Recently my BJ74 has started pulling to the left if I take my hands off the wheel at speed. I have to pull the wheel to the right to keep going in a straight line. The steering wheel also seems to judder back and forth in my hands at lower speeds. It's kinda hard to describe. Is this just a simple alignment issue or is there something else I should check before I take it to the alignment shop?
Steering or Alignment Issue?
- Thread starter Canuck
- Start date
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Hey,
wild guess on the judder might be steering damper? Re pulling to the left.... start with tyre pressure? Brakes binding on that side?
wild guess on the judder might be steering damper? Re pulling to the left.... start with tyre pressure? Brakes binding on that side?
Start with the basics: Check/adjust tire pressure, lug nuts, TRE's, adjust relay rod ends, wheel bearings, knuckle bearings, disc and pad condition, caliper drag.
Take it to someone who knows cruisers if you are not going to do the work yourself.
hth's
gb
Take it to someone who knows cruisers if you are not going to do the work yourself.
hth's
gb
Mine had the same symptoms. I took it to my favourite suspension shop(Malaga Springs and Suspension)
It was the tie rods ends needed replacing and the relay rods adjusted and an alignment.
Good as new
It was the tie rods ends needed replacing and the relay rods adjusted and an alignment.
Good as new
Tapage
Club 4X4 Panamá
maybe big bump that bend your relay rod ..
- Thread starter
- #6
Well I got my problem sorted out. I had the front wheel bearings tightened and one replaced since they were a little loose in hopes of that being the remedy. it helped a tint bit but still the juddering and pulling. I took the truck in to have the front wheels balanced and the guy took one look at the left front and told me I needed new tires. There was a bulge in the tread. So I took the opportunity to upgrade to some 33x9.5x15 BFG AT's from the 31x10.5x15 BFG AT's (older style) that were on the truck. The cured my issues instantly and the truck rides much better. And it looks better too!
Certainly not my favorite tire, but smooth on the street. Run the pressure up quite high; I had 33x9.5s on my BJ42 years ago and found 42 PSI was about right. A BJ70 is probably a little heavier, so try 42 and work up from there.
Just as a side note, my tire wear was normal and even over the life of the tires at that pressure (ran 20 - 22 off-road).
Once I got tired of the BFGs marginal off-road strength, I moved up to 33s and then other things (like 16" rims for my street tires - 235x85R16 for even better fuel economy) and 36s for off-roading.
Just as a side note, my tire wear was normal and even over the life of the tires at that pressure (ran 20 - 22 off-road).
Once I got tired of the BFGs marginal off-road strength, I moved up to 33s and then other things (like 16" rims for my street tires - 235x85R16 for even better fuel economy) and 36s for off-roading.
Your mechanic should have noticed your tire issue while it was on the lift... if your stated complaint was as you described earlier.
~John
- Thread starter
- #9
I would have liked an MT but really not practical for a daily driver that honestly sees more on road than off road and the BFG's were the only ones that offered the tire size I was after and the wear on them should be quite good from all the reviews I've read.
