Electric Steering Damper Replacement

[Peterm69uk]

7 minutes ago, Jimmympv said:

Just picked up my 2012 Alphard today and have the exact symptoms described here. Was a bit disappointed but fingers crossed the cheapest solution sorts it!

 

Just to let you know how my repair went, the mechanic changed it in 30 mins, he'd never changed one before so I linked the video above how to do it. He reached up without doing any of what the video showed but he was obviously pretty competant as a mechanic and very flexible 🤣 Good luck, hope it solve the problem 👍🏻

[Rojie]

12 hours ago, Peterm69uk said:

 

Just to let you know how my repair went, the mechanic changed it in 30 mins, he'd never changed one before so I linked the video above how to do it. He reached up without doing any of what the video showed but he was obviously pretty competant as a mechanic and very flexible 🤣 Good luck, hope it solve the problem 👍🏻

 

Can I respectfully request you add the details of your mechanic to the servicing section.

There is a small section for a mention for individuals and businesses who  are competent to work on Alphards; yours would be a worthy addition.

[Peterm69uk]

2 hours ago, Rojie said:

 

Can I respectfully request you add the details of your mechanic to the servicing section.

There is a small section for a mention for individuals and businesses who  are competent to work on Alphards; yours would be a worthy addition.

All done Roger 👍🏻

[Jimmympv]

I finally got the time to take a look at this and after pulling everything apart turns out there was absolutely nothing wrong with the bush that was in there, it looked brand new ☹️ replaced it anyway so back to square one. 

[Quimbasher]

On 11/12/2024 at 5:05 PM, Jimmympv said:

I finally got the time to take a look at this and after pulling everything apart turns out there was absolutely nothing wrong with the bush that was in there, it looked brand new ☹️ replaced it anyway so back to square one. 

 

This is what I found when I picked mine up too. It may require a new column. If you want to check it, you could remove the damper bush and wiggle the spider that holds it in place on the column. If there is play or a knocking then unfortunately its a 2nd hand or new column needed i believe.

 

The backlash is in the worm gear within the lower part of the column. Its very slight but whem driving over rough surface at slow speed cam be very loud in the cabin. I stripped mine and packed with grease but this only dampened the rattle for a week or so. Then had to replace the column with one from amayama.  Hope you get it sorted. 

[Picasso]

Hello check this link https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225275793934?_skw=alphard+steering+colum&itmmeta=01JE9M8C64G4K5Q7E8S2PWFTAX&hash=item34737bd20e:g:jpUAAOSwlnpjh8Xs&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKkN3IWqk%2BxKEetG6m%2BarFCrFW3OGtUj8MbxmN%2F1JnfP4Dlk%2B--IBMWIFF42l88dPowGVZICwNjogsE3lrMuFImKElXZCCw7CyKGHA72uPawAM%2FYJxjJF94b96ijultX0nq%2BYSPDTHop5SgKrA7fQlKC7FEOvuPmeeX2zfEIJGu8TCdZAIy2CstBYsqxZjrIKQ5Gf%2F4bUhyry5K36agoHHflDjlSJVwp6%2FOeEG0HsKvFWJoVQOMFSc0Tt4mSgmkokPji4lX3lm86R7tXRBzjOewMkT7vCbGUzb0Fn4aozvu%2FvA%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR5zDobTyZA  This is the correct column and lot cheaper than genuine prices 

[Maxim]

On 12/4/2024 at 5:26 PM, Quimbasher said:

 

This is what I found when I picked mine up too. It may require a new column. If you want to check it, you could remove the damper bush and wiggle the spider that holds it in place on the column. If there is play or a knocking then unfortunately its a 2nd hand or new column needed i believe.

 

The backlash is in the worm gear within the lower part of the column. Its very slight but whem driving over rough surface at slow speed cam be very loud in the cabin. I stripped mine and packed with grease but this only dampened the rattle for a week or so. Then had to replace the column with one from amayama.  Hope you get it sorted. 

 

I've done the same as you today - tried to replace the damper bush, only to find the one in there was perfectly good.

 

Can I ask - when you say 'replace the column with one from Amayama' - did you replace the upper column that the spider is part of, or did you replace the lower part (intermediate shaft), like the one Picasso linked to?

[Rat-XF]

On 4/14/2025 at 9:29 AM, Maxim said:

 

I've done the same as you today - tried to replace the damper bush, only to find the one in there was perfectly good.

 

Can I ask - when you say 'replace the column with one from Amayama' - did you replace the upper column that the spider is part of, or did you replace the lower part (intermediate shaft), like the one Picasso linked to?

Hi Maxim i  just purchased the Steering shaft with twin U Joints off Aliexpress and Couriered to NZ for $90 all up.. The U joints look pretty good but i guess ill know once i fit it this weekend. 

 

 

[Maxim]

Hi. Thanks.

 

In the end I bought the aftermarket intermediate shaft off eBay.

That looked good and the universal joints were smoother and stiffer, however that still didn't fix my issue when fitted.

 

Then I bought a second hand upper steering column and that did fix my issue thankfully. The noise was due to slight play in the connection between steering column and the power steering motor interface. Hardly noticeable amount of play when off the vehicle, but it rattled massively when going over bumps.

 

 

[Maxim]

 

 

[Jimmympv]

What price are we looking at for this part? Also do you have the part number? I have a feeling this is the issue with mine, all of the knocking/vibration comes from right behind the steering wheel. Don't really get any noise rocking the wheel side to side or at full lock etc. If you drive over a gravel drive for example it'll rattle like hell, on a regular road it will be fine until you hit a pot hole or at certain speeds when the frequency must vibrate just right to make it rattle. Sometimes it'll knock going over a speed bump sometimes it won't. 

 

It has absolutely no effect on the handling whatsoever it's more of an annoyance than anything.

[Maxim]

21 minutes ago, Jimmympv said:

What price are we looking at for this part? Also do you have the part number? I have a feeling this is the issue with mine, all of the knocking/vibration comes from right behind the steering wheel. Don't really get any noise rocking the wheel side to side or at full lock etc. If you drive over a gravel drive for example it'll rattle like hell, on a regular road it will be fine until you hit a pot hole or at certain speeds when the frequency must vibrate just right to make it rattle. Sometimes it'll knock going over a speed bump sometimes it won't. 

 

It has absolutely no effect on the handling whatsoever it's more of an annoyance than anything.

 

Which part do you mean?

In order of least to most expensive:

- damper (£20 ish for genuine Toyota)

- intermediate shaft (£50 ish for aftermarket)

- (upper) steering column (I paid £170 for secondhand one, delivered).

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Maxim]

Steering column part number for mine was

4520A-58010 according to Amayama.

 

Note that if you're looking on eBay, most of the listings have the part number 80960-58010.

That's actually the part number for the electric motor, but if the column and motor have been removed as one assembly, 80960-58010 is the most visible part number.

 

[Jimmympv]

2 minutes ago, Maxim said:

 

Which part do you mean?

In order of least to most expensive:

- damper (£20 ish for genuine Toyota)

- intermediate shaft (£50 ish for aftermarket)

- (upper) steering column (I paid £170 for secondhand one, delivered).

 

 

 

 

 

 

That upper steering column sounds like the part I need. I already changed the bush, the one already in there looked brand new still but swapped it out anyway. 
 

It sounds like it almost emanates from right behind the steering wheel as if somethings loose and rattling about when it happens. 
 

There’s a place called Osaka in Newport that specialises in Toyota and Lexus imports so I might just book it in with them and get it looked at as it’s due a full service and MOT soon, I was planning on servicing it myself but can never find the time!