Kingpin bearings

[Guu]

Can kingpin bearings cause negative castor?

I have my front axle of the fj73 at the moment trying to track down a problem which causes the vehicle to pull quite hard to the right (towards on coming traffic)

I put her in for a vehicle alignment and and the report they gave me said she as negative castor of - 10

So tonight I disassembled the right swivel housing and once it was disconnect from the steering rods I rotated it through its range from left to right and it was notchy. It felt like it had three positions full left centres and then full right. I tried the same on the other side and it was smooth.

What else should I be looking at?

I know the castor cannot be adjusted and is rare to go out of alignment.

This is my first 4x4. Just want it driving straight again. Please help

 

[roscoFJ73]

Trunnion bearing maybe. No king pins in a landcruiser. I would have thought the the wheel alignment guy would have given you some clues.

 

[Malahki]

Is the truck lifted? What about extended shackles? Both will effect castor negatively. Its comon to add 2.5 or 4 degree castor shims when instslling a 2.5" - 3" lift. But being -10 degrees is way out to lunch and would cause very bad road manners. Lots of bump steer and wandering. But unless it was just out on one side, caused by a bent axle housing, I wouldnt expect it to pull just to one side like that from castor alone

 

[Guu]

Yes the report says it is out on the right hand side and it pulls towards the right.

I have the entire housing / axle out on jack stands at the moment. What do I need to do to determine if it is the axle housing?

 

[Guu]

The truck isn't lifted but I have ordered an old man emu kit for it which I will install when I put it back together

 

[cruiseroutfit]

-10*? I would have that rechecked. That is seriously negative. Stock suspension orientation i.e. Spring-under-axle? Pics?

Worn bearings can cause a couple degrees of caster reading variance but not a dozen...

 

[Guu]

yes was spring under axle. every one i have spoken to or asked says to get it rechecked but i live on a small island and there is only one garage with the alignment laser machine.

i wonder if the axle housing is bent?

i will have it all stripped down completely soon and will try looking through it.

The axle on the right hand side came out and went back in easily enough so i'm not sure.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Measure it yourself. On flat ground with the vehicle supported at ride height. use an angle finder across the knuckle bearing race. Essentially this but on the vehicle:

 

[Guu]

ok i have the axle off the car so can do it like you have there. Thank you for your help - i was wondering how to measure it!