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DIY: Steering Shaft Seal

Discussion in '1st Gen Tundras (2000-2006)' started by bajaphile, Jun 29, 2019.

  1. Dec 9, 2020 at 4:16 PM
    #61
    Baller

    Baller New Member

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    I had a look at mine and I'm right where you are. Our Tundras even look similar. Not surprising being in the NW PNW, mornings in the cab have been extra damp lately. I need to get on this fix sooner, rather than later.
     
  2. Dec 9, 2020 at 6:52 PM
    #62
    270Fan

    270Fan New Member

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    You're going to love the difference it makes.
     
  3. Dec 12, 2020 at 1:35 PM
    #63
    Professional Hand Model

    Professional Hand Model A.K.A ‘Golden Hands’

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    Hand Protectors
    Here is a pic from today of the Caulk Job used to repair the seal. I used Acrylic Latex Caulk in a squeeze tube and reached up there and squeezed it in after a good cleaning prior. In retrospect, I should have used Silicone Caulk as its more flexible but the Acrylic is holding nicely after 1.5 years.

    My flaps were not as bad as the others with chunks missing so the caulking was able to bridge the gap with the cracked portions. I’ve provided a pic from the top (inside cab) from today, as well.

    upload_2020-12-12_16-30-32.jpg

    upload_2020-12-12_16-33-46.jpg
     
    Punk1974 and Lil Steve like this.
  4. Dec 21, 2020 at 10:07 PM
    #64
    artsr2002

    artsr2002 2005 Tundra DC SR5

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    'Yonder
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    Gotta get off my ass and get this done. Either replace it or add some insulation or caulk it. Driving it to work tonight, it sounded like all 4 of my windows were wide open. :eek2:
     
  5. Dec 21, 2020 at 10:14 PM
    #65
    Tundra2

    Tundra2 Zoinked

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    I have to inspect mine.

    My truck always sounds the same. Even since I was a wee boy the inside of the truck just sounds the same. Even now, it sounds the same as I remember. Almsot as if timeless.
     
  6. Dec 21, 2020 at 10:23 PM
    #66
    artsr2002

    artsr2002 2005 Tundra DC SR5

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    First gen is timeless.
     
  7. Dec 22, 2020 at 3:45 AM
    #67
    Professional Hand Model

    Professional Hand Model A.K.A ‘Golden Hands’

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    Hand Protectors
    Load up the backside of the boot with SilGlyde for Smooovv Mooovvss and a quieter cab.
     
    Punk1974 likes this.
  8. Jan 8, 2021 at 1:17 PM
    #68
    drjoeshmoe

    drjoeshmoe New Member

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    Dealing with a binding wheel and stumbled upon this post, my seal is gone too....I have heard the tick tick tick for a while,...I can kill 2 birds hopefully.
    If I turn my wheel all the way to one side and let go, I could drive in a circle...very little return and the little bit is jerky.,..does not return to center.

    I was hoping my issue would be resolved with an alignment...after reading Tundras can be finiky and need extra caster to return to center...
    My intermediate steering shaft looks to be in great condition compared to others I have seen,...actually the alignment guy was commenting on what great shape the underside was in....no rust here.

    I was thinking about tackling the intermediate shaft to hopefully cure my problem, I am no mechanic, I learn as I go.
    Recently replaced the outer tie rods, lower ball joints, and steering rack bushings.

    I feel some play in the wheel when hitting bumps, the wheel will pull away form me with large bumps...
    Which part of the steering shaft would be the likely cause? there is a lower joint where the shaft meets the rack,...then an upper...
    Does anyone know of a part number of the likely part causing this?

    I found an OEM lower joint for $100,...but what if its the upper?
    Anyone else have this issue that was resolved?
    thanks,.
     
    theblurry1 likes this.
  9. Jan 19, 2021 at 7:23 PM
    #69
    theblurry1

    theblurry1 ~

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    David
    Castle Rock, CO
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    (Camper conversion underway.) Rebuilt engine w/265K miles, A.R.E. camper shell (w/cab pass-through, rooftop fan, and side windows delete), bedlinered steel ladder rack (w/wooden rooftop deck and hammock mount), all LED lights (red dash, 4" side floods, 32" rear bar), Android head unit, 1.5" lift from Bilstein 5100 struts, 32" DuraTrac tires on factory rims, 1.5" wheel spacers, Moog suspension parts, SuperSprings leaf kit, diff drop, Reese trailer brake control, GoRhino Hitch Step, debadged, F-150 rear bumper, Sequoia center console unit upgrade, partial rear bench seat delete, dashcam, aftermarket speakers, 50% sound deadening coverage, custom tools unit.
    Thank you for this definitive thread---I replaced my seal by following these instructions to a T, and the old one was shot. My cabin's gonna be so quiet now!


    (Excuse the small angry hammer dent on the old one from when I couldn't get the seal out)

    I assure you, the new one went in much more neatly than the old came out.


    My coupler came right off by hand (no hammering necessary) because I soaked it for a few days in PB Blaster... that stuff works miracles.
     
  10. Jan 21, 2021 at 9:56 AM
    #70
    Richid

    Richid New Member

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    Yes! thanks to this post I replaced one.

    Warning - if you're in a rust zone, use your favorite penetrating oil and don't wait to bust out the air hammer. Just make sure you're on the reinforcement and the shaft will slide up.
     
  11. Feb 24, 2021 at 5:42 AM
    #71
    MrDirtjumper

    MrDirtjumper Ol’ dickhead

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    Crawled under her yesterday and yup, this needs to be addressed.

    Where is everyone getting the seal? McGeorge?
     
  12. Feb 24, 2021 at 5:51 AM
    #72
    Richid

    Richid New Member

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    This site contains affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
    #72
    MrDirtjumper[QUOTED] likes this.
  13. Feb 24, 2021 at 6:28 AM
    #73
    FirstGenVol

    FirstGenVol Brake Czar

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    That's been my go-to since Cool Springs died. But the link below would probably be fine. Low chance of the Chinese counterfeiting that one.
     
  14. Feb 24, 2021 at 10:19 AM
    #74
    270Fan

    270Fan New Member

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    If you go through the toyota parts website they will show dealers in your area that participate in the online program. You can get parts at very comparable prices to McGeorge and Cool Springs but just pick them up in your local dealer parts department so you don't pay any shipping.
     
  15. Feb 25, 2021 at 4:56 AM
    #75
    Richid

    Richid New Member

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    The dealer in my area ONLY ships - no local pickup at the prices listed. This is fine with me as it's near Boston and I wouldn't drive in that area. Being close, I get the parts next or 2 days anyway.

    I did have to go to my local dealer to get a replacement bolt for the lower ball joint - it's a $3 part so I'm not paying $10 in shipping to save $1.30. They still had to order it from the Boston distribution center.
     
  16. May 19, 2021 at 3:14 AM
    #76
    des2mtn

    des2mtn Third Member

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    Where my wheels stop rolling
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    Tonto cover
    Thanks @bajaphile, followed this step-by-step with no issue. +1 for freezing seals.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  17. Jun 16, 2021 at 4:21 PM
    #77
    terrward

    terrward New Member

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    What a pain in the ass this job was, both spines ends frozen with rust. Lots of taps with a BFH and it finally separated. Now that it’s been replaced the truck is Lexus quiet, no more engine bay noises.

    [​IMG]
     
  18. Jun 16, 2021 at 4:28 PM
    #78
    Professional Hand Model

    Professional Hand Model A.K.A ‘Golden Hands’

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    Add some Silglyde for extra smoovness and an extra level of quiet dampening.


    upload_2021-6-16_19-27-42.jpg
     
    Punk1974, bmf4069 and des2mtn like this.
  19. Oct 17, 2021 at 8:07 PM
    #79
    Yoter

    Yoter New Member

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    First project on my recently purchased 1st Gen and it was a doozy. Everything was stuck: coupler, sliding yoke, bolts, even the seal. Finally got it all disassembled, greased up, and put back together but my steering wheel is off maybe 10 degrees. Hopefully just misaligned and not from me yeeting on this thing for a couple hours :notsure: Drives fine for now (the seal made an unbelievable difference in exhaust/engine noise in the cabin) and I'll try to realign in a few days, any tips?
     
  20. Dec 30, 2021 at 8:30 AM
    #80
    HAL69000

    HAL69000 New Member

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    Voss, NWPirate and Jack McCarthy like this.
  21. Dec 30, 2021 at 8:32 AM
    #81
    Jack McCarthy

    Jack McCarthy Truck repair enthusiast; Rust Aficionado

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  22. Apr 4, 2023 at 2:32 PM
    #82
    AlexCbad

    AlexCbad New Member

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    Thanks Bajaphile! Just got an ‘03 with 133k for my son and thought the cab had a weird almost hollow sound that was worse when cold. Mechanic guessed maybe an exhaust leak but couldn’t find one. Followed your write up and problem solved! Has the good V8 rumble now and took less than an hour to fix, part was $30 at local dealer. Old one took a good soak to pop loose from firewall hole but the rest was smooth.
    Almost all rubber was gone on the old one.
     
    FirstGenVol likes this.
  23. Apr 4, 2023 at 2:37 PM
    #83
    Jack McCarthy

    Jack McCarthy Truck repair enthusiast; Rust Aficionado

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    Toyota of Nashua has pickup and Boch Toyota South may have it as well.

    Damn, just realized this is a revived thread. Oh, well.
     
  24. Feb 20, 2024 at 1:21 PM
    #84
    woosah

    woosah New Member

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    Could this be the issue if you hear the noise from outside the cab as well as inside?
     
  25. Feb 20, 2024 at 1:24 PM
    #85
    Jack McCarthy

    Jack McCarthy Truck repair enthusiast; Rust Aficionado

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    Sounds like you may have an exhaust leak. If it’s not all the time I wouldn’t worry about it. I’ve had a hairline crack for years that opens up when it’s cold.
     
  26. Feb 20, 2024 at 1:29 PM
    #86
    woosah

    woosah New Member

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    Mine is all the time. First shop I brought it to thought it was a lifter, took off valve covers to inspect lifters, and then they think it’s an exhaust manifold.
    Then I took it to another shop who thought it was an exhaust manifold, now they think it’s a lifter/top end issue. ‍♂️
     
  27. Feb 20, 2024 at 1:36 PM
    #87
    Jack McCarthy

    Jack McCarthy Truck repair enthusiast; Rust Aficionado

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    Haha. You just can’t win, can you? The 00-02 trucks had a known issue where the weld around the exhaust manifold would crack. Did they perform a smoke test to check?
     
  28. Feb 20, 2024 at 2:27 PM
    #88
    woosah

    woosah New Member

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    I’m gonna laugh my ass off if this was the issue the whole time

    IMG_4059.jpg
     
    Last edited: Feb 20, 2024
    Jack McCarthy[QUOTED] likes this.
  29. Feb 20, 2024 at 2:51 PM
    #89
    shifty`

    shifty` Is the Gila Copter a love machine?

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    Ticking is "normal".

    But now they took your valve covers off, check them periodically now, because I can almost guarantee they didn't take time to seal the corners with new FIPG as they should have, and now you're liable to have valve cover leaks.
     
    Tacopashka likes this.
  30. Feb 20, 2024 at 2:55 PM
    #90
    woosah

    woosah New Member

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    Thanks for tip about valve covers. As for the ticking being normal, it used to purr like a kitten, it’s what made me fall in love with toyota. Now it’s downright obnoxious…
     

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