[islandboy57]

Let me preface this by saying my aunt has a 2005 Avalon which is approaching 25K miles. She bought it 11/2005, along with a 7yr/100K mile extended warranty.

I drive it from time to time and the last time I drove it, I was trying to figure out what felt "off" with the steering. I realized it felt like my 2005 Camry - which only got worse with time and I had to replace the steering intermediate shaft at a cost of $450 since I was out of warranty. My Camry felt like a new car after the replacement, with a supposed improved part.

Basically it feels like there's slack in the steering, resulting in a clunk of sorts. Some people have popping or squeaking noises but I only experienced the clunky steering.

Toyota updated the TSB (http://www.tundrasolutions.com/foru...-pdf-st001-06-steering-shaft-t-sb-0296-08.pdf) (BMR edit: new link) to include the 2005-2006 Avalon, and to change it from replacing the steering intermediate shaft, to greasing it. I'm wondering if my very expensive replacement steering intermediate shaft will still have the same problem (if so, I paid good money for nothing) or if greasing it is just a cheap way out for Toyota until everyone's warranty is over.

I searched and a couple of threads came up.. How many people have some sort of clunk/noise in their steering, and what are your thoughts on it? Fix it or not? For my own car, I fixed it even if I had to pay out of pocket because I'm picky and it was very annoying. For my aunt.. I don't think she'll notice anything for a long time to come, so in her case, I'm just going to take it in anyway since it's under warranty.

Thanks

 

[sr20det]

I own a 2005 Avalon Limited (wifes), and I am very picky about my cars maintenance. My great-grandfather, grandfather and my father were all mechanics, and I play around with cars.

My Avalons steering started going south at about 50k, it currently has 67k and I drove it the other day for the first time in a few months and couldn't believe how it felt! it felt like there was play in the steering, but it could have been an illusion because of the popping feel/sound. I am out of warranty and have seen the TSB for lubing the intermediate shaft. I will take it apart myself and lube it with a quality lithium grease and reassemble.

There is no way I could drive the car and just leave it be, it really makes the car feel like crap. Although I am spoiled with the super-tight, heavy steering feel of my Audi.

 

[inov8]

I have an '05 and my shaft was replaced under warranty at ~30K miles in 2008. The car has ~40K miles now, and the repair is still good. I am not convinced the replacement shaft was in any way "improved" as it looked identical to the old one (I saw then side-by-side at the Dealer) and had the same part number on the label.
I think your intuition is likely correct . . filling it with a thick grease probably reduces the play and "pops" for awhile, at least long enough for the warranty to expire. The individual at Toyota who came up with that alternative "fix" probably took home a big cash bonus.

 

[islandboy57]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who finds the crappy feel of the steering unacceptable. My Camry was getting pretty bad (no odd sounds though) and it just felt very sloppy. The replacement steering intermediate shaft (according to the TSB, I have to check my invoice) shows a different part number compared to the original. You better believe I'm going to be irritated if the problem comes back. A steering intermediate shaft should NOT be malfunctioning every few years.

Sigh.. We'll see how this goes. So far I'm the only one who can feel the problem coming on. The others who drive the Avalon can't feel it. I'm also concerned about the VVT-i oil line leak with the 3.5L V6. On my Camry, the 2.4L I4 is showing up with stripped head bolts as the miles pile on. Both design defects can lead to very expensive engine repairs/replacements in the worst case scenarios.

If either the Avalon or my Camry die a premature death, I would leave Toyota for good..and I'm the biggest Toyota fanboy around. Goodbye Toyota, hello Subaru! I would junk the car before I gave $3-5K to Toyota for a replacement motor.

 

[inov8]

An effective way I found to reliably reproduce the problem was to first find an empty parking lot. Drive at about 10-15 mph and make a series of gradual right and left 135 degree turns (not quite a complete "U" turn). The idea is to be slowly turning the steering wheel almost continuously. If you feel (and perhaps hear) a shock in the steering wheel while turning, as if someone has tapped it sharply with a small hammer, it's time to consider steering shaft repair/replacement, particularly if your vehicle is still covered by warranty..

 

[roeds86]

I bought a used 2005 Avalon with 96,000 miles on it. I definitely felt the clunk in the steering so I talked to the service manager at my local Toyota dealer. He mentioned the grease kit to lube the intermediate steering shaft. I bought it and did the job myself. It took me about an hour to do. The grease kit came with two syringes of super thick grease and this special tip to get down into the shaft. The steering feels brand new with no more clunking or free play. The car now has 113,000 miles and steering still feels good.

 

[roeds86]

Part# 04007-76133

 

[sr20det]

My 05 with 68K just started the "popping" sound from the Steering Int Shaft. I planned on taking it all apart like the TSB showed, and cleaning and re-lubing with the grease in the syringe.. but I figured I would give it a few squirts of Tri-Flow Lubricant first and see what would happen. I got the Tri-Flow from the local Ace Hardware, I love this stuff, it's like WD40 on crack, I always use it on door hinges.

I would only get the sound when stopped and turning the wheel or going very slow, under 5mph. It would be very noticeable when parking or leaving a parking spot.

I used the small 2oz Tri-Flow bottle with the dripper top. I started the car, dripped about 5-6 drops where the splined coupling/joint is... then turned lock-to-lock a few times and then dripped some more lube in there. I did this about 3 times.

It was smooth, and eliminated the popping sound/feel in the steering wheel! I know the correct way to re-lube would be to take it apart and clean/re-lube with grease, but I wanted a way to lube it without taking it apart and maybe messing up the alignment.

We'll see how long this lasts! So far so good.

 

[islandboy57]

This morning I was parking my Camry in a stall in an odd place (but it's a single stall, poles on one side and a pillar on the other, so I like it) and as I was maneuvering, I could feel and hear the slight clunk/knock. I've gotta call Toyota and express my dissatisfaction considering I paid $400-500 for a replacement steering intermediate shaft a year or two ago.

I also need to make an appointment for my aunt's Avalon. Its steering intermediate shaft is only getting worse. How disappointing..

 

[jwadle]

I bought a used 2005 Avalon with 96,000 miles on it. I definitely felt the clunk in the steering so I talked to the service manager at my local Toyota dealer. He mentioned the grease kit to lube the intermediate steering shaft. I bought it and did the job myself. It took me about an hour to do. The grease kit came with two syringes of super thick grease and this special tip to get down into the shaft. The steering feels brand new with no more clunking or free play. The car now has 113,000 miles and steering still feels good.

I think I am going to try this as well.. My 2005 Limited has 91,000 on it and I am feeling the same issues while turning.. any advice on how to do this.. do you go from the top or the bottom.. I assume the bottom, but you never know.

Thanks

 

[robm1112]

Ditto to roeds86 - grease fix

My '06 Avalon also had the clunking noise problem and intermediate steering shaft replacements. After talking to the service agent, he told me the TSB, for which my car had too many months (40 and 35.5k miles) to qualify for, that the 'fix' has now been determined to be just two tubes of grease. I was dubious that grease could fix this, but as my wife drives the car, I wanted it fixed. Paid $56 for the two tubes of grease (must be some kind of NASA grease ;-) to cost that much, but no choice). They wanted another $155 to install the grease, but we negotiated that to an even $100 and with a promise that if it didn't fix the problem, they would apply it all to a new steering shaft, which they said was about $600. I was amazed, and pleased, that it worked! Feels llike a new car! Still think I got ripped off on $56 grease! or the $100 labor somehow, but it is fixed and for that I'm grateful. It's probably a correct price, just hard to believe at my age! If you're having this issue, get them to try this first with a promise to credit it against the steering shaft if it doesn't work for you, but hope it will as it did for me.

 

[islandboy57]

I ended up taking my Camry back to Toyota and they replaced my steering intermediate shaft again. They covered it 100% as a "goodwill" warranty repair since it's an '05, well out of the factory warranty with no extended warranty, and I had paid for a replacement within the last 24 months. I'm not sure why they replaced it again considering I already had it replaced and the newest TSB says to grease it, but I'm not complaining.

I have an appointment scheduled for my aunt's '05 Avalon. The dealer is being vague as to whether or not the extended warranty will cover the steering intermediate shaft, so we'll see. I also inquired about the VVT-i oil line LSC but they said nothing about in their reply email.

 

[xsnrg]

My 06 Limited has no signs of the steering popping or slop yet at over 101k, but I'll be 'looking' for it now. Good to hear the grease seems to put it at least into remission for a while. I received a recall in the mail and took my car over to the local dealer .. I left with them about 3 hrs and they put the redesigned one on. Still has the rubber section, but if this one fails and ruins the engine, I will present the recall notice to my attorney if Toyota doesn't make it right.

 

[lifguardct]

My 06 Limited has no signs of the steering popping or slop yet at over 101k, but I'll be 'looking' for it now. Good to hear the grease seems to put it at least into remission for a while. I received a recall in the mail and took my car over to the local dealer .. I left with them about 3 hrs and they put the redesigned one on. Still has the rubber section, but if this one fails and ruins the engine, I will present the recall notice to my attorney if Toyota doesn't make it right.

My 05 Avy Ltd has 38k and sounds like crap already. Anyone have any pictures of where the grease goes? This sounds like a factory defect that should be fixed under "another" recall...

 

[csaxon]

The Grease Kit for the Avalon, Camry and Solara is listed under P/N 04007-76133 (2 Cylinders [4g] needed) I have not seen the kit but it may have instructions in it.

 

[csaxon]

 

[mhachtel]

My '06 Avalon Limited started the steering popping about six months ago at 60k miles. Since I needed to get the oil cooler line recall done, I had the grease job done at the dealer. $22 for the grease kit and $120 for labor, and the popping is gone. And now I'm cured of the road rage (parking lot rage, actually).

 

[snake07]

Mine is an 05 camry with 78k miles. After reading this thread I decided to go to Toyota dealership and bought the Grease kit this evening, cost $31.00.

roeds86, I read the instruction and it said we have to take the intermediate shaft out side and inject grease into the shaft from the outside right ?

 

[snake07]

I applied the grease on my camry today and the noise went away, problem fixed.

I did not remove the shaft outside completely. I removed the column boot and 1 bolt at one end of the intermidate shaft in the engine compartment then applied grease as instructed.

One unexpected mistake happen when I applied the grease, the steering wheel moved. Eventhough I marked before removing the bolt and loosen one end of the shaft but when I put them back together with the exact mark and I still missed alignment.

I end up taking my car to FireStone and have them alignment my car but I did not have to pay for it since I bought lifetime alignment service with them.

 

[jeffl.]

I have the same issue on my 2006 model Avalon. How did you guys go about getting to the shaft? Did you remove the air box and go in from the top? Or it even looks like you might be able to go in behind the front left tire?

The TSB doesn't say what to remove to get to the shaft. Although best I can tell is that removing the air box and coming in from the top may be the best bet.
Thanks,
JeffL.