How the heck did the original one get damaged? Or what's wrong with it?

I'd say pull one from a junkyard.

 

Hi and welcome to TN.

You want part# 45209-12060. Many places have them.

https://www.toyotapartsdeal.com/oem...ing~45209-12060.html?Make=Toyota&Model=Corolla&Year=1997&Submodel=NAP&Filter=()
https://parts.olathetoyota.com/oem-parts/toyota-coupling-4520912060/?c=aT04NDI1MjAzNCZyPTI=
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DM9XJ54

Yeah, best bet is one off junkyard car.

 

I'm not sure exactly how the shaft was damaged. I think it was already like that when my family bought the car. I already went to look for a u-joint and shaft and al l the corollas i found had damaged shafts too. I tried an 05 corolla u joint but one side was too big.

 

Thank you so much! Although i do wish it wasn't so expensive but I'll have to make do with that price.

 

Wait, you need the U-joint or the shaft? What do you mean by damaged shafts on these other cars?

Also you cannot replace anything without dropping the crossmember and steering-rack. Perhaps prying and banging caused some damage. Or I guess you can unbolt the steering-shaft and column and pull up from the inside.

 

I'd bet you can pull it out from above without removing the steering rack. You just need to remove the shaft cover on firewall and loosen the shaft clamp. The shaft has splines and a clamp.

I just don't understand how it's damaged and how all the junkyard ones are damaged. It doesn't seem like a high stress part. What are the symptoms?

Any pics of the damage?

 

I have only encountered ONE worn out steering u-joint in all my years of repairing cars.

Something doesnt make sense.

-SP

 

Allow me clarify. It's the intermediate steering shaft that moves when I push lightly with my hand or foot. It also happens when i rock my steering wheel back and forth without moving the tires.

 

A clunking noise down by your feet when rocking the wheel back and forth or going over really pot-holed roads (or on dirt)? Mine is doing the exact same thing, the pink slip guy mentioned it was my intermediate shaft at my last rego check but it's a pain in the arse for me to get anything done under the dash (6'2" and 250lbs).

 

And yes it just slides off, no need to take the entire rack and pinion off. The u joint itself is just loose. I've compared them to other ones I've found in my adventures to the junkyard and i can safelt say it's loose.

 

Some of the Chrysler 200 had some serious steering problems but most cars just do not, save for leaking PS fluid or belt failure. Sometimes tie rods can break.

In your case, are you SURE something in the steering column is bad?

Really double check. One thing - Our Gen 7 Corollas often have problems with the pressure PS line leaking (like mine).

Has the car ever been wrecked and repaired? Wrecks can cause atypical problems but if never wrecked, it is hard to imagine anything going wrong other than aforementioned problems that can and often do occur in most cars.

 

Maybe if the car was driven for a while with the power steering not working, that would impart undue stresses from the steering wheel to the inside of the rack.

 

Actually yeah, the car was wrecked once before. I fell asleep on the wheel after my nighy shift had ended. As far as I remember, the steering shaft was already loosened up before the crash. I know my bushings were damaged and I'm just waiting for them to arrive so i can replace them. And I know it's not the power steering because i checked for leaks and already replaced the fluid. It turns a lot easier now before my crash. Oh and I had a tie rod replaced already when I got my alignment done.