2004 Sienna LE popping and clicking on steering wheel

[penguin4718]

My Sienna makes popping and clicking sound with squeaking noise when steering wheel low speed turn. I went to local toyota dealership and they suggested replace steering intermediate shaft because my van is over 100k miles with out dated warranty. Estimated price was over $400+. Instead,
I bought grease kit for $20+tax. If it doesn't work I guess I have no other choice other than replacing the shaft. I will post after I try greasing it with some pics. Wish me a luck!

[johnjan]

Good luck to you. I have a similar issue and will eagerly await the outcome of your endeavor.

[penguin4718]

Here are some pics. I used most of the grease between shaft(red arrow). And some left overs on boot area. Sound is gone as well as popping or clicking feel on steering wheel. I dont know how to post pics here, so, I uploaded at photo gallery. I will answer any question. Feel free to ask.

Regards,

[shortlid]

penguin4718 is right my '04 Highlander and Toyota Camry's have this issue also, just lube it it will go away.

[johnjan]

Where are the pictures, if I may ask?

[penguin4718]

johnjan, look in photo gallery and sienna section. you will find 3 pics. Red arrow on the shaft is where I injected most of the grease and green arrow was injected with little left overs. In my case, squeaky noise is gone and popping and clicking feel on the steering wheel is gone. It might not work for every case. I just tried and worked fine. Saved me $$$ for replacing it. So, good luck and see if it works for you. It only cost me $20 bucks with some change.

penguin4718

[penguin4718]

Go in the Photo gallery and click on Toyota Sienna section.

[johnjan]

Thank you for the photographs.
Does the the grease kit have to be OEM?

Also how did you dismantle the steering?

[penguin4718]

The oem grease looks just like white lithium grease at pepboys or autozone. But, the dealer guy said it is different and doesn't know what the difference is. The steering shaft in my car was not covered with anything. It was just like that when I looked under the dash. I didn't have to disassemble anything except the rubber boot. The red arrow I marked on the picture is where you stick the needle inside and inject the grease in. And then, I actually lifted the rubber boot up toward the steering wheel and applied little grease I had left. The oem grease kit came with 2/2gram grease. I used it all. It might take more grease but my problem solved with those 2 injectors.
If the noise come back in the future, I might try just regular white lithium grease and see how it goes. But I am happy with the result for now spending $20 bucks instead $$$.

penguin4718

[johnjan]

It cost me $30. However, at the red arrow you showed the shaft is integral with no relative motion. I am not sure how lubricating this will help. At the green arrow is the rubber boot. I dismantled this boot and found that the shaft extends even down below.

I will drive and see if there is any difference.

[johnjan]

Did a test drive. No change to the popping and clicking sound despite applying the grease.