Front right tie rod?

[backroads backpacker]

Hey guys,

I've got a 1990 RHD HDJ81...

I was 9 hours out in the bush, and just got back to civilization ... I hit a water bar pretty hard out there but everything seemed fine (other than feeling slightly jarred!). A couple of days later I was driving back on the mainline logging road in caravan with a couple of other trucks (in their dust) and I hit a washout hard. Big bang and all that but again everything felt ok. Not long after I looked down and saw that to drive straight, I had to have the wheel cocked at almost 90 degrees to the left. That's where I'm at now.

It drives normal (though I just had it towed 200 km to Prince George) but there is some oil (or diff oil) leaking - increasingly faster. My mechanic (sortof) friend said there is a missing tie rod on the front right. Should there be two tie rods on the front right? (i.e. one in front of and one behind the axle) Anyone have a guess at what the problem might be if that's not it?

Anyone know a mechanic in PG who knows these trucks? I think I'm holed up here until Monday at least (trying to get back to Victoria) 'cause I can't find a mechanic open on Sundays.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Cheers,
Matt

 

[Cruiserdrew]

MISSING???


Post up a picture. Both ends of the drag link and both ends of the tie rod plus both knuckles. I don't think it's drivable if missing.

 

[backroads backpacker]

Pics:

 

[96r50]

In picture 4 it looks like the drag link (the rod in front of the axle) may have slipped right up on the tie rod end. The would be one spot to check for sure. Normally you can still see some exposed threads on the tie rod end.
If your truck still tracks straight as before you should be able to rule out the tie rod (the one behind the axle). Look at all the connections between the steering box (mounted on the frame rail, and that left side knuckle arm). Good luck!

 

[Cruiserdrew]

I don't see anything that's missing. If it were missing, I don't think you would be able to steer. You have a double arm (front and rear on one side, and a rear facing single arm on the other. That's normal in this style of steering.

If you really whacked the front end, and the steering wheel is not straight, I would look for twisted splines in the sector shaft.

If you clean off the gunk at the sector shaft and post a close up picture of that just above the Pittman arm, we might be able to give you a better idea.

Time to take it to someone who knows Land Cruisers.

 

[landtank]

I took a couple of good hits out on the trail and my wheel was crooked. I'm pretty sure the steering shaft where it attaches to the gear box jumped a few splines but I can't be sure. That seal had been leaking a bit and that area was soaked with fluid.

 

[backroads backpacker]

Yeah I just talked to another mechanically-minded friend, and he said much the same.... I guess I'll take it in on Monday. Stranded in Prince George...

Good to know it's not the tie rod, though I do have one on the way up from John at Rocky Mt Imports! Oh well, I guess I'll return it to him when I get back.

Thanks everyone for the comments.

 

[backroads backpacker]

Ok, I feel a bit sheepish now. It was the track bar - the adjusting nut in the middle was jarred loose and just needed to be reset to the middle and tightened up. Good to go now.

Thanks for all the comments.

Matt

 

[Cruiserdrew]

What? In stock form, the track bar (=pan hard rod) is not adjustable. More pics needed.

 

[backroads backpacker]

Ok, I'll post some pics tomorrow. Just got back to the island and it's been driving perfectly.