bottomed out, need help - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

musubi · 11-19-2006, 01:13 PM

Hey everyone, I wasn't going to say anything, but I was off-roading last weekend and must have hit a deep cattle trail. My front end just went *boom!* and hit bottom. I tried to reverse out, but couldn't. Instead I just moved forward and simply got out, without bottoming out my rear end. Which tells me it wasn't that deep of a hole.

Ever since then, every time I hit a bump I get a knockin sound coming from my steering wheel. I feel the steering wheel jolt everytime I hit the bump.

I took it to a front end specialist on Friday and they couldn't find anything wrong, though they knew the problem was there. (Freaking lame). They did re-align my wheels, but nothing improved. They said "wait till it gets worse then take it in"

I'm taking it in to Toyota tomorrow also.

I'm not sure what it is. Maybe I bent something on the rack and pinion or my steering wheel shaft when I tried to reverse.

If you guys have any idea, please...I would like to know. It would be helpful of what to suggest what the problem could be to toyota.

Thanks

***mhadden*** · 11-19-2006, 04:18 PM

Maybe a loose tie rod? But if that company didn't find anything, I doubt it's that...you may be right...it may be something in your steering components...but I guess it could also be something in the driveline as well (maybe you knocked a mount loose, like the transfer case or tranny?).

musubi · 11-19-2006, 06:25 PM

hmm...more things to think about.
Thanks for your feedback

Pontius · 11-19-2006, 07:03 PM

Check the rod that the upper A-Arm, (control arm, whatever) pivots on. Mine has a bad/non-existent weld and generates lots of clanking. I will release a comprehensive thread on this issue in a few days when she returns from the shop.

NorCalTacoma · 11-19-2006, 08:21 PM

You and me have the same lift.

A couple weeks ago I was driving real fast and I hit a DIP and it was scary as fuck. I could have sworn I blew a shock or fucked up my suspension.

I didn't though.

I have seen that spacer lifts CAN break the top bolt on the strut, you should check that out.

It will look like the top bolt is missing a washer or something. AdventureNorth has posted a pic of this.

Just my .02.

musubi · 11-19-2006, 09:18 PM

Thanks guys, I appreciate all your feedback.

I'll try checking the top bolt on the strut and see if I can find AdventureNorth's picture.

***Adventure North*** · 11-19-2006, 09:48 PM

Get your upper ball joints checked. With a spacer lift that has a top mounted spacer it is possible that you may have over extended them if the suspension dropped suddenly. You may have created some play and what you may be hearing is the ball joint rattling when the suspension hits a bump. If the ball joint is the problem I'd want to get it checked out as soon as I could.

musubi · 11-20-2006, 11:06 AM

I'm thinking the ball joints got checked when the truck went into the front end specialist/alignment shop, but it wouldn't hurt to mention it again to Toyota. Thanks AdventureNorth.

The shop did tell me that the bushings were a little worn, but I see that as a more "long term" wear thing, not an instant *boom* "now it's worn" thing.

Somehow I'm always so pessimistic when it comes to dealerships trying to fix my vehicles. I felt like the shop I just took it into had a better chance of solving the problem than Toyota. Since nothing happened there, it goes into Toyota today.

It seems like the *knock* sounds are coming from the steering shaft. I hear it in cabin, not outside. There is some play in the steering when it does knock.

I'll see what Toyota finds and I'll see if they can fix it. I'll let you all know what's happening. This knocking is getting worse and really freakin' me out!

musubi · 11-20-2006, 02:31 PM

I got the truck back from Toyota just now and they did find the problem. Basically they're going to need to replace my steering shaft. Warranty will take care of it.

As stated:

"Perform road test-heard steering knocking & felt steering play. Put truck up on rack and inspected. Found steering intermediate shaft has excessive play. Fail Code: 91"

To me, I can't believe I need to replace a steering shaft from what happened. It wasn't even bad. We've owned two Toyota trucks prior to this one and sent it through hell and back. I hit this truck on grass and I gotta replace a steering shaft. geez.

I can only hope this truck doesn't dissapoint me in the future...

***mhadden*** · 11-20-2006, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by musubi

I got the truck back from Toyota just now and they did find the problem. Basically they're going to need to replace my steering shaft. Warranty will take care of it.

As stated:

"Perform road test-heard steering knocking & felt steering play. Put truck up on rack and inspected. Found steering intermediate shaft has excessive play. Fail Code: 91"

To me, I can't believe I need to replace a steering shaft from what happened. It wasn't even bad. We've owned two Toyota trucks prior to this one and sent it through hell and back. I hit this truck on grass and I gotta replace a steering shaft. geez.

I can only hope this truck doesn't dissapoint me in the future...

It could have been defective from the factory and when you hit it, made it worse or loosened it. I haven't heard of the problem you've encountered on the forum, which makes me think its a rare thing...