How should a UZJ100 drive?

[CruiserPek]

Hello everyone,

Sold my Land Rover LR3 and purchased my first LC 8 weeks ago. It's the only LC I have ever driven. That's why I ask what it should drive like.

Here's the story. It's a 2001 w/150k miles, AZ car, and I'm the second owner. It made a clunk when shifting into drive or reverse and driving on the highway it was pulling/wandering left/right and the steering wheel wasn't centered (if I center the wheel, it goes left). So I took it in to Toyota and they performed an alignment. That didn't solve the problem. So, I took it back. They cross rotated the tires, that didn't fix it. I took it back. They did another alignment, and yet again it wasn't fixed. At this point the Toyota dealership seemed to have given up. They couldn't find what was causing the steering issue or the clunk. They wanted me to pay 3-4 hours of labor for them to snoop around. I wasn't confident in their abilities and I was tired of taking it to them just to get the vehicle back without improvement so I took it Lexus.

Lexus was able to find the issue. Or so they thought. The bushings on the steering rack were shot. I got a new steering rack installed at Lexus. Also, the previous owner installed aftermarket axles, Lexus said that was the clunk. New Toyota axles were installed.


I got the car back from Lexus with the claim that it drives straight and the clunk is gone. The Crusier still wanders around most of the time. The clunk is present when going into drive sometimes. I took it back to Lexus. The technician and I went for a drive in the cruiser and he contributes the wandering of the LC to the road. They did another alignment for me. I just can't believe that a Land Cruiser could be affected by the road crown/angle as much as it is. Is this normal? If I let go of the wheel it doesn't go straight. I constantly apply steering input, which gets old on long distance drives. Ive never driven a car or truck that behaves this way. The tech said thats just how they drive. As for the clunk, the technician says that its normal, what I'm hearing is the transfer case.

Hopefully I have painted a clear picture of my issues.

So, my questions are:

Do Land Cruisers drive straight?

How greatly does the road surface affect your driving characteristics?

What could this clunk be?

Thanks!

 

[n55luvr]

Annoying situation to be in for sure. Something still sounds off.

I'm running slightly taller tires than OEM and my 04 LC tracks straighter than any of our newer vehicles. Take hands off the wheel at highway speeds and it stays straight without issue. My bushings up front have seen way better days, and even with a couple of them being cracked in a few places, that doesn't seem to impact how the truck tracts.

Clunk is probably driveshaft lube related. Especially if it only happens from a stop when going forward or back.

 

[bctlex]

Mine drives straight also - 98 with 214K with slightly larger BFG KO2. Have you grease the drive shaft? I have put a lot of grease on mine since I bought it last year and that fix the clunk. I also have replaced all shocks and bushings, which probably help too.

I have read that LC/LX need to have a rake, maybe thats the problem? See this IronMan suspension VS. Old Man Emu?

 

[WES1977]

I would take a guess the clunk is coming from the transmission. I think it's an old age thing. Ours did it. As for a as road surfaces are concerned my wife's stock 02 100 took it better than almost any car I've ever driven. That was a good driving vehicle so, something still is wrong.

have you felt your rims after a drive? in case maybe stuck brake.

 

[nmatcek]

My guess is that your clunk noise is coming from the drive shaft slip joints. Grease the zerks and it should go away. Here is a related thread.

The OFFICIAL clunk/thunk driveshaft thread

 

[nmatcek]

Do you have larger tires with higher than stock load ratings? Might try increasing your tire pressure. I don't find mine wandering much. Toyota dealer did my alignment and when I'm going straight, the wheel is straight. It does take some steering input on the highway to compensate for the crown / surface.

 

[CruiserPek]

Thanks for the replies. I have not greased the drive shaft. I'll try to get that done.

I have cranked the torsion bars to level it out but it was doing all this before I did that so I don't think it's the rake causing the issue.

The LC is in stock form. He shocks were replaced by the previous owner. Not OEM. I don't know what brand they are. It's a very cushy ride.

I asked the tech while he was driving it if it could be the brakes causing it. He said no. But he also said "that's just how the drive!"

 

[aging fleet]

Sounds like a frustrating and expensive 2 months.

Can you give us a bit more detail on your setup and is it possible to post the alignment specs? Is the truck lifted, what kind of wheels and tires, what size? Tires definitely can impact road manners, maybe if someone else is running the same size and type they can share their experience.

First thing I would when going after the clunk it to grease the driveshaft u-joints and slip yokes, grease costs next to nothing and there is a decent chance this will solve the problem.

 

[BullElk]

NO....that's not how they drive. That's a Democrap answer from the tech......instead of saying "I do not know but I will do my best to find out". Instead he just gives you a wrong answer as if was actually correct.

 

[CruiserPek]

The only suspension mod I have done is cranking the torsion bars to level it out. The truck drove like I have described before cranking the t-bars.

Rims are Toyota 16in. Tires are Michelin LTX p275/70 that have 7/32 - 8/32 tread remaining. I'm not sure how long they have been on the truck.

 

[CruiserPek]

NO....that's not how they drive. That's a Democrap answer from the tech......instead of saying "I do not know but I will do my best to find out". Instead he just gives you a wrong answer as if was actually correct.

That's what I thought!

 

[sean2202]

Sounds like you have as much confidence in your dealer as I do. Just shooting from the hip here. If they replaced your rack I wonder if it is possible if they put your intermediate steering shaft off by 1 notch when they reinstalled it. My dealership did this to me that is why I am asking which threw my steering wheel to the right. As far as pulling possibly a dragging brake caliper. I wonder if all pads have the same wear.

 

[TheForger]

I have the same opinion as @sean2202 the steering wheel itself might be off-centered

 

[CruiserPek]

I have the same opinion as @sean2202 the steering wheel itself might be off-centered

I mentioned this to both Toyota and Lexus. Hopefully they checked this to make sure the steering shaft is in the correct notch.

 

[jLB]

I have cranked the torsion bars to level it out but it was doing all this before I did that so I don't think it's the rake causing the issue.
The LC is in stock form. He shocks were replaced by the previous owner. Not OEM. I don't know what brand they are. It's a very cushy ride.

Bad steering rack bushings would definitely contribute to the issue. How much "leveling" did you do?

Is it possible that you're dealing with 2 issues here?

1.) Before the torsion bar adjustment, the issue was the steering rack bushings
2.) The current issue might be the reduced caster from cranking the torsion bars a bit too far.
​

Do you have the printout from the alignment?


Other possibility:

Have you (or someone else) checked both front and rear suspension for anything bent or worn (bushings or ball joints)? Any evidence of accidents in this vehicle's past?​

 

[2001LC]

The only suspension mod I have done is cranking the torsion bars to level it out. The truck drove like I have described before cranking the t-bars.

Rims are Toyota 16in. Tires are Michelin LTX p275/70 that have 7/32 - 8/32 tread remaining. I'm not sure how long they have been on the truck.

Time line indicates you leveled out before steering rack changed. Now set rake back to factory spec., Level (no rake) and you'll get wondering. Additionally check all bushing of suspension including sway bar. I assume all ball joints & tie rod in good condition (to factory spec).

Clunk: Go easy while pumping grease in aft & forward propeller shafts (aka Drive shafts). Pulse it in, letting pressure compress yoke back in just a bit on each pulse, while watching for grease to pass seal(s). These seals can be very tight, although if not regular greased they may have worn to the point grease will easily pass (not all bad).

 

[pbreisch]

I am fairly new to LC myself, so I don't know what years got what systems, but in regards to the off center steering wheel I found this info in another thread:

Steering wheel alignment

Hope this helps

 

[jLB]

I am fairly new to LC myself, so I don't know what years got what systems, but in regards to the off center steering wheel I found this info in another thread:

Steering wheel alignment

Hope this helps

If I remember correctly VGRS is 2003+ models.

 

[ton504]

Post your alignment specs

 

[CruiserPek]

I'll post my specs later. I don't have access to them at the moment.