Greetings!
I live in Asheville, NC. Have a '90 FJ62 w/ around 150K. Just joined the 3FE yahoo group & have been reading up @ ih8mud for a little bit, but this is my first post! I've some mechanical experience and maintain my vehicles, but used to old chevys - this is my first 4x4 and certainly the first time I've had to use metric!
My FJ's driven local every couple days and I drive a 200 mile trip every 2-4 weeks. Engine runs well. Get 14-16 mpg highway. One day I'll make a project out of it and park it to work on rust and
suspension. As of now, I fix what's needed and try to stay ahead of anything major.
I have the same problem posted here: http://www.birfield.com/archives/html/3FE/2005-05/msg00006.html
I was driving away from my storage unit when I lost all control. I walked back, got some tools and started poking around. My drag link end had no grease and the link joint knob had popped right out of the drag link. I didn't disassemble the end, just cleaned it till the frozen spring started moving again and jacked up the drag link under the pitman arm and jumped on the bumper till the knob popped back in! The ball stud seats are pretty worn, with a lot of vertical play under the pitman arm. So I tied the drag link against the pitman arm with wire to make sure the damn thing wouldn't pop out while I was driving home!
I'd like to eventually take this FJ off road, but for now it's only on roads. I want to be safe to drive w/o spending a ton of money. Since the ball stud seats are so worn & ungreased, the boot was ripped, & there's a lot of play in the steering; I figured just replace all the ends rather than rebuild the drag link ends.
Sooooooo, there's my newbie introduction and present task at hand! My questions:
1. Replace all the tie rod ends, right?
2. Where do I buy from? Till now it's been local auto parts & toyota dealer. There's a tie rod replace kit @ coolcruisers for $70. http://coolfj40.stores.yahoo.net/tierodenfj62.html. Where do I shop?
3. I need to replace a front leaf spring, when I got time & $, I'd like to just replace all suspension w/ a lift kit & advice on where to get the lift from is appreciated, but not immediate. When it does happen, what would the steering linkage need to accommodate a 2-3" lift?
4. I ordered a Toyota service manual, ended up w/ a '88 repair manual & mine's a 90 FJ62. Haven't noticed any differences yet, will the 88 manual work for my 90?
5. Now that I'm working on steering, I see that section is missing from my manual and to be found in the Chassis & Body Repair Manual! Is this other manual worth getting?
Thanks all! Sure glad to find some experience & advice.
I live in Asheville, NC. Have a '90 FJ62 w/ around 150K. Just joined the 3FE yahoo group & have been reading up @ ih8mud for a little bit, but this is my first post! I've some mechanical experience and maintain my vehicles, but used to old chevys - this is my first 4x4 and certainly the first time I've had to use metric!
My FJ's driven local every couple days and I drive a 200 mile trip every 2-4 weeks. Engine runs well. Get 14-16 mpg highway. One day I'll make a project out of it and park it to work on rust and
suspension. As of now, I fix what's needed and try to stay ahead of anything major.
I have the same problem posted here: http://www.birfield.com/archives/html/3FE/2005-05/msg00006.html
I was driving away from my storage unit when I lost all control. I walked back, got some tools and started poking around. My drag link end had no grease and the link joint knob had popped right out of the drag link. I didn't disassemble the end, just cleaned it till the frozen spring started moving again and jacked up the drag link under the pitman arm and jumped on the bumper till the knob popped back in! The ball stud seats are pretty worn, with a lot of vertical play under the pitman arm. So I tied the drag link against the pitman arm with wire to make sure the damn thing wouldn't pop out while I was driving home!
I'd like to eventually take this FJ off road, but for now it's only on roads. I want to be safe to drive w/o spending a ton of money. Since the ball stud seats are so worn & ungreased, the boot was ripped, & there's a lot of play in the steering; I figured just replace all the ends rather than rebuild the drag link ends.
Sooooooo, there's my newbie introduction and present task at hand! My questions:
1. Replace all the tie rod ends, right?
2. Where do I buy from? Till now it's been local auto parts & toyota dealer. There's a tie rod replace kit @ coolcruisers for $70. http://coolfj40.stores.yahoo.net/tierodenfj62.html. Where do I shop?
3. I need to replace a front leaf spring, when I got time & $, I'd like to just replace all suspension w/ a lift kit & advice on where to get the lift from is appreciated, but not immediate. When it does happen, what would the steering linkage need to accommodate a 2-3" lift?
4. I ordered a Toyota service manual, ended up w/ a '88 repair manual & mine's a 90 FJ62. Haven't noticed any differences yet, will the 88 manual work for my 90?
5. Now that I'm working on steering, I see that section is missing from my manual and to be found in the Chassis & Body Repair Manual! Is this other manual worth getting?
Thanks all! Sure glad to find some experience & advice.
(official noob mud welcome)
. 
Welcome to Mud