It began as an intermittent knocking sound on column when changing steering wheel direction parking but developed to also making a similar sound on rough roads. smooth roads are fine and silent at any speed.

Local mechanic initially thought it was play where the wishbones connect to steering rack but after removinf the gaiters they were both absolutely fine. He had another look and said there was a cigarette paper's thickness of play where steering column spline meets rack (can't remember exact terms he used). But both he and mot guy who passed it recenly with no advisory's reckoned it wasn't dangerous and would last a long time if I could put up with the noise.

I can't really because it spoiling an otherwise very good car with less than 60k miles on the clock.

I've read that greasing worked get rid of the knocking on earlier Avensis models, but also that some 2004 t3's were recalled because the intermediate steering shaft was incorrectly assembled and sometimes resulted in premature wear of the shaft splines.

I've only bought this a couple of years ago and it was 7,000 miles beforethe knocking first appeared.

Edited by Will Marshall on 23/08/2011 at 23:45