New Project! help with steering??

[ROBsSON]

My dad just supprised me with an awesome 87 4runner everything is great on it and cant wait to build it up!

I'm not sure what would cause it but there is play in the steering i can move it back and forth about 2-3 inches without wheels turning, also can do this while driving, just curious if there is anything i could do to tighten the steering. If anyone has any ideas as to what it might be or what i should check feel free to let me know! i look forward to this build......

But i want to just give a big thanks to everyone who had a hand in helping my dad (landcrusher909), David Williams and his wife, and Nick Stone, also my wife for keeping the secret! this truck couldn't be any more awesome! thank you all again for a great truck!

 

[bryan89]

congrats on the truck. looks clean. what are your plans for it?

as far as the steering goes, it could be a number of things.
first check all of the tie rod ends at the center link and at the steering knuckles. and also check the idler arm of wear /looseness.

if the idler arm is the culprit, than you can do a cheap upgrade to the later model 2nd gen equipment. its beefier and cheaper than stock.

also, there is a built in ball joint type fitting on the pitman arm...that can go and cause slop as well.

lastly, if all that is good, check the rag joint in the steering shaft coming out of the fire wall to the steering box. (not likely but possible)

if ALL that is good, then you probably just need to tighten up the worm gear inside of the steering box a bit, due to miles of wear. there is an adjuster and jam nut on the top of the steering box. loosen the jam nut and tighten the adjustor 1/2 a rotation at a time. then check steering.

dont want to make it too tight cause it will cause failure, but its a cheap trick that can buy you some time.

That should about do it...

good luck...post more pics of the truck.

 

[ROBsSON]

Thanks ill have to get out there tomorrow and check it out!

....and as far as what i wanna do i cant say it would be a crawler but more maybe a daily driver/ sorta work towards a expeditionary truck to be able to camp out of and just something me my wife and soon to be born son can just enjoy some dirt trails in and things like that ill get some pics up in a min as we slowly build it up!

 

[ROBsSON]

Here are some pics