Hi everyone! I'm New here. I just bought a 1974 FJ40 and also own a 1991 Toyota Pickup thats SAS (and for sale).
If you're good at puzzles please keep reading.
I'm trying to sort out the steering in this FJ40 and would appreciate if anyone has input. It appears to have all new ball joints (tie rod, center link, drag link.
Hypothesis: The center link was maybe installed backwards. Can someone check their rig? My manual is no help.
Help request: On the center link, should right side of vehicle be left hand threads LHT, or right hand threads RHT. Note: Center Link (not tie rod)
I also think all my link ends are all in the wrong places.. this is a bit of a puzzle.
Note: Right means when sitting in the car it's on the right, ( passanger side).
Issues
A.The center link RIGHT side ball joint stud was way to short. Impossible to get a cotter pin through the castle nut, stud too short. Right hand threads. RHT.
B. The center link LEFT side ball joint seemed OK length. Left hand threads. LHT
C. The drag link stud is too long and the cotter pin sits past the castle nut slots. Left hand threads. LHT
I think what happened...
1.Center link was installed backwards.
2. The long stud LHT center link joint that belongs on the center link right (passes through tie rod joint), ended up on the drag link (so its way too long).
3. The short RHT center link joint that belongs on the center link Left was on center link Right side (since link flipped). So short couldn't get castle on enough.
4. The LHT drag link joint ended up on left side center link. Seemed fine there.
Solution?
So I think to fix all this I need to play merry-go-round round with the link ends and flip the center link so the LHT are on the right side center link of vehicle and on drag link end.
If you're good at puzzles please keep reading.
I'm trying to sort out the steering in this FJ40 and would appreciate if anyone has input. It appears to have all new ball joints (tie rod, center link, drag link.
Hypothesis: The center link was maybe installed backwards. Can someone check their rig? My manual is no help.
Help request: On the center link, should right side of vehicle be left hand threads LHT, or right hand threads RHT. Note: Center Link (not tie rod)
I also think all my link ends are all in the wrong places.. this is a bit of a puzzle.
Note: Right means when sitting in the car it's on the right, ( passanger side).
Issues
A.The center link RIGHT side ball joint stud was way to short. Impossible to get a cotter pin through the castle nut, stud too short. Right hand threads. RHT.
B. The center link LEFT side ball joint seemed OK length. Left hand threads. LHT
C. The drag link stud is too long and the cotter pin sits past the castle nut slots. Left hand threads. LHT
I think what happened...
1.Center link was installed backwards.
2. The long stud LHT center link joint that belongs on the center link right (passes through tie rod joint), ended up on the drag link (so its way too long).
3. The short RHT center link joint that belongs on the center link Left was on center link Right side (since link flipped). So short couldn't get castle on enough.
4. The LHT drag link joint ended up on left side center link. Seemed fine there.
Solution?
So I think to fix all this I need to play merry-go-round round with the link ends and flip the center link so the LHT are on the right side center link of vehicle and on drag link end.