Have the same problem in 2009 Camry XLE ,Toyota couldn't isolate the slight noise till after the warranty ran out.

 

The intermediate shaft giving noise after awhile,I thought it was the brakes.Now they told me 'monitoring' in the service report?This 2011 Camry was fitted with defect part and masked the noise with greese.When the greese dries we get back the noise?Why can't they just recall the part.The tyre shop people said many Camry has the same problem but ask to endure the noise and live with it?Its like the air cond. chap who sticks a ginger on the pipe to stop the leak.When it drops off you get back a planned leak(noise). I fill like driving an old junk.

 

If there is a noise from the retigeetn back steering shaft or whatever ,that is to say parts are rubbing against each other instead of holding tight? The Toyota people know best about their parts , masking the noise with what ever substance cannot be a real car making story?