Ooohhhh this can't be good... (steering noises)

[Spook50]

Last night as I was driving to work I could hear (and feel through the footrest) a clunk whenever I would start a turn while braking. After getting off work this morning I sat with the truck parked, engine running and tried to locate the source of the clunk. There was a definate clunk whenever the wheel would pass the center point. So I centered the wheel and rooted around in the engine compartment to see if I cuold find anything. The U joint has no slop, and doesn't show any sign of binding. I did notice quite a bit of slop where the shaft enters the steering box though, and there seems to be a slight leak coming from one of the fittings (or possibly the adjustment screw) on top of the box. I didn't have a rag on me so I couldn't wipe off the box to find the source of the leak, but could this be a sign of the box being in need of a little R&R? Anything else I could look for to possibly find the source of the clunk?

 

[Doc]

Were you in 4x4 at the time of the 'clunk'?

 

[Spook50]

Were you in 4x4 at the time of the 'clunk'?

I was when I first noticed it, but it was still present in 2WD, with my hubs unlocked.

 

[dogboy2]

rebuilt your steering knuckles yet?

could be your PS gear box as well...if your PS gear box is leaking from the adjusting screw on top, the O-ring may have failed. if your box is original, you are probably due for a replacement anyways. OEM new price will put you into cardiac arrest -- have had very good luck so far (2 yrs.) with a rebuilt unit from www.cruiserparts.net

hth,
-dogboy- '87 FJ60

 

[Tinker]

Got my rebuilt box from thesteeringstore.com - good service, reasonable price.

 

[Spook50]

rebuilt your steering knuckles yet?

could be your PS gear box as well...if your PS gear box is leaking from the adjusting screw on top, the O-ring may have failed. if your box is original, you are probably due for a replacement anyways. OEM new price will put you into cardiac arrest -- have had very good luck so far (2 yrs.) with a rebuilt unit from www.cruiserparts.net

hth,
-dogboy- '87 FJ60

I haven't gotten around to the knuckles yet. I'm hoping to get it done before I deploy next. Everything's good to go; I just have to bring the parts over here and find the time to do it.

I take it rebuilding the steering box myself is a no-go?

 

[dogboy2]

I haven't gotten around to the knuckles yet. I take it rebuilding the steering box myself is a no-go?

My first bet on your clunk would be the knuckles since they haven't been done yet.

As for the PS gear box, I suppose you could tackle the rebuild by yourself if you can get the parts but the tricky part would be setting the preload correctly on the adjusting screw. Better bet for the time and effort involved would be to either buy a rebuilt unit or have a professional shop who specializes in hydrolics (semi-tractor repair shops) do it for you. At least then you get a warranty and can simply swap parts out if the rebuild goes bad.

-dogboy- '87 FJ60

 

[Spook50]

My first bet on your clunk would be the knuckles since they haven't been done yet.

As for the PS gear box, I suppose you could tackle the rebuild by yourself if you can get the parts but the tricky part would be setting the preload correctly on the adjusting screw. Better bet for the time and effort involved would be to either buy a rebuilt unit or have a professional shop who specializes in hydrolics (semi-tractor repair shops) do it for you. At least then you get a warranty and can simply swap parts out if the rebuild goes bad.

-dogboy- '87 FJ60

Well I'll et the rebuild done as soon as I can bring the parts over from my folks' place and see if that solves the problem. I couldn't get it to clunk again today with the truck stationary, and the braking-while-turning clunk was much less noticable on my way to and from work last night, so perhaps it is just the bearings showing their age?

I'll check around locally and see if I can find a hydraulic or steering shop to rebuild my box. I'm sure tempted to tackle the rebuild myself, especially since i know I've got all the tools needed over at the base hobby shop. But man, something like that would leave me uo @&@&@&@& creek if I fouled it up

 

[notatreehugger]

I had the same klunk!! Bought the steering knuckle rebuild kit from cruiserparts.com for $87/bearings sold seperately for 140(Tempkin). There's a good walk-through on the tech support page that I used.

Just a couple of disagreements with the walk-through....instead of buy a drift pin set to remove cone washers, just double nut the studs and smack with a brass hammer. Nuts-$ .52 will save you a few $$ over the $20 drift set. It also said it was a 30min job.....I spent 5 hours just cleaning parts. Oh yeah, it didn't mention needing a parts washer....needless to say, if you need one you can borrow my new one.


88 fj62, 185,000, stock(but am open for suggestions), cubs blue....named the Goat

 

[Spook50]

I had the same klunk!! Bought the steering knuckle rebuild kit from cruiserparts.com for $87/bearings sold seperately for 140(Tempkin). There's a good walk-through on the tech support page that I used.

Just a couple of disagreements with the walk-through....instead of buy a drift pin set to remove cone washers, just double nut the studs and smack with a brass hammer. Nuts-$ .52 will save you a few $$ over the $20 drift set. It also said it was a 30min job.....I spent 5 hours just cleaning parts. Oh yeah, it didn't mention needing a parts washer....needless to say, if you need one you can borrow my new one.


88 fj62, 185,000, stock(but am open for suggestions), cubs blue....named the Goat

I've got all the tools I'll need available to me at the auto shop here, since I decided to just go ahead and get it done instead of waiting for an opportunity to do it at my folks' place. Except for the measuring tool that the book sayd you need, but I don't anticipate needing it, since I plan to reuse the shims after a good cleansing. I still need to get a fish scale and a 54mm socket, but those won't be a problem.

There's a press there too, so I'll be able to put new lugs into the new DBA rotors I have waiting to be installed (and yes, I'll be using Toyota lugs)

Almost forgot to ask: did the rebuild stop the clunking?

 

[notatreehugger]

I believe what really fixed the problem was the new bearings....but if I take it that far down, I just thought I would go ahead and fix anything that was seeping oil. I didn't buy the fish scale....I just wrote top or bottom on my spacers....might not be the best way to do it, but it turned out pretty good. As for the socket for the bearing nuts, I just used the brass punch I bought to loosen them. Worked pretty good, If I buy a tool I will find a way to use it!!!

Like you, I checked all of the steering components and came down to "what the hell is klunking?" It seem to fix it. I also had to use a big C-clamp to press the steering arm and lower pin into the bearings. Sorry, I'm not sure exactly what the parts are called but it allows the knuckle to pivot. Don't forget the big pan to catch that black smelly stuff. Good luck.

88 fj62..stock, but I haven't recieved any suggestions yet