July Ride

[4xsteve]

Hot Shower = good True
Cold A/C = better Agreed

good ride, good people. I think we set some kind of record for having mechanical issues this time and luckliy it was not my junk.
Little did you know the issues continued after the ride... I ended up having to have my truck serviced at a truck stop on the way home; and it ultimately didn't even fix the issue!

I would have to say camping is better when it cools off, but I was glad to show up and go with the group.

Every time I go out I learn new stuff...this time I did not have tc issues or p/s issues which was great, maybe soon I can get A/C going in LC.

Now, if I can only stay awake for work today. THAT is going to be a big challenge.

I know it's a little early to ask, but where is the waterfall video going? Here or YouTube or what? I'm excited to see it.

Damnit Andy! I've got poison - something - all over my ankles! Likely came from that exact moment I asked about it too. I'll know next time won't I!

 

[jasharp]

pics

Here are some; sorry, none at the falls, or coming up that final hill and all the repairs thereon. Which sucks cause there was some awesome there (including Elbert's mad off-trail, off-camber passing. Pretty hairy from where I was standing.) Also not a lot of shots of the front of the group as we were often fairly far apart.

ANYWAY
pics

 

[4xsteve]

Damn J, you take some really good photos!

 

[radioridge]

Damn J, you take some really good photos!

I toad yaw dat boy gots da skilz wit da camra !

 

[Elbert]

I gots the poison $%^& too, had to get a shot today by the MD. Nic pics...

 

[Hugh Heifer]

Yep. Nice pics Jamie. Sorry I missed another one.

 

[jasharp]

left turn only

Thanks guys.

Also I took the suggestion (forget who said it) and disconnected the draglink and steering box seems to cycle fine. No clicks, pops, slips, full range. I was able to adjust the end out -- longer -- and tested it down to the end of the road and back; turn in seems ok, normal really. With this much thread now exposed, though, not sure how safe this is. Mud line is previous position:

Trying to 're-straighten' that link feels like a bad idea too. I think there is a good chance it would just happen again anyway. This pic is hard turned to the left, there is still a bit more range that I lost letting go the wheel:

Seems awfully close to the frame. Under compression the angles change, maybe thats how it happened? Maybe something else, but this seems less than ideal. I suppose it's time to call the man.

 

[4xsteve]

That's definitely NOT a good amount of thread exposure. There has to be something bent somewhere. Being that it's not already apparent that anything is bent, it's obviously going to be hard to find. You may need to have an alignment shop check it out.

I just thought of something - look real hard at your front leaf springs. If you bent them at all, which could possibly let your axle rotate some, that would cause steering issues like you bent the J-arm. This is why Toyota put that trac bar on the front axle with push-pull steering. Also, in the unlikely event you bent or broke the center pin on the spring pack, that would let the axle shift, also causing steering issues.

 

[jasharp]

... also, in the unlikely event you bent or broke the center pin on the spring pack, that would let the axle shift, also causing steering issues.

Er, how unlikely?

Good call. Looks to be shifted back about the same amount as those threads. And the axle moving around would also explain why sometimes I would get the steering 'back' so to speak. Due to loose U-bolts? Guess they will need replacing as well. Could do flipped ones while I'm at it.

 

[4xsteve]

I don't know why they'd really NEED to be replaced. But it certainly is a good excuse for a flip kit. Am I seeing right that the center pin is totally gone?

 

[jasharp]

Yep. At least the top.

 

[TeddyBoy]

Also, in the unlikely event you bent or broke the center pin on the spring pack, that would let the axle shift, also causing steering issues.

dang, I'm impressed. That's a pretty good diagnosis via the interent and site unseen. cudos there stevie boy!

 

[4xsteve]

dang, I'm impressed. That's a pretty good diagnosis via the interent and site unseen. cudos there stevie boy!

Thanks Ted! I appreciate the compliment - I have my moments. I'm more than just an awesome driver ya know.


Jamie
Do you have the factory bumpstops still? I'd recommend putting those back in if you can. If you do the flip kit it may not be possible but if not, it'll help keep things from shifting around as much and greatly reduce the risk of this happening again. You CAN use a bolt to put the spring pack back together but you can pick up those center pins at any driveline shop and even some parts stores (have to cut to length); they're not expensive. You will have to get the spring well up off the axle to replace it though.

 

[TeddyBoy]

Thanks Ted! I appreciate the compliment - I have my moments. I'm more than just an awesome driver ya know.

slow down there now biggun, I thinks it's more the new truck these day.

 

[4xsteve]

slow down there now biggun, I thinks it's more the new truck these day.

Haha, yeah. Before, it was determination with a little crazy mixed in. Now, it's about the same but the truck compensates some for the craziness yet allows the stupidity to get me in way worse situations :whoops:. Had you been able to make it this weekend you'd know a few of said situations. Jamie's pics, although great, do not quite hold the scope of my two "situations".

Can you say "HIGH CENTERED"!
----
[STRIKE]_^|^_[/STRIKE]

 

[LDowney]

Er, how unlikely?

Good call. Looks to be shifted back about the same amount as those threads. And the axle moving around would also explain why sometimes I would get the steering 'back' so to speak. Due to loose U-bolts? Guess they will need replacing as well. Could do flipped ones while I'm at it.

The leaf spring center pin is an item that you can get at most quaility parts stores. Your u-bolts may be your biggest hassle. How many rocks have you crawled over? (i.e., how bent and deformed are the bottoms of the bolts?) If the u-bolts look tweeked, you may be time ahead to buy replacement u-bolts along with the center pin, so you aren't stuck fighting the bent bolts for hours. Good luck