Steering drift & Auto Tranny delay

[Etsha6]

Hi all,

I have a couple of non-serious problems with my automatic 1986 BJ74 and wondered if anyone has experienced something similar.

1. When in a long even turn/corner, I have to keep on turning the wheel throughout the corner as if the curve was getting tighter like a spiral. ie It feels as if the LC wants to drift to the outside of the curve. Any ideas what could cause this?

2. When slecting reverse after having been parked for a while, and accelerating for a slow pull away, nothing happens (immediately). After being parked on horizontal concrete today for about 5 hours, and reving at 1500 rpm, it took about 3-4 seconds before there was any movement. I once thought I was stuck on a brick in my backyard! (Auto fluid is aboiut 3-4 mm over the mark, hot or cold)

Thanks.

 

[roscoFJ73]

Hi all,

I have a couple of non-serious problems with my automatic 1986 BJ74 and wondered if anyone has experienced something similar.

1. When in a long even turn/corner, I have to keep on turning the wheel throughout the corner as if the curve was getting tighter like a spiral. ie It feels as if the LC wants to drift to the outside of the curve. Any ideas what could cause this?

2. When slecting reverse after having been parked for a while, and accelerating for a slow pull away, nothing happens (immediately). After being parked on horizontal concrete today for about 5 hours, and reving at 1500 rpm, it took about 3-4 seconds before there was any movement. I once thought I was stuck on a brick in my backyard! (Auto fluid is aboiut 3-4 mm over the mark, hot or cold)

Thanks.

I would try a wheel alignment,maybe the toe in needs some adjustment.


The transmission is a worry,however overfilling can do it also.
How many klms has the tranny done?

I would drain it to the recommended warm level.

 

[brownbear]

Have a look at your steering shaft and tie rod ends to ensure they don't have any play in them or damage.

The toe in can be done yourself with a tape measure. You basically measure at the back of the tire to the back of the other tire, then the fronts same way. Make the front 1/8 to a 1/4 smaller than the back. 1/8 if running stock tires. 1/4 if running big ones like 33's. Now don't take my numbers as perfect. If you have the factory service manual it will stipulate the actual numbers.

There is a rod with clamps on it running side to side, you loosen the clamps and spray penetrating oil into the threads. You take large water pump pliers and turn the rod in and out to get the desired toe in. The other rod that goes to the steering box can be adjusted in the same manner to straighten the steering wheel.
Sometimes a propane torch is needed to heat the rod so it can turn. But on a JDM it should not be too hard. My CDM is rusty so it is harder.

For the tranny, go to NAPA, buy some seafoam for transmissions. Drain the tranny a little to allow the seafoam in the right amount to be put in. Then drive for awhile and hopefully it clears the problem. Quite possibly a valve is sticky in there and won't work till hot.
I would run the seafoam for a few hundred KM's then do a drain and refill, with possibly a filter change if needed(depends on kms on rig).

If it is really cold in your area this might be causing the sticky valve too.

G-luck

 

[lshobie]

I agreewith the other guys, check your TR ends, and your relay rod ends, the relay rod ends can be adjusted easily. also, check for play in your steering wheel, have someone lightly turn the wheel back and forth while you are looking at alll of the rod ends - look for back and forth movement. Once they have been ruled out or replaced - have someone move the wheel back and forth lightly while checking for play in the steering linkage and see that the steering box acts immediatly with movement of the wheel. There is a nut and screw on top of the steering box to make the adjustment - see shop manual for procedure.

Check your tranny fluid level, check condition of fluid, take to garage and have fluid changed and lucas oil tranny fluid added. that should help. Also, check the shop manual as there might be an adjustment for the tranny.

good luck.

 

[crushers]

there is allowance for steering play, do NOT over tighten the box adjustment to try and remove all the play or you will loose your auto "return to centre" and will need to be correcting constantly as you drive down the road.
when playing with the steering box you should get a pro (experienced with land crusiers) to look at it.
there is 2 components that can have serious remifications if incorrectly "played with" steering and brakes. make sure you are comfortable with the proceedures before attempting to repair...

i would check these items listed but in my minds eye i can not see them being the cause. you said "1. When in a long even turn/corner, I have to keep on turning the wheel throughout the corner as if the curve was getting tighter like a spiral. ie It feels as if the LC wants to drift to the outside of the curve. Any ideas what could cause this?". a steering box is a worm gear, once it is at a certain spot it will remain there till you turn further. same with tie rod ends, once you have them in the turn position that will not change. worn tir rods can give you shimmy, back and forth play, "herding cattle" driving in a straight line but they will not give you the sensation you described when turning. alighment problems will give you wander and severe tire wear but i can not see it causing the above problems either. of course i would strongly suggest you get these things checked out.

i am thinking power assist might be acting up, have you checked the powersteering fluid level? do you ever get the low PS buzz when turning at a stand still?

where are you located?

 

[Etsha6]

Thanks for all the replies, sorry for the delay, I have been away.

Will check the toe-in and general tightness of components. PS fluid is OK.
As for the tranny, I guess its time for a flush.

What exactly is Seafoam and does it have another generic or scientific name?
I am in Botswana.

Thanks

 

[crushers]

sea foam is a chemical purge used in fuel and oil systems to get rid of sludge buildup...

not sure if it has a generic name...