Hi all,
This is a detail of how the tilt and telescoping mechanism in the 2nd gen GS works. There are several other threads that address the most common issues, tilt. ie. https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...pic-wheel.html

However, my car had a telescoping problem, and there was not any discussion of how to service that part. I bought a used column to play with before I disassembled my car.










First you'll need to access the mechanism. It's possible to remove just the lower panel of the column, but for servicing the telescoping wheel you need to remove both lower dash panels.

Lowest panel has two screws a clip and a hook at the very front.


Then pull back on the trim around the key.



The column trim has two screws behind the wheel and one on the bottom.


The lower dash panel has several screws, plugs and you’ll need to disconnect the hood latch cable.




When the panels are removed you'll see this.


The tilt mechanism is accessible to add lube.



Some have had issues with the motor it's self. If you need to remove it you can. Note: I don't recommend pulling the battery cable with the key in to work on the column in the extended position. I had trouble I'll go through. If you pull the battery cable, do it when the key is not in the ignition and the column is retracted.

To lube the telescoping mechanism spray some good stuff (no WD40 or PB Blaster) on the areas that show movement and the yellow factory grease.

Every other telescoping mech from Lexus/Toyota has the tele lead screw exposed, but the GS does not. You can't easily access the lead screw. So just spray some lube up into here.



The wheel with yellow grease around it below is the wheel the motor turns to run the lead screw for the telescoping portion. You can lube here too.


This is the other end of the lead screw with the thrust bearing removed. We want to spray lube into the corner gap areas not remove this thrust bearing.


NOTE: I was not able to reinstall this. Do not remove unless you want pain.

I had a weak telescoping motor that needed replaced.





Here's what mine looked like on the inside of the case. *gross*






There are three thin shims that go under the motor to set the thrust of the motor. These are sharp! They are needed. Replace them.

I had the bright idea of pulling the battery cable while the key was in the ignition and the column was all the way out. When I hooked everything back up, the ECM thought it the motor was in the park position when it was nearly all the way out. It would only retract a fraction of the full distance…. So if you do that too… you’ll need to pull out the motor, then turn the gear inside the telescoping mechanism until the column is totally retracted then replace the motor, reconnect the battery, and you should be going at that point.

Just put everything back together and lounge in the satisfaction of providing another many years of service for your tilt/tele column.

M@
NOTE: Pics to be added.

 

Awesome post!
And seems like a perfect thread to ask year long bothering question
Is that normal that my telescope produce very audible gear-spinning-buzzing noise while moving/adjusting?
It's not like super loud, or grinding, or horribly wrong sounding, but it kinda much louder then you would expect from a "premium" car

 

Well, I can add a clue, possibly.

When I first installed the telescope motor from the eBay unit the column was out all the way. The controller didn’t like that and would only retract a half an inch. For whatever reason the tele motor sound much louder too.

No clue how that helps, but I can report all of the different Lexus I’ve owned sounded basically the same, except the failing motor I just replaced.

 

I don't have any experience with other lexuses, unfortunately, so that's where my question comes from.
Like, for reference, I can barely hear a seat adjust motors (they do make buzzing noise, but it's near zero to me)
And steering column is about 3-5 times louder, so I wonder if that's about right, or does it, perhaps, lacking some attention?
It functions perfectly fine, except for a hot summer wether, where it can sometimes produce pretty loud kinda squeaking, but thats, again, does not affect anything

 

McPierson
There is a setting for the Steering column auto-retract that you can change via Techstream, where you can turn off the option that automatically retracts the steering wheel when you exit. I got my telescoping and tilt motors working again, but now I don't need them. The steering wheel stays where I set it. You can "rent" Techstream for like $10 a day. A great option if your motors still barely work.

I also see that in 2 of your photos that the bearing clip that holds the lower bearing in the steering column is no longer holding the bearing, as the clip has slid down the lower shaft. That is likely where %95 of your steering column play is coming from.

I learned a lot when I removed the entire steering column assembly, down to the rack. Here's a photo of the clip below the bearing on my column, with helpful arrows showing what all 2GS owners need to do: Reinstall the clip!


This is a design flaw from Toyota. Imagine how wobbly your steering shaft is with the bearing no longer mounted in the slower steering column!

Take a look at my last post on this thread for more info, including checking the lower steering column u-joints: First time lexus owner, possible problem with steering wheel has free play/movement
I also installed 2 flat C-Clips (1 C-Clip was too thin), instead of re-using the round wire c-clip.

 

That’s the junkyard column. Mine never came out of the car. There’s no play. Good advice to check though.

There is a setting for the Steering column auto-retract that you can change via Techstream, where you can turn off the option that automatically retracts the steering wheel when you exit. I got my telescoping and tilt motors working again, but now I don't need them. The steering wheel stays where I set it. You can "rent" Techstream for like $10 a day. A great option if your motors still barely work.

However, my wife is short and this is the spare car. So it all needed to work.