Serious question. I have the 97 t-100 and when I turn, the front end makes a terrible crunching noise. Would that be the pitman arm or the "stops" that have been mentioned before. I am going to put some grease on those "stops" to see if that cures the problem. If not I better get my pitman are replaced. Is that a job I can do myself if I am mechanically inclined? Thanks, Brad

They tricked me! Not difficult... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

LMAO! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

I must be entering the information wrong because I do not find these complaints. For the 95, 4 listed (jack, airbags, clutch, fuel system), for the 96, only one listed (clutch). Are you searching by vehicle to get the complaint list?

I did the search on the same site as you...

Search Results
Report Date : May 12, 2004 at 07:59 PM
TYPE : VEHICLE
YEAR : 1997
MAKE : TOYOTA
MODEL : T100
Results : 34 | 1 - 15 Displayed

OK, tried it again and got the results. Guess the 96 is OK for steering link as there was only one complaint about the clutch. Anybody out there have a 96 T that had the steering link fail??

ME

For the 95 it is listed twice once as T100 and once as TI00 I mised it the first couple of time I checked until my girlfriend was looking over my sholder and said hey what about that one. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Make: TOYOTA
Model: T100
Year: 1996
Complaint Number: 10024713
Summary:
CONSUMER STATES STEERING LINKAGES FAILED WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK


Make: TOYOTA
Model: T100
Year: 1996
Complaint Number: 837207
Summary:
CONSUMER WAS PULLING FROM A PARKING SPACE AND SUDDENLY STEERING LINK BAR SNAPPED IN HALF AND CAME OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK


Make: TOYOTA
Model: T100
Year: 1996
Complaint Number: 10003827
Summary:
STEERING ROD CRACKED AND SHOWED EVIDENCE OF A LONG TERM DEFECT AND OLD RUST DEPOSITS. *TT

Whatchoo talkin 'bout Willis? The search I did on 96s came up with 89 complaints with a whole slew related to the clutch. The centerlink showed in 3 that I can remember - wait - yeah - those the new guy posted just above.

TYPE : VEHICLE
YEAR : 1996
MAKE : TOYOTA
MODEL : T100

Results : 89 | 1 - 15 Displayed

Mine's fine (96) as near as I can tell, perfect, actually, because it's no longer an operable piece of the truck - only thing is that it still has an idler arm stuck in it. It's 4xGeek's whenever I find a poster tube and reinforce it. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/drunk.gif" alt="" />

I always did think that there was an awful lot of leverage on that junk by the time you got to the steering stops. It's not all that thick, and it does seem that coatings are not Toyota's strong suit, so I can see where the rust would come in to play.

Yes, snapper go wipe a big booger of grease on them stops, but if that's your original Pitman arm, you may want to leave that to someone with an impact gun, a good torch and bombproof puller. Request (or put) a generous portion of antiseize on the new one, and watch for leakage around your steering box just after it's done. I doubt the Pitman is the noise you're hearing. Wear on it is negligible compared to the further out the linkage you go (idler, ball joints, tie rods). The Pitman arm is usually just thought of as being in one piece or in pieces.