body shifting

[Larsen]

Just bought a 2007 fj about a month ago. The first one I've ever driven and after buying it I noticed when I accelerate the back shifts to the right and stays there till I let off of the gas then it comes back to the normal position. Going up and down hills is very noticeable and some times gets scary when its slick and don't know if it's going to spin out or not from it.
is this normal for fjs or is there something wrong that I need to know about. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!

 

[Mtbcoach]

Not normal, a bit better description would help more. Any sound (clunking) during the "shift", does the suspension work normally (going over rough roads, does it seem harsh, hear any other sounds), steering in a straight line ok or does it seem like its drifty/floaty/hard to hold the lane at freeway speed? Have you checked the lug nuts and given the wheel a shake to make sure its secure?

I'd start with the rear lower control arms, check for any movement or play in them. Drive in a tight circle one direction, the turn the other direction to see if you can feel the same shifting. There should be no play in those arms.

Then, we'd have to make sure the wheel bearings are good, suspension components are working well (a "blown" shock may cause similar shifting) and into the drivetrain.

Start with the basics, eliminate the obvious and work from there. Hope this helps...

 

[1911]

Does it have a big lift installed but still have the stock panhard bar on the rear axle?

I agree with Jerry, something is not right with the rear suspension, either the trailing (lower control) arms or the panhard bar. Possibly even a broken shock or coil on one side of the rear?

 

[CPJONES1231]

I had a bent rear sway bar that caused that. I couldn't tell it was bent until I took it off the truck...

 

[FJNewb]

Check your rear links as others have pointed out. I've had the snap ring come out of johnny joints which would be similar to a bushing fail. If those joints are not preloaded enough it allows for movement in the joint which in turn allows your axle to move more than it should. Typcally when you are stepping on the accelerator is when you'll notice it the most and its difficult to stear the vehicle.

 

[Larsen]

There is no noise from the tranny when it does it. Shifts smoothly. Its more noticeable at highway speeds. Its hard to control when it does it. The body only shifts to the right. Never goes left. The vehicle does feel like its kinda floaty when you go against the wind and it shack pretty bad or if your behind like a semi the wind off of it just rocks it back and forth and is hard to control. The suspension feels a little rough but I figured it would being an off-road vehicle. The rear sway arm I can move back and forth from side to side bout an inch. I have not checked the lower control arms yet. Tires feel pretty solid and don't rock.
Thank you for all your guys' help! Ill look more into it

 

[Capt Sensible]

I'm going to go with rear links as well. Don't know if it's lower or upper, but that's where my gut is telling me to look.

 

[jluck]

." The rear sway arm I can move back and forth from side to side bout an inch."

this don't sound good....

 

[FJNewb]

Sway bar or panhard bar? Panhard is the straight bar going from your driverside of rear axle to the passenger side frame. Sway ties onto the axle and has endlinks attached to the frame on either side.

 

[Larsen]

I took a quick look tonight and the driver side lower control arm the side towards the front I can move it side to side bout an 1/8 of an inch. I noticed the metal bracket that the bolt goes thru on the inside is bent outwards a little bit.

 

[Larsen]

What's the easiest way to tell if the pa hard bar is bad? I do not have a lift. Everything is stock.

 

[FJNewb]

First check to see if all your bolts are tight (links, panhard, etc.). Then check to see if anything has play in it...if you are able to move anything by hand after making sure everything is tight than it probably needs replaced. Also have someone stand outside and listen as you acclerate with the vehicle...getting down near the grown they can usually hear if a bushings going bad and potentially see whats moving on you as well.

 

[BMThiker]

The front bracket for the lower control arms look a little lopsided normally. They are slightly offset from the frame rail. If you have any movement in those lower control arms then it may make a clunking noise upon loading/unloading the forces on it.

Personal experience: The rear lower control arm bracket (on the axle housing) bolt hole started to wallow out where the bolt passes through on mine and I fixed it by welding a grade 8 washer to each side of the bracket. I also tacked the nut to one of the washers once I had the bolt torqued down, so that it did not go anywhere.