steering on HDJ81

Cancruiser · 12-10-08, 09:02 AM

Hi All..
The steering on my '90 HDJ81 seems a bit "light" I really don't know how to describe the feeling properly but I have driven many trucks before (not Land Cruisers though) and you always get some slight resistance with the steering. With the HDJ, there seem to be very little resistance and the slightest touch to the steering wheel can make the truck swerve. There's no excessive play, knocking, worn joints or anything else that I noticed.

Is it normal the way it is now? I really don't know since I never owned one before.. Or is there some sort of adjustment to the steering system (steering box, bushings..etc) that'll make it a bit more "heavy" to the touch.

Cheers,

jasonmt · 12-10-08, 10:13 AM

Is the truck lifted at all? The closer the caster is to 0° the more "darty" the steering is.

Cancruiser · 12-10-08, 10:37 AM

It has what seems to be a 2" lift/ Bilsten shocks and stock size tires.
I found a thread here with another forum member has the same sort of problem:
http://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-te...g-problem.html
He didn't seem to find anything conclusive.
Any ideas??

If it is a caster adjustment, how much should it be for a 2" lift with 31x10.5R15LT tires?

jasonmt · 12-10-08, 02:17 PM

I would get an alignment done and go from there as the alignment will tell you what your caster is at presently so you have an idea if it is out of spec and how much would be needed to bring it back.

Cancruiser · 12-10-08, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonmt

I would get an alignment done and go from there as the alignment will tell you what your caster is at presently so you have an idea if it is out of spec and how much would be needed to bring it back.

I will probably do so, I'm base-lining all maintenance records since I bought it so might as well do the alignment.

How much the caster should be then with the 2" lift kit?

Cheers,

Tapage · 12-10-08, 03:30 PM

you loose 1.7 to 2° of caster each inch of lift ..

Cancruiser · 12-10-08, 03:39 PM

Thanks Tapage,
So in this case I need ~ 3-4 degrees of caster..
Since I bought the truck used, it came with the lift kit already. So, maybe I should start by knowing exactly how much lift do I have. Anyway of knowing how much lift is it?

Looks to me like 2" or so, but I would like to know for sure before ordering any bushing kit or adjusting the caster. What is the stock ride height from the center of the wheel hub to, say, the bottom edge of the fenders?

Tapage · 12-10-08, 03:54 PM

if you have a OME or similar lift mild 2.5" .. a 3° caster bushings from Slee come perfect ..

Cancruiser · 12-17-08, 09:34 AM

So, just did the alignment at the stealership yesterday. Here are the results:
Camber: 0.05* (LF) and 0.15* (RF)
Caster: 0.45* (LF) and 1.05* (RF)
Toe: 0.4mm (LF) and 0.4mm RF)
Total Toe: 0.9mm
Steer ahead (whatever that means!): 0.00*

As you can see, the catser angles are close to zero. So, probably a set of bushings are due. It is too cold now to do anything to the vehicle, so I guess I will order them next month.
Still, with little caster, she goes back straight on her own after taking a turn. Not as strong as other vehicles I have driven but still does it on her own.
I read that Poly bushings get torn prematurely on several occasions, so I will opt for a rubber set. Anyone knows where to get a rubber set of caster correction bushings in Canada or the US??
Cheers,

canucksafari · 12-17-08, 10:30 AM

Try Steve at EBI in Port Moody. I know he deals in the ARB but likely can get rubber bushings as well.

lynrick · 12-17-08, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cancruiser

So, just did the alignment at the stealership yesterday. Here are the results:
Camber: 0.05* (LF) and 0.15* (RF)
Caster: 0.45* (LF) and 1.05* (RF)
Toe: 0.4mm (LF) and 0.4mm RF)
Total Toe: 0.9mm
Steer ahead (whatever that means!): 0.00*

As you can see, the catser angles are close to zero. So, probably a set of bushings are due. It is too cold now to do anything to the vehicle, so I guess I will order them next month.
Still, with little caster, she goes back straight on her own after taking a turn. Not as strong as other vehicles I have driven but still does it on her own.
I read that Poly bushings get torn prematurely on several occasions, so I will opt for a rubber set. Anyone knows where to get a rubber set of caster correction bushings in Canada or the US??
Cheers,

Just found this in AUS,

Superior Engineering

Rubber ones.

jasonmt · 12-17-08, 01:45 PM

I have a set of stock arms from my JDM that I took out for Slee's with some caster bushings of unknown origin in, they are doing no one any good sitting in my shop.

I am in Sherwood Park and if you want you can trade me your stock arms/bushings for these:

Cancruiser · 12-17-08, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonmt

I have a set of stock arms from my JDM that I took out for Slee's with some caster bushings of unknown origin in, they are doing no one any good sitting in my shop.

I am in Sherwood Park and if you want you can trade me your stock arms/bushings for these:

Thanks Jason for your offer.
Considering the effort of taking the arms and installing the bushings etc. I would rather prefer installing a new set of bushings there. But I do appreciate your help and offer..

Cheers,