Steering Column Rattling

[jonnyw]

I have a 91 LS 430 with 62000 mi. It had the steering column bushing replacement done. But when riding on rough roads such as cobble stones, the steering column inside makes a rattling sound, like some knuckle or something inside is loose and is knocking against the plastic. Lexus dealer says it is "normal noise" over such roads and doesnt know of anything to do about it. I don't know how it is put together or if it is really normal noise. Anyone experience the same problem or have any solutions? Thanks.

[99lsguy]

jonnyw,

I feel my 99LS does the same thing - but was'nt sure is was a defect. Only happens on a gravel road; it feels like something inside the column is "sliding" back and forth just a "mm" or so. My steering wheel doesn't really shake or anything. I'm with your, can this be fixed?

[90LS400Lexus]

My 90 LS400 has 225K and does not have the steering column rattle- at least not yet, so I really cannot say what it could be. I did have a car a few years ago that did have a little rattle in the column. I think it was one of my old 1987 Toyota Camrys, but it may have been more of a "pop" sound. It had 152K and it had a few rattles, but my other 1987 Camry had 195K and it was still 100% rattle and squeak free.

I remember reading years ago in a 1998 edition of "new car buyer guide" about the 1998 Toyota Corolla having severe steering colum rattles on the test cars and I think it was even mentioned to be a problem on the 1998 Lexus GS. Perhaps a similar problem?

Hopefully someone here will have some answers. This is the first complaint I have read about column rattles on a Lexus.

Are you sure it is not the steering column cover rattling, or are you sure that the rattle is inside the column?

Good luck.

[99lsguy]

For me,

It's not really a rattle. You can feel the INTERIOR column shaft slipping or "pulsing" as you go over gravel road. The steering wheel doesn't really move or rattle - its within the column shaft - I think.

It is not noticeable to anyone. Only if your hands are on the wheel......

[jonnyw]

I'm pretty sure that is is something in the column and not just a loose cover.

Still trying to work with the dealer, and they have been pretty generous so far in sending their junior mechanic on road tests to try to diagnose the cause of the noise, but the mechanic seems to think such column noises are normal .

I also have a 94 LS400 with 180,000 miles, and it's column is solid and quiet.

I'm trying to find a schematic of the 2003 LS 430 steering column assembly, if anyone has one...

[90LS400Lexus]

I think that the dealer is giving you the business. Steering column rattles are not normal, or common- especially on a Lexus. In your first post- you said you had a 91 LS430. Do you mean that the car with the rattle is a 91 LS400, or a 01 LS430?

Like your 94 LS400- my 90 LS400, now with 226,100 miles- has a solid and quiet steering column. Your 91 or 01 (no matter the year) should be quiet as well. Good luck.

[pachocco1]

My 91 LS 400 does the same exact thing.

I have replaced the lower ball joints, upper control arm and ball joints in effort to remedy the problem. (Didn’t think it was the steering itself originally)

The suspension is new as well. (No more air ride)

With the engine off and car in park, If I very rapidly turn the steering wheel left and right I can duplicate the sound as it does when I hit a rough road.

After evaluating the steering column, I decided to tighten up the U joint that connects the column to the pinion gear. Seemed in good condition.

While tightening the u-joint I notice that the rack had a salvage sticker on it. So now, it has become suspect.

With similar symptoms, it is down to the following for me:

tie rods ( ball joints there )

the rack,

the rack damper.

One or a combination of these things I believe is/are the culprit.

Tomorrow, I am going get a friend to manipulate the steering while I am under the car to pinpoint exactly where the sound is coming from.

[cmmetcalf]

I have a 99 LS400 that also has a knock in the steering column. It is worse when I hit a sharp edge raised object such as a man hole cover extending above the road surface or when going up my driveway where the lead in transitions from almost horizontal to a fairly sharp upslope in the concrete.

Same story from dealer (normal, can't hear it, etc.) This is the third LS (91, 97,99) that I've owned and I've never had this one.

Please keep up the thred with results if you guys don't mind.

Thanks

[lexus400]

I have a similar problem and I just replaced my rack/outer tie rods last night.

If I wiggle the wheel back and forth, I can hear/feel a clunk behind the steering wheel. With the rack out, I was able to verify that the noise is coming futher up the steering shaft towards the wheel. There's a little play if I grab the shaft and move it up and down. You can really only test this with the steering rack removed or the yoke disconnected. BTW, the new rack makes the car feel like a whole different beast. MUCH tighter in the front end. I replaced the rack, outer tie rods and rack bushings.

Bob

[jonnyw]

I just wanted to mention that the dealer fixed the rattle in my 2001 LS 430 steering column under warranty about a month after my first post. Two technicians drove to my house with another LS 430 for a comparison road test on the cobble stone street and confirmed that there was a problem in my vehicle. After my initial complaints, I was impressed by their escallation and handling of the problem to my satisfaction. I think they ended up taking apart the column and adjusting something. Sorry no further technical details about their fix.

- a satisified lexus customer :-)

[90LS400Lexus]

Hmmm. Interesting. I did not know it was also a problem on the 01' models. It seemed to be more of a problem on the 98-00s and the report of the rattle on a couple of the 91's.

I just wanted to mention that the dealer fixed the rattle in my 2001 LS 430 steering column under warranty about a month after my first post.  Two technicians drove to my house with another LS 430 for a comparison road test on the cobble stone street and confirmed that there was a problem in my vehicle.  After my initial complaints, I was impressed by their escallation and handling of the problem to my satisfaction.  I think they ended up taking apart the column and adjusting something. Sorry no further technical details about their fix.

- a satisified lexus customer :-)

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[dfkd]

Later model toyotas have a system installed in the steering system whereby if there has been a lot of strain on the steering system a pair of small plastic tubes begin to corrode. They put this in there simply to ensure that the system is overhauled frequently enough if it has been under a lot of stress.

I have had to deal with this quite frequently on Toyota Crowns which my family uses as a fleet of taxis.

[Lexus Itch]

I have the same problem with my LS99. The clicking sound seems to come from behind the steering wheel. Rough road makes it worse. It is not really a big sound but it is really bother my Lexus pride. When I park my car, engine is off, by moving the steering wheel back and forth rapidly I can replicate the same sound.

For 5 years, I have been visting three Lexus dealers and ask for help, I've got the same respond "Your car is just fine" "It is normal sound, even the new car has it(?)"

One time, the dealer told me to replace the struts. I did, and the sound is still there. The last time they told me to replace my strut rod bushings. I went down and use the light to check the rubber bushings, they are fine. Only thing I can see are some small cracking lines. I don't think it is the problem.

I hope some one here knows how to fix the noise. If the noise go away, I promise to buy this person a Lexus Polo shirt as my thank you gift.

[90LS400Lexus]

That is just a cover up. The steering columns should not be rattling at all, especially on a NEW car. I have owned older 80s Toyotas, my 90' LS400 with 240K and even my 85' Mercedes and never had any steering column rattles with any of them. This is obviously a common problem on some of these cars and they do not want to go through the expense of repairs. -_-

This is not uncommon to the later Toyota cars as mentioned before. I remember reading in my 1999 edition of "new cars" (I keep my old car books), it noted that the "NEW" 1999 Toyota Corolla had a major steering column rattle. If that was not enough, the "NEW" 1999 Toyota Sienna also had a underdash rattle on several units (not steering column), that turned out to be where a certain underdash pad was omitted at the assembly lines (on a certain number of vans) and something was rattling (Iam assuming a wiring harness or something) was bouncing against some plastic. <_< Totally unacceptable on a new car.

I've got the same respond "Your car is just fine" "It is normal sound, even the new car has it(?)"

[Jake Siegal]

I have this same issue. last time I was at my mechanic, I said he would have to take the cover off of the column and drive it around to try and diagnose the source of the rattling/squeaking. I decided to give this a shot today, so I took off the cover, started to drive around and voila! no more noise! some of the extrusions that surround the perimeter of the cover were a bit bent and worn out (when you bend plastic and it turns white when it's stretched too far). I guess the only option would be to buy a new cover but being a part for an LS 400, I'd rather wait and see if there's anything that can be done before spending my entire earnings for the week

[Jake Siegal]

yeah never mind, the rattling persists. I don't know what I was thinking saying that it was all good now, obviously it's gonna start rattling again the next time I drive it. it does appear to be less bad with the cover off than on.

[TREKKIEJAZ]

I believe you'll find it's the intermediate shaft on the lower part of the steering column causing the rattle. There's a rubber protective cover that hides the intermediate shaft just as the shaft goes through the floorboard. Remove the clamp, pull the cover back and you'll see a small U-joint. With the engine off, lightly shake the steering wheel and you'll hear and feel the rattle. Now reach down and put just a little pressure on that U-joint, shake the wheel and I bet the rattle sound is gone. Intermediate shaft needs to be replaced.

[IsaacC]

I have this exact same problem on my 2010 Lexus HS 250h. When I bought the car (used) it did not make the noise. I drove down a 20 mile gravel road about 18 months ago and now my steering column rattles any time I drive on a rough road. A single bump isn't usually enough to cause it, just repeated bumps. I replaced the struts and had no luck. I have looked at the shaft under the dash and there is a little play in the u-joints but it doesn't seem to be enough to cause the noise I am hearing. A friend of mine who is a diesel mechanic thinks I need to replace the intermediate steering shaft because he thinks the u-joints are bad. I am not convinced. Any thoughts about this? I have never heard of anything like this, especially on a Lexus that is only 12 years old.