More fun to go with the balljoint recall...

Sticky requested please

Here is the literature from www.nhtsa.gov

Manufacturer : TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 05V389000 Mfg's Report Date : SEP 06, 2005
Component: STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 977839

Summary:
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS REPEATEDLY TURNED UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS WHERE HIGH STEERING EFFORT AND POWER ASSIST ARE REQUIRED, FOR INSTANCE, WHEN FULLY TURNING THE WHEEL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED, A FATIGUE CRACK MAY DEVELOP IN THE STEERING RELAY ROD.
Consequence:
IF THE VEHICLE IS CONTINUED TO BE OPERATED IN THIS CONDITION, THE RELAY ROD MAY FRACTURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING RELAY ROD. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING LATE SEPTEMBER 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Notes:
CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

AFFECTED VEHICLES

Make / Models : Model/Build Years:
TOYOTA / 4 RUNNER 1989-1995

TOYOTA / PICKUP 1989-1995

TOYOTA / T100 1993-1998

Anyone out there ever seen or heard of one of these rods breaking?

Seems the Taco and T100 bunch have issues. I believe Chili Man is one of them.

Must be a few out there, otherwise there wouldn't be a recall.

My Taco has a tragic rack and pinion issue (excess vertical play in the rack rod itself, the bushings are worn, driver's side). But this is news to me. Just what exactly is a 'steering relay rod'? The shaft extending from steering wheel to steering box? Or the middle part of the IFS tie rod, which in my case has been made into a barbeque or Chevy or something by now?

Doesn't extend back to my 87, eh?

My steering rod broke about 1 and a half ago. It broke right below the steering box arm. I wasn't doing anything crazy in it. Downtown driving! I went around a curve and SNAP! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" /> Luckily I wasn't going fast when it happened. Losing your steering is never a fun thing to do. Anyway I put another one on it and no problems to date.

Below the steering box? The only thing I have below the steering box is the pitman arm, are you talking about the output shaft the pitman arm attaches to maybe? That thing is huge???? Maybe you are talking about the center link that links the pitman and idler arms together?

Ok, I think I figured it out. The FSM calls the center link the "Relay Rod". If that's the case mine is in the trash somewhere already, my Superlift kit replaced that factory part 7 years ago.

Here's the page in the FSM: http://personal.utulsa.edu/~nathan-buchanan/93fsm/steering/16steer0.pdf

Anyone getting this "relay rod" replaced on the recall should insist on a free alignment afterward.

The dealers will probably try to sell you new tie rods while they are doing the recall. Get them if you need them, if it were me I'd replace mine first, then go in and have the "relay rod" replaced and get a free alignment.

If it is the centerlink(should find out tommarrow), mine broke over the 4th of July weekend. I posted a pics here Broken Centerlink Fortunately it broke at the beginning of the trail(about 2hrs from town), and not on the way getting there(plenty of turns and high cliffs). After cleaning it up, I could see where it had fractured in the past, about 1/3 of the steeel was aged compared to the new break. There was an identical break on a 4-Runner a the wrecking yard where I scavenged another centerlink(relay rod), howvere the owner of it wasn't as lucky as I, the whole right side was crushed where it rolled.

lol.... exactly...

replacing all of my tie rod ends, idler arm and pitarm soon....