!!



2000 4Runner, Base, Auto, 2.7, 169,000 Miles

 

Really hard call to make.

Was your steering so loose and sloppy now that it is tight again you think it is to hard to turn.

Since every thing was apart something now binding from being assembled .

Different in some way how pressure is being put against the bearings.

The wheel being off center was from not having things lined up when you put it together.

It really helps to put match marks on things to get them lined up correct.

 

Wyoming9 is correct about your splines being misaligned.

What did your do with the other bolts for the rag joint? you should have 4..

 

(I know. Bonehead move on my part.)

 

That isn't actually my rag joint. I only unbolted it at the two splined shafts.

 

I was thinking this too about the splines being misaligned but the only place they could be misaligned would be at the rack shaft. The spline on top of the rag joint and the spline at the firewall to the upper steering shaft can only go in one way since they are notched.

: think:

 

I did notice when I disassembled again yesterday that there seemed to be some binding in those u-joints in the firewall. How tough are those things? Do you think I could have damaged the u-joints when I tried to force the spline back in when I re-installed the shaft the first time? There really was some force required to move that around when I had everything unbuttoned yesterday?!? Seemed like it was catching. Ugh!

 

You haven't wound the steering wheel and tightened up your clock spring or anything?