Advice : noise in suspension?

[Slanoie]

Hi guys,

As summer is coming, I did some maintenance on my Yaris and I have a strange noise on it. When I turn the steering wheel, I hear a "TOC" when I go from left to right / right to left. The same sound that I was used to with a tie rod end failure on my (two!) previous dodge neon.

Checked the tie rod end, ball joint, every suspension linkage, bushings, also the springs, everything seems fine. Went to the dealer and they told me it was the steering gear (!)...

My question : is it safe to drive with too much play in the steering gear? I don't see how it could fail, and I would like to have it repair (I'll do if it's unsafe), but it's not a cheap thing...

[Astroman]

Sorry can't help you but I did move your thread into the right section.

[lambros]

Common problem with the steering column....
Changing my own on Monday through guarantee.

All European petrol engine MK2 Yaris (with adjustable steering column) have the same problem....

[CTScott]

Hi guys,

As summer is coming, I did some maintenance on my Yaris and I have a strange noise on it. When I turn the steering wheel, I hear a "TOC" when I go from left to right / right to left. The same sound that I was used to with a tie rod end failure on my (two!) previous dodge neon.

Checked the tie rod end, ball joint, every suspension linkage, bushings, also the springs, everything seems fine. Went to the dealer and they told me it was the steering gear (!)...

My question : is it safe to drive with too much play in the steering gear? I don't see how it could fail, and I would like to have it repair (I'll do if it's unsafe), but it's not a cheap thing...

The worst case failure mode is jamming, but I don't think that is a likely failure.

I have a spare and tight steering rack assembly if you are interested.

[Slanoie]

The worst case failure mode is jamming, but I don't think that is a likely failure.

I have a spare and tight steering rack assembly if you are interested.

Yeah, I guess I would feel it more than that before jamming, because now it's still smooth except some vibration and knocking noise at low speed.

For your spare steering rack, thanks for the info, but I'll wait to have an answer from my dealer. Still waiting...