Camry Touring 2010 Steering Knock

[Aussie Camry]

Ok have been noticing a knock that appears to be in the steering it's noticed when you take off or brake only slightly but when stationary and you turn your sterring left and right just hard enough you can make it knock.

Now the steering it's self is ok no slack no drifting left or right and the rack is not leaking.

What should I be looking at ?

[Tony Prodigy]

Did you check the steering shaft knuckle for play ?

It could also be suspension related too. Lower control arm bushes or quite possibly your front strut/strut mount. 

Did you inspect the front end with the car up or wheels off ?

[Aussie Camry]

18 minutes ago, Tony Prodigy said:

Did you check the steering shaft knuckle for play ?

It could also be suspension related too. Lower control arm bushes or quite possibly your front strut/strut mount. 

Did you inspect the front end with the car up or wheels off ?

Yeah was up on ramps noise was roughly located near the steering shaft nothing around the suspension area.

Stearing has no slack in it from what I can see what's the best way to check for loose knuckle's in the steering shaft.

[Tony Prodigy]

3 hours ago, Aussie Camry said:

what's the best way to check for loose knuckle's in the steering shaft.

Get the front end high enough so the wheels are off the ground, probably good idea to take the driver's side wheel off so you can get easier access to the steering shaft. ( Use axle stands before going under the vehicle).

Slide in and reach for the knuckle section and grab the shaft either side of the knuckle and try to twist them in an opposing direction. With no load on the steering assembly, you should be able to determine if there's any free play in that uni joint (knuckle).

If it checks out, then there's probably something going on within the rack or tie rod end.

CV joint also comes to mind too. Have you had those checked ?

[Aussie Camry]

13 minutes ago, Tony Prodigy said:

Get the front end high enough so the wheels are off the ground, probably good idea to take the driver's side wheel off so you can get easier access to the steering shaft. ( Use axle stands before going under the vehicle).

Slide in and reach for the knuckle section and grab the shaft either side of the knuckle and try to twist them in an opposing direction. With no load on the steering assembly, you should be able to determine if there's any free play in that uni joint (knuckle).

If it checks out, then there's probably something going on within the rack or tie rod end.

CV joint also comes to mind too. Have you had those checked ?

There's no room up there to hold those uni joints as you suggested you can barley get to the nut. If it was the CV joint then there would be a vibration or clacking around the corners etc.

Think I will just take it to the mechanic's to suss properly.

[CONROD]

We had a 2010 ZR6 Aurion and from memory experienced the dreaded Steering Rack Knock, Toyota installed 3 new racks in a quest to eliminate it, New rack followed by a 4 wheel alignment by a reputable front end workshop, 3 times over a period of 18 months Apparently its got something to do with the bush in the passenger side of the rack.

What I did was have the wife rock the steering wheel back and forth sharply while I reached up under the passenger side and pulled down on the inner tie rod coming out of the steering rack and guess what, noise gone, so I knew it was only the bush not a nice tight snug fit on the inner tie rod ( rack ), got techo from Toyota to do as I did to feel the knock and how putting weight on it stops the noise , but they insisted a new rack was needed

Gave up chasing it through Toyota as all would do was throw another steering rack in it, must of cost them a fortune, especially genuine 

Edited March 6, 2023 by CONROD

[Aussie Camry]

45 minutes ago, CONROD said:

We had a 2010 ZR6 Aurion and from memory experienced the dreaded Steering Rack Knock, Toyota installed 3 new racks in a quest to eliminate it, New rack followed by a 4 wheel alignment by a reputable front end workshop, 3 times over a period of 18 months Apparently its got something to do with the bush in the passenger side of the rack.

What I did was have the wife rock the steering wheel back and forth sharply while I reached up under the passenger side and pulled down on the inner tie rod coming out of the steering rack and guess what, noise gone, so I knew it was only the bush not a nice tight snug fit on the inner tie rod ( rack ), got techo from Toyota to do as I did to feel the knock and how putting weight on it stops the noise , but they insisted a new rack was needed

Gave up chasing it through Toyota as all would do was throw another steering rack in it, must of cost them a fortune, especially genuine 

So how was it fixed ?

[CONROD]

The third rack must have had tighter tolerances as it was way better and they said if it knocked again a hot fix issued by Toyota was to pull the rack apart and apply grease to the offending area of where the bush carries the inner rack on the passenger side

[Tony Prodigy]

19 hours ago, CONROD said:

What I did was have the wife rock the steering wheel back and forth sharply while I reached up under the passenger side and pulled down on the inner tie rod coming out of the steering rack and guess what, noise gone, so I knew it was only the bush not a nice tight snug fit on the inner tie rod ( rack ), got techo from Toyota to do as I did to feel the knock and how putting weight on it stops the noise , but they insisted a new rack was needed

Gave up chasing it through Toyota as all would do was throw another steering rack in it, must of cost them a fortune, especially genuine 

If Toyota are paying for it then they can replace it as often as they like I guess, but the fact that they don't bother getting to the root cause of the rack issue is a shame because it's losing the skill of being a mechanic really. Remove and replace is a no brainer.

I'd probably get a reco'd rack from a steering specialist who knows about the known issues and applies the correct fix that Toyota's OEM supplier may have missed.

[Tony Prodigy]

20 hours ago, Aussie Camry said:

There's no room up there to hold those uni joints as you suggested you can barley get to the nut. If it was the CV joint then there would be a vibration or clacking around the corners etc.

Think I will just take it to the mechanic's to suss properly.

Fair call. I think the tie rod section may be the culprit then. Conrod tends to agree also as it seems this is not an isolated case. Luck of the draw I reckon..

I wonder if this is the reason why Toyota opted to go for electric assisted power steering..
Perhaps they were waiting for the new and improved racks to arrive for when manufacturing began for the 50 series. I can honestly say, I've experienced no issues with either steering or suspension to date with my car having done 150K. 

They really sharpened their pencils when they made the 50 series. I cannot fault mine.