5 minutes and saved 19 thousand: Steering knock on Toyota Camry 40 can be treated with the old service method

4992 Apr 20

Toyota Camry is considered one of the most reliable cars on the domestic market. Comfort and excellent build quality are the components of success that help this model gain a leading position in its segment. However, sadly, after many thousands of kilometers, any system slowly begins to fail. One of the rather weak points of the model is the steering column, where extraneous noise begins to appear over time. A knock in the Camry 40 steering wheel occurs on cars whose mileage has exceeded 200,000 kilometers, and this problem is quite common.

When and why does knocking occur?

The weak point of a car is often the steering wheel. It is here that, over time, the first problem may appear, namely, a knocking sound in the steering wheel on a Toyota Camry V40. Extraneous noises in the steering wheel, as a rule, appear after the car's mileage reaches 200 thousand km. This problem is very common, so we decided to review the most common causes of this problem and how to fix it.

A knock in the Camry V40 steering rack indicates serious problems in one of the most important parts of the car. According to the traffic rules, operating a vehicle with any problems with the steering wheel is prohibited. Therefore, if the slightest sign of a steering wheel malfunction appears, it is necessary to carry out diagnostics and appropriate repairs. A knock in the steering wheel on a Toyota Camry is an important signal of a breakdown or defect and requires immediate attention.

Toyota Camry v40 3.5L › Logbook › Knock and free play of the steering wheel. Control shaft lubrication.

A very specific bug, but quite common on some Toyotas. A certain unpleasant sound, although the feeling on the steering wheel is faster when stopping and accelerating, and in running versions, when turning the steering wheel. Typical ticking and knocking sound. Only the hands feel, but the ears simply automatically pick up. I started googling this topic and began to think that the reason was broken bearings in the cardan drive between the rack and the steering shaft. And I even managed to order the lower cardan. While I was waiting for delivery, I continued to google the topic about cardan shafts. For almost all of them, the lower drive shaft of the control shaft began to jam due to the ingress of dirt/sand, water, etc. But, firstly: this unit is not so accessible to environmental pollution (in my opinion). Secondly: this Camry not only doesn’t see dirt, it, one might say, doesn’t really see rain, and we have a completely cool climate =)) And thirdly: the driveshaft has few other symptoms (Symptom from Greek - case, coincidence, sign - one separate sign, frequent manifestation of any disease, pathological condition or disorder of any life process)

(rolls on the steering wheel, self-return is lost or the steering wheel becomes completely tight). In general, it’s not the cardans that click! This control shaft spline connection lacks lubrication this way.

Some owners solved this problem using the means at hand: Squeezing (squeezing) with an adjustable “gas” wrench

Tightening with a metal clamp

Sticking sewing needles into slots

In my opinion, these are the last measures. I think it's pretty unsafe to fix the knot like that.

I once had the same problem on a Mazda 6mps (by the way, it also had power steering), and I personally watched how the OD got rid of it by packing a special lubricant into the spline joint of the control shaft. Toyota has an old but serviceable bulletin with an annotation, which helped me. The essence is the same. Using a special set of syringe and needle, drive the required portion of special thick lubricant into the spline joint. For cars this is set 04007-76133 for SUVs (including RX) this is 04007-76248. I bought grease syringes exactly a year earlier at a cost of 625 rubles, and only not so long ago I remembered about them (or rather, I came across them in the garage) and got around to lubricating the control shaft.

Causes of knocking in the steering wheel

A knock in the steering column on Camry V40 occurs because this mechanism is constantly in motion and is subject to the accumulating effect of mechanical wear. It is also worth remembering that the steering wheel is not a whole part, but a composite mechanism that includes many small parts. If at least one element fails, a knocking sound may occur in the steering wheel of a Camry V40. If the steering column becomes loose and becomes unusable, there is a high probability of getting into a dangerous situation and even an accident.

Before you start looking for breakdowns that cause discomfort while driving, it is important to realize that on a Toyota Camry, knocking in the steering wheel appears as a result of the formation of backlash. There are other reasons that prevent you from steering comfortably, but this is one of the most common problems. The main sources of unpleasant knocking in the steering wheel are the same for many car models.

Typical problems are:

excessively worn or damaged steering column bearing;
breakage or damage to the Camry needle bearings located in the crosspiece;
looseness of the connecting nodes in the bracket or other element of the steering wheel.

Ways to eliminate knocking

However, some owners who have extensive knowledge in the field of repair can independently diagnose and then fix a malfunction in the mechanism.

Types of breakdowns and ways to eliminate them:

With frequent or daily driving over uneven surfaces, potholes and holes, some mechanisms of the steering column, in particular the fluoroplastic bushing, may fail, and an atypical vibration may appear on the steering wheel (especially in the zero position), and an extraneous hum may occur when turning. Over time, the destruction of other parts of the column may begin, which, in turn, will lead to the failure of this entire mechanism.

A universal method to eliminate this cause can be replacing the steering shaft assembly, since the procedure for replacing just one plate is quite labor-intensive and in almost all respects is similar to replacing the entire mechanism.

Also often the cause of knocking is the steering shaft driveshaft. Under the influence of mechanical destruction, this unit fails, creating vibration and extraneous noise, which only intensifies over time. The optimal replacement option is also to purchase a new assembly (for a model in the 40 body, this unit from the original manufacturer will cost about 7,000 rubles).
The steering column itself is also subject to wear (which could have been damaged as a result of an accident or other impact). For safety reasons, if an extraneous sound occurs, this part must also be replaced with a new one.
The crosspiece that connects the rack and column to each other often fails. If such a problem arises, the optimal solution would be to simply replace this crosspiece with the installation of a new boot (you can purchase a different part from other models as a boot). In this case, the cost of the cross will be about 2000 rubles.

Diagnostics

Important! Carrying out diagnostics of the steering wheel when a knock appears in the steering column on a Toyota Camry v40 is the main task of the car owner, as well as repairing identified problems.
If we take into account the reliability and build quality of Toyota Camry cars, then the appearance of any extraneous knocking in the steering wheel is a serious reason for immediate diagnosis in a specialized car service center. To determine the cause of a knock in the steering column on a Camry, specialists conduct a visual inspection of each part and connection. The purpose of such an inspection is to identify the presence of play in parts of the steering wheel or bearing faults. Testing each steering mechanism for loose fasteners allows you to reliably determine the source of the problem. After inspecting and troubleshooting the steering wheel, it is necessary to test the vehicle while driving. When driving the car, you should not hear a characteristic knock; if the steering wheel still knocks, it means that the problem is more serious and needs to be fixed immediately.

Of course, many car enthusiasts who have sufficient experience in car repairs can carry out similar steering wheel diagnostics on their own. In most cases, you can fix the identified problem on your own, if you have the necessary tools and spare parts.

How power steering works in a Toyota Camry

The hydraulic booster includes the following parts:

power steering pump driven by the car engine;
power steering expansion tank;
steering rack.

Hydraulic oil with a low viscosity is used as the working fluid. Depending on the manufacturer, different types of lubricating fluid are used; in some cases, ATF-2 or ATF-3 is used, which is also poured into the automatic transmission.

The rotation of the steering wheel is transmitted to the rack using a steering shaft (cardan), with crosspieces installed on both sides of it. Thanks to them, it is possible to adjust the position of the steering wheel.

Briefly, the work of the power steering is carried out as follows:

when the engine is running, the power steering pump creates high pressure in the system, reaching 8–9 MPa;
When the steering wheel is turned, working fluid is pumped under pressure into the rack cylinders, greatly increasing the forces transmitted to the steering rods.

A special valve is installed on the rack, allowing hydraulic oil to flow into the working cylinders when the steering wheel is turned. When it is in the central position, the valve is completely closed and the working fluid circulates freely throughout the system.

Methods to get rid of knocking in the steering wheel

All vehicle mechanisms have operating time limits, including the steering wheel. This time depends not only on the quality of the part, but also on the operating conditions of the unit. The heaviest loads usually fall on the suspension, but the steering system experiences no less load, so on a Toyota Camry, knocking in the steering column is not uncommon.

Operating a car is impossible without regular use of the steering wheel, so this part of the car is the most vulnerable. If there is significant wear on the steering wheel parts, the car owner may hear a specific knocking sound in the steering wheel, but we will find out how to get rid of it later.

Let's look at the main malfunctions of the Camry V40 that cause knocking in the steering wheel and methods for eliminating these problems.

Rusted steering column from Toyota Camry

If the car is often or daily driven on an uneven road with potholes and bumps, then the steering wheel parts may fail. Most often this is a fluoroplastic bushing. This spare part wears out over a long period of use, causing knocking and loose connections.

On a note! A sign of bushing failure is the appearance of unusual rattling and vibration, which is most strongly felt when the steering wheel is in a straight position. When making turns, a characteristic hum may appear. The appearance of these signs indicates a possible imminent failure of other parts of the steering wheel, and therefore can lead to breakdown of the entire control mechanism.

Dismantling and installation of a new bushing

In order to eliminate a knock in the steering column on a Toyota Camry V40, it is necessary to replace the broken part. This is a simple manipulation, you can handle it yourself. To do this you need:

Remove under the steering guard by unscrewing all the fasteners.
Remove a section of the air duct to open the path to the column itself.
Remove the column itself and place it on a flat surface with the steering wheel facing down.
Remove the old bushing; to do this, you can screw a couple of screws into it, cover the steering wheel, rest your knees on the steering wheel and pull out the part, holding the screws with pliers.
Clean and lubricate the shaft.
Install a new bushing.

New steering column from Toyota Camry
After replacing the bushing, a knock in the steering wheel on a Toyota Camry v40 , as a rule, disappears; if this does not happen, most likely the lower crosspiece has failed. It connects the rail to the column and experiences very strong loads. The best way to fix this problem is to directly replace the steering wheel part; its cost for a Camry is approximately two thousand rubles.

Which crosspiece to choose for Toyota Camry 40

If the steering shaft makes a knocking noise, the problem must be repaired as soon as possible. Otherwise, the accompanying elements will wear out, and the cost of fixing the problem will increase significantly. In case of excessive wear of the crosspiece, the owner has a choice:

purchase a branded cross from an official dealer;
buy a used stock from a car dismantling station;
install a non-original crosspiece from a third-party manufacturer.

According to reviews from car owners, Ruei crosspieces with article number RU452080TO and Toyo ST1639 have good performance indicators.

If the auto store does not have a crosspiece, you can order it online. Very often, replacement of crosspieces is required at the front and rear of the cardan, so it is recommended to purchase spare parts in a comprehensive package so as not to carry out repair work twice.

Complete replacement of the steering mechanism

To be 100% confident in the steering of your car, it is best to completely replace the control system. To do this, it will be most convenient to drive the car onto an overpass or pit. As a last resort, when this is not possible, all that remains is to jack up the front of the car. Then you need to unscrew all the high pressure hoses and drain the liquid from them. Next, you need to unscrew the steering tips from the hubs of the front wheels, without unscrewing them from the rods located on the rack, so as not to adjust the wheel camber again later. To get to the rack fixing bolts, you need to unscrew the stabilizer.

After this, all that remains is to unscrew the lower part of the cardan and the rack mounting bolts. The rack can be sent for repair, but it is better to buy and install a new original one. Of course, you can get by with a Chinese non-original spare part, but it’s still unsafe to skimp on the steering mechanism, and the steering rack is not some kind of battery on the remote control, which you can throw out if something happens and install a new one. Too high a price may be paid later. As a last resort, you need to at least replace all the 19x35x7 bearings individually, as well as the boot and silent block.

Everything is assembled in the reverse order, and it is better to fill the power steering with new oil. If you have any questions, it is better to watch a video on this topic.

How power steering works in a Toyota Camry

The hydraulic booster includes the following parts:

power steering pump driven by the car engine;
power steering expansion tank;
steering rack.

Briefly, the work of the power steering is carried out as follows:

when the engine is running, the power steering pump creates high pressure in the system, reaching 8–9 MPa;
When the steering wheel is turned, working fluid is pumped under pressure into the rack cylinders, greatly increasing the forces transmitted to the steering rods.

Rail repair and replacement

If, after installing new crosspieces, knocks and play in the steering wheel do not disappear, then the cause of the malfunction may lie in wear of the steering rack mechanism. The manufacturer provides the possibility of adjustment: near the entry point of the cardan there is a hexagon bolt. Turning it clockwise ensures a tighter fit of the parts in the rack mechanism, but this type of repair is a temporary measure and has its drawbacks. The fact is that when the adjusting bolt is tightened, the steering becomes noticeably “heavier”, to the point of biting the steering wheel in extreme positions.

Common reasons

A dull knock at the rear may occur due to a malfunction of the Toyota Camry suspension system arms. The knocking may occur due to the fact that the spring operating in the front suspension of the Camry loses its elasticity during acceleration.

Often the culprits of a dull knock during acceleration are Toyota silent blocks. How to check them? The malfunction is diagnosed using a flat mount, which allows you to determine the degree of wear of parts. With its help, the lever will move lengthwise and crosswise. If there is play or damage, then the cause of the dull knock lies precisely in the silent blocks of the front suspension.

How to fix this Camry problem in the front suspension, watch the video: