Excess play in steering (1 Viewer)

[Dogdoc90]

My 1970 pig drives fine but I’m constantly battling the excess play in the steering when I’m at higher speeds on the highway. It’s more annoying than anything but was wondering if there is a way to tighten this up a bit. Appreciate any advice. Thanks

 

[J Mack]

Appreciate any advice

Knowing more about the specifics of your pig and its specific issues will help you get accurate answers.

All stock factory suspension or modified?

New or old steering components?

Manual or power steering?

Have you had an alignment shop look at it and if so what are the caster and toe numbers?

Excessive play, can you give some more detail?

 

[Dogdoc90]

Thanks for the reply. No power steering and as far as I can tell, all suspension and steering components are original (PO replaced F1 engine with a a ‘79 F2 and tranny/transfer case from an early ‘80’s fj60). When The vehicle is parked and I turn the steering wheel, there is a few degrees of play back and forth before the steering shaft engages and the wheels start to turn.

 

[J Mack]

Purely based on the information you’ve given sounds like if you replace all the tie rods ends and have your steering box rebuilt your excessive play would go away.



Looking at the photo of the green and white pig above your name (assuming this is the pig we are talking about) that pig looks like it might have a small lift, if that is the pig and it does have a small lift then caster could be your problem. Again this is all an internet guess based on minimal information so my best advice is take it to an alignment shop and have them give it the once over. Come back and let us know what they find and maybe one of us could offer more directed help.

 

[Dogdoc90]

Purely based on the information you’ve given sounds like if you replace all the tie rods ends and have your steering box rebuilt your excessive play would go away.

Thanks. I’ll have it checked out. The green/white pig is the one.

Looking at the photo of the green and white pig above your name (assuming this is the pig we are talking about) that pig looks like it might have a small lift, if that is the pig and it does have a small lift then caster could be your problem. Again this is all an internet guess based on minimal information so my best advice is take it to an alignment shop and have them give it the once over. Come back and let us know what they find and maybe one of us could offer more directed help.

 

[Megadoomer]

The stock steering has a lot of moving parts. That means there are 6 tie rod ends that if they are all old you could have some serious delay in response to your request to turn. The box itself could be letting go as well.

 

[Dogdoc90]

The stock steering has a lot of moving parts. That means there are 6 tie rod ends that if they are all old you could have some serious delay in response to your request to turn. The box itself could be letting go as well.

Yeah, it seems like it might be in the box as there is significant rotation of the steering linkage before it “stops” and engages to turn the wheels. BTW, speedometer you sold me works great!

 

[Megadoomer]

Oh, good to know!

 

[residualboulders]

My experience with vintage Landcruisers is that they will have play in their steering. in my fj40 it felt excessive and the steering box was leaking. I replaced the steering box, rebuilt the center arm, drag link and tie rod ends. It is much better, but there is still play in the steering. Replace the old parts and get it as good as you can, then enjoy the charm of the 40 year old vehicle.

 

[Dogdoc90]

My experience with vintage Landcruisers is that they will have play in their steering. in my fj40 it felt excessive and the steering box was leaking. I replaced the steering box, rebuilt the center arm, drag link and tie rod ends. It is much better, but there is still play in the steering. Replace the old parts and get it as good as you can, then enjoy the charm of the 40 year old vehicle.

Thanks

 

[Dogdoc90]

My experience is new parts will have zero play. My old 75 FJ40 was a frame off restore and it tracked absolutely perfect down the freeway with 31" tires doing 60mph... zero slop between column to knuckles.
Thanks for the tips.
The fact that the OP say "original" parts tells me he needs to start buying tie rod ends at the least and more than likely center arm and steering box. Also, it is five tie rod ends and an odd pivot at the box.

The pivot can be tightened with two pennies(look that up)

There is some adjustment in the box.

I forget if all fj55s were u-joints from column to box. Check those out while you are at it.

 

[residualboulders]

My experience is new parts will have zero play. My old 75 FJ40 was a frame off restore and it tracked absolutely perfect down the freeway with 31" tires doing 60mph... zero slop between column to knuckles.

The fact that the OP say "original" parts tells me he needs to start buying tie rod ends at the least and more than likely center arm and steering box. Also, it is five tie rod ends and an odd pivot at the box.

The pivot can be tightened with two pennies(look that up)

There is some adjustment in the box.

I forget if all fj55s were u-joints from column to box. Check those out while you are at it.

I guess I need you to come adjust mine. I'm not saying its normal to be sloppy. Mine track great and don't feel dangerous. I have driven some that did feel dangerous so parts got replaced. I've done the work myself and paid a mechanic to do another - better results on those i have done myself honestly. I haven't had a pre-80s cruiser yet with steering that has zero play. Must be user error on my part, or the definition of play is a little different for me than someone else.

 

[bobm]

Never touched a single 1 I've owned! 40s inherently seem to follow cracks in the road!! The 3 55s I own seem to follow the typical steering trend of a Vintage Landcruiser ! Its 40 plus years old, not a Caddy or a Lexus, or a Ford escort for that matter. Check the system out, but remember it was designed years ago .

 

[J Mack]

One more time for the last time, Toyota only gave us 1° or so of caster in our factory front ends with manual steering and this might have been a great idea for an off road only vehicle with manual steering it kind of sucks for something driven on the highway. Add any of the readily available lift kits and you take that away compounding your problems.

If everything else is perfect 1° of caster is barley acceptable for what any of us would consider “comfortable” driving, you can add more caster with caster shims and if all of the other steering components are in good shape you should expect your vintage Toyota to drive better.

For reference every other manufacture I looked at that made straight axle vehicles in the 70’s have 3-4° of caster.