I'm looking for a little help trying to diagnose an LC80 with steering that seems a bit lazy to me. Steering effort is certainly a bit heavier than our Tundra and 4Runner, but not terrible. I attribute the heavier effort to the full-time 4wd. The steering doesn't wander, and honestly it performs really well rolling down the highway. The power steering doesn't howl or squeal, the assistance seems consistent from lock-to-lock, and nothing else really jumps out to me as out of the ordinary.
What is a bit annoying is a lazy return to center. Whether left or right, from full lock, it begins to return to normal like it should. However, from about the 9 o'clock to 3 o'clock when approaching dead center, it gets REALLY lazy and at times, needs a boost to get it back to 12 o'clock.
When I bought the rig, it had newly installed 2850/2863 OME springs, which I switched back to the original stock springs in hopes of baselining this problem. I figured it was the OME causing the issue. It does have the OME caster blocks still installed, and I can't put the originals back in because they were damaged being removed. With the 3"ish inch lift wiht the OME springs, the steering was also lazy. I figured when I put it back to stock, the steering characteristics would changed. However....they haven't. It seems about the same amount of LAZY with or without the lift springs.
So, I could totally drive it like this without issue, but I want it to be 100% correct. I pulled the steering stabilizer off to see if that changed anything, and it didn't. I also checked out the power steering fluid, and although full, it is yellow, so I'm guessing it may be hydraulic fluid rather than ATF. I've read hydro fluid is also ok. Again, no noise, so I assume the pump is happy with the fluid.
Also...the linkages all look to be ok and the P.O. also had the berfs rebuild within the last few hundred miles by a reputable mechanic. So....I don't think they are the culprit. Front wheel bearings also seem to be ok.
You guys here seem to know these things inside and out, so I'm hoping with my observations we can maybe pinpoint a few things for me to check out. Thanks!
What is a bit annoying is a lazy return to center. Whether left or right, from full lock, it begins to return to normal like it should. However, from about the 9 o'clock to 3 o'clock when approaching dead center, it gets REALLY lazy and at times, needs a boost to get it back to 12 o'clock.
When I bought the rig, it had newly installed 2850/2863 OME springs, which I switched back to the original stock springs in hopes of baselining this problem. I figured it was the OME causing the issue. It does have the OME caster blocks still installed, and I can't put the originals back in because they were damaged being removed. With the 3"ish inch lift wiht the OME springs, the steering was also lazy. I figured when I put it back to stock, the steering characteristics would changed. However....they haven't. It seems about the same amount of LAZY with or without the lift springs.
So, I could totally drive it like this without issue, but I want it to be 100% correct. I pulled the steering stabilizer off to see if that changed anything, and it didn't. I also checked out the power steering fluid, and although full, it is yellow, so I'm guessing it may be hydraulic fluid rather than ATF. I've read hydro fluid is also ok. Again, no noise, so I assume the pump is happy with the fluid.
Also...the linkages all look to be ok and the P.O. also had the berfs rebuild within the last few hundred miles by a reputable mechanic. So....I don't think they are the culprit. Front wheel bearings also seem to be ok.
You guys here seem to know these things inside and out, so I'm hoping with my observations we can maybe pinpoint a few things for me to check out. Thanks!