Quite expensive and time-consuming tuning with replacement of the Toyota Corolla 120 steering column can be done either at a Toyota service station or in your own garage with your own hands. But, before going to great lengths, you need to make sure that the cause of the extraneous knocks that are heard in the steering wheel and body is precisely a faulty steering rack.
In the experience of car enthusiasts described in the article, there are also easier repair methods.
Diagnostics of the steering rack from experienced
Turn off the engine and begin to rock the steering wheel from side to side with a swing of about 5-7 cm. If you hear a tapping sound, then the cause is the steering system mechanisms. However, if the knocking sounds like a clicking sound somewhere very close under the steering wheel, then this is a sound from an electrical cable. You shouldn't pay attention to him.
Toyota Corolla steering mechanisms include a steering column, cardan shafts, as well as the steering rack itself with rods and ends. The malfunction of an individual mechanism is best determined by the method of exclusion.
First you need to rule out faulty tips as the cause of the knocking. An assistant will be needed here. When he lightly swings the steering wheel from side to side, you need to take the tips one by one with your palm. In a faulty hinge with large play that requires repair, the sound will be felt in the palm of your hand.
The steering column itself or the shaft extending from it to the rack rarely fails. The steering rack suffers much more with high mileage. In addition, it rusts badly from dampness and salt. This can also cause its premature failure.
Corolla 150 steering rack - signs of mechanism malfunction
The car driver is primarily responsible for monitoring the condition of the steering. Based on some signs, you can determine if the device is faulty and promptly contact a service center to troubleshoot the problem. What you should pay attention to:
- knocking in the front suspension;
- no effort when turning the steering wheel;
- play in the steering rack;
- tight steering wheel rotation;
- increased sensitivity of the car;
- oil leakage;
- noise in the power steering pump;
- spontaneous rotation of the steering wheel;
- decreasing the fluid level in the power steering reservoir on an ongoing basis.
Steering rack lubrication
One of the most cost-effective ways to restore a Toyota Corolla steering rack is to repair it without dismantling it. For this operation, you need to stock up on an M6 grease nipple with a rubber cap for it and Mannol lubricant in the amount of 400 g. You also need to select a suitable drill and tap for cutting threads for the grease nipple.
The picture shows two oil cans with caps, but for this repair you need to choose one. The one for which there is both a drill and a tap.
Next, you need to drive the car into the pit and arrange good lighting at the location of the steering rack. In the rack itself, choose a place where you can get close with a drill, thread-cutting tool and syringe press.
In the chosen location, we first drill a hole, then we try to extract as much as possible of the chips and metal chips formed during drilling. To do this, you can use a vacuum cleaner and all kinds of wire hooks with strips of rags.
Moreover, we do the drilling very carefully so that after passing through the rack body the drill does not go deeper and damage other parts.
We cut the thread and screw the oiler into the hole. To prevent spontaneous unscrewing of the oiler during further operation, you can apply a thread locker to its threaded part before screwing it in. This composition is sold at any auto store. Buy the smallest volume offered.
Next, using a syringe press, fill the column with lubricant.
The amount of lubricant for repair was taken arbitrarily - 400 g. We wipe the surface of the rack next to the grease can and put a rubber cap on it. It is noticed that the steering wheel becomes a little heavier, but the rack knocks are no longer audible.
Toyota Corolla steering rack - the main causes of breakage and wear of the racks
The main reason why car enthusiasts turn to our car service center due to rack wear is the poor quality of the road surface.
Damage to an important component is also affected by proper driving. For example, if the driver does not slow down before potholes on the road, the steering rack will quickly fail, letting you know about the malfunction with a knock.
Hydraulic steering racks deteriorate if the driver is used to leaving his car with the wheels turned out in the winter.
Premature wear is also possible if the hydraulic fluid is changed infrequently.
The tightness of the assembly depends on the integrity of the anthers, so dust and dirt should not be allowed to get inside the rack, which can lead to wear of the seals and leakage.
Violation of vehicle operation rules affects the operating condition of the steering rack. When servicing your car, it is very important to use high-quality components and working fluid, as well as to undergo maintenance on time.
Another reason for control failure is often a change in the operating functions of the wheels. For example, incorrect tire pressure, bearing wear, balancing.
About the versatility of repair and related issues
This repair can be considered universal for most cars, both for the Toyota Corolla 120 and for models of the Toyota family that are later and belong to a higher class of models.
And yet, before you decide to drill the rack housing, you need to check for play two more crosspieces of the steering mechanism, which are located in the cabin under the steering wheel. Another source of knocking may be the telescopic pipe that regulates the reach of the steering wheel. Quite often, the knocking comes from these parts, and it will be very disappointing when, even after all the work of filling the rack with lubricant, the knocking does not stop.
Sometimes crosspieces with large gaps are installed directly at the manufacturer, and they begin to knock after a short mileage. Despite the brand name of the car, sometimes the cause of knocking can be the bolts for fixing the crosspieces on the shaft. They are often not straightened, they turn away and knocking noises arise in these joints.
It is the Toyota Corolla steering racks that begin to make knocking noises and usually require repairs only after a mileage of more than 100 thousand kilometers. First of all, the knock begins to be heard when the wheels hit uneven roads - potholes and potholes. This sound is quite loud, but has a dull tint and does not radiate to the steering wheel; vibration shocks are not felt by your hands.
Toyota Corolla steering rack - design
A mechanical assembly consisting of a gear is designed to convert the rotation of the steering wheel into horizontal deflection of the vehicle's front wheels. The design itself consists of several elements, the coordinated work of which ensures the movement of the vehicle:
- Frame. Designed to accommodate the component parts of the unit. The body material in modern passenger cars can be made of steel, aluminum or duralumin. The hydraulic cylinder is located either inside or outside the steering rack housing.
- Shaft. For the manufacture of the shaft, high-strength steel is used, the surface layer of which undergoes a cementing procedure. Thanks to the shaft, power is transmitted to the wheels.
- Support bushings. To keep the shaft from distortion, special bushings are used. They fix the device, centering it in the body.
- Distributor. When turning the steering wheel, force must be transmitted in a certain direction. To do this, you need a distributor, through which the flow of hydraulic fluid is directed to the required compartment of the hydraulic cylinder.
- Bearings. The rotation of the elements in the housing is ensured by bearings.
- Pistons. The hydraulic fluid pressure is transmitted to the steering shaft by the pistons.
- Oil seals. Sealing elements are used to retain hydraulic fluid inside the device. They transfer fluid flow to the desired compartment of the hydraulic cylinder, preventing it from moving into other cavities.
- Clamping mechanism. Required to keep the shaft from moving and regulates the force.
- Hydraulic bolts. Fixation of the support bushings and the clamping mechanism is ensured by the presence of locking rings, springs, and hydraulic bolts.
- Rings made of rubber and Teflon. These elements are used to seal all rack units.
Description of replacing the steering rack on a Toyota Corolla 120
The work of replacing the steering rack on a Corolla 120 is carried out according to the instructions given below.
- Unscrew the cardan shaft bolts.
- Move to the side to disconnect the cardan.
- Unhook the boot.
- Raise the car on a lift or place it above the inspection hole, hanging it in front of the car using jacks.
- Remove the front wheels.
- Unscrew the subframe.
- Unscrew the tie rod end nut.
- Unscrew the nut and disconnect the tie rod ends.
- Lower the subframe down.
- Remove the 4 bolts that secure the steering rack.
- Remove the steering rack.
- Remove the boot.
- Unscrew the steering column shaft.
- Remove the tie rod boots.
- Unscrew the rods. In this case, you should remember which side is which, since their sizes are different.
- Replace the steering rack and reassemble everything in the reverse order of removal.
Toyota Corolla steering rack repair
Before the troubleshooting procedure, any remaining oil and dirt is removed from the steering rack. This is done using technical fluid. After disassembly, the elements (bushings, rings, power seals) are replaced. Repairs may include turning work, which is performed on a grinding machine. On it the shaft is ground and polished to a mirror finish.
Any repair work is completed by assembly with control of the necessary factory parameters. At a special diagnostic stand, specialists check the characteristics of the unit and then install the rack in its original place. Next, the power steering system is washed, oil is added, and the system is pumped.
Useful tips for Toyota car owners
Some tips from car enthusiasts may be useful to prevent steering rack failure and premature wear:
- you need to monitor the condition of the anthers;
- do not hold the steering wheel in the extreme position for more than five seconds;
- in the winter season, you should not turn the steering wheel immediately after warming up the engine, but should turn it with smooth, short movements. These steps will help warm up the oil in the power steering system;
- It is advisable to personally supervise all work performed at the service station;
- Do not rev the engine if the steering wheel is in the extreme position. This can lead to increased load on the rack parts or wear on the power steering pump.
Since the steering rack is an important part of the machine, repairing the unit must be approached with all responsibility. Every vehicle owner must take care of timely diagnostics of the car, because in the event of a steering malfunction, the driver and passengers are at risk.
In our car service center, replacement of steering mechanisms and their repair is a popular service. We specialize in steering system restoration and have a set of tools to carry out the work.
To the delight of car enthusiasts, there are still a number of cars on the modern market whose quality you can rely on without a doubt. One such car is the Toyota Corolla. Throughout the entire period of operation of the vehicle, this vehicle requires minimal repair intervention. But, still, this does not mean that the owner of this car will not have to interfere with the system of components and mechanisms. One of the problems that a car enthusiast may encounter is repairing the steering rack.
Is it worth mentioning that problems with transport control can lead to disastrous consequences not only for the driver, but also for everyone around him. Therefore, even the slightest problems and irregularities in operation should alert the vehicle owner and immediately take appropriate measures to eliminate them.
It is necessary to think about control problems not only when they already begin to clearly bother the driver, but from the first days of operation. Since it may not even be the quality of the parts that quickly fail. Toyota Corolla is famous for its quality and durability. The issue may be precisely in the improper use of the car, driving on unimproved roads with a lot of holes and potholes.
