OK,
A lot of this might be redundant for most of you. But, I've put this together for guys like me who are novice mechanics, and wonder what to do about the steering of their cruiser. Said another way, I wish I'd read something like this when I'd just purchased my 60 a few years ago.
Context - I purchased my 60 with no rust, but 240,000 miles on it, a new/used engine, and (in hindsight) lots of wear/tear on mechanicals. I loved it the first time I drove it, so hindsight wouldn't have changed my decision to buy it. Nevertheless, it steered like crap...I didn't take it over 55 mph for quite a while just because it didn't seem safe.
Please note that most of the stuff I've done is the result of reading and learning from all of the guys on this board. So, while I might have added a few insights along the way, for the most part I am just a consolidator. I'm not the brains, just the guy typing...
It now steers pretty well (for a truck) and here's what I've done along the way...
Item: Tie-Rod ends & Drag links.
Repair: Replace them. Ordered from Man-A-Fre.
Difficulty: Once I purchased a puller that was big enough, the repair was easy.
Effect: Huge improvement. Maybe the biggest overall of all the steering mods I've made. I think mine were really worn though....
Item: Springs/Shocks
Repair: Ordered a 2.5" Safari lift from MAF.
Difficulty: Replacing the steering damper was really hard. Trashed two pullers. The rest of the mod was physically hard, but mechanically straightfoward.
Effect: The truck cornered flatter, the poly bushings reduced suspension slop, and the handling improved significantly. If the TRE's hadn't been so worn, this would have been the biggest improvement by far.
Item: shim
Repair: Added a 4 degree shim to the front springs
Difficulty: easy (once you've done the suspension mod). There was some complication due to the spring pin not being long enough. However, I forget just how I solved that problem. Sorry.
Effect: Very beneficial. MAF claims that you don't need a shim with their Safari supension. However, I had lots of wandering on the freeway, and after reading lots of posts, and consulting with a few folks, I popped for the 4 degree shims. Steering is much improved. It easily tracks straight.
Item: Knuckle and wheel bearings
Repair: Front axle rebuild
Difficulty: Hardest repair I've done. (Did it on my 80 afterwords, and it's much easier the second time.) Suggest having somebody with experience help out if you can.
Effect: I had some wierd noises in the front suspension. They were reduced somewhat. Probably the bearings were worn. This is a typical service that needs to be done, and if done on schedule, you won't notice anything different. Key is that doing it is hard, but gratefying. Once you've done it, you know you are really "one with your cruiser."
Item: Power steering pump leakage
Repair: Rebuild
Difficulty: I purchased a Toyota rebuild kit, but after reading the FSM, I chickened out. There were a bunch of steps that required measuring to the thousand's...so I sent my pump to a place in Florida and $150 later, I got it back.
Effect: My pump had been spewing fluid all over the place. I refilled the resevoir at least once per week. I'd had the air pump sieze once too as a result. No leaks after the rebuild. It still groans a bit, but it was cheaper than a new one. Not sure how long this one will last. If it starts to fail, I'll pop the big bills for a new one.
Item: Alignment
Repair: Did it myself and also took it to a shop.
Difficulty: Easy to do yourself.
Effect: There are lots of posts by guys who do their own alignment. Since I want to be one of those guys too, I did it that way for a year or two. However, I broke down a month ago and took it to a good alignment shop. Way better. Steers better, tracks better. Could be that I'm just not very skilled. Could be that the guy who did the work is a 4X guy (he has a Taco w/front and rear lockers).
Item: Drag Links
Repair: Adjusted them to Factory specs and to a "spec" on the web.
Difficulty: Really easy.
Effect:Factory spec is 1.5 turns back off of tight. I read a tech report on the web that suggested 0.5 turns was the right amount. I did this in stages. Went to .75 turns first. Nice improvement. Steering was more centered, less play/slop. Felt less like an old truck. Then went to 0.5 turns. Didn't really notice a difference. Strongly suggest doing this mod. Once all the worn parts are fixed, this one is free and easy, and makes a difference.
Item: Spring Noise - especially irriating while turning. Could be called a severe "clunk."
Repair: Spread top leaves apart and put grease in between the leaves.
Difficulty: Messy, but easy.
Effect: No noise anymore. Might return after lots of wet weather driving.
Hope this is usefull to somebody.
Best Regards,
A lot of this might be redundant for most of you. But, I've put this together for guys like me who are novice mechanics, and wonder what to do about the steering of their cruiser. Said another way, I wish I'd read something like this when I'd just purchased my 60 a few years ago.
Context - I purchased my 60 with no rust, but 240,000 miles on it, a new/used engine, and (in hindsight) lots of wear/tear on mechanicals. I loved it the first time I drove it, so hindsight wouldn't have changed my decision to buy it. Nevertheless, it steered like crap...I didn't take it over 55 mph for quite a while just because it didn't seem safe.
Please note that most of the stuff I've done is the result of reading and learning from all of the guys on this board. So, while I might have added a few insights along the way, for the most part I am just a consolidator. I'm not the brains, just the guy typing...
It now steers pretty well (for a truck) and here's what I've done along the way...
Item: Tie-Rod ends & Drag links.
Repair: Replace them. Ordered from Man-A-Fre.
Difficulty: Once I purchased a puller that was big enough, the repair was easy.
Effect: Huge improvement. Maybe the biggest overall of all the steering mods I've made. I think mine were really worn though....
Item: Springs/Shocks
Repair: Ordered a 2.5" Safari lift from MAF.
Difficulty: Replacing the steering damper was really hard. Trashed two pullers. The rest of the mod was physically hard, but mechanically straightfoward.
Effect: The truck cornered flatter, the poly bushings reduced suspension slop, and the handling improved significantly. If the TRE's hadn't been so worn, this would have been the biggest improvement by far.
Item: shim
Repair: Added a 4 degree shim to the front springs
Difficulty: easy (once you've done the suspension mod). There was some complication due to the spring pin not being long enough. However, I forget just how I solved that problem. Sorry.
Effect: Very beneficial. MAF claims that you don't need a shim with their Safari supension. However, I had lots of wandering on the freeway, and after reading lots of posts, and consulting with a few folks, I popped for the 4 degree shims. Steering is much improved. It easily tracks straight.
Item: Knuckle and wheel bearings
Repair: Front axle rebuild
Difficulty: Hardest repair I've done. (Did it on my 80 afterwords, and it's much easier the second time.) Suggest having somebody with experience help out if you can.
Effect: I had some wierd noises in the front suspension. They were reduced somewhat. Probably the bearings were worn. This is a typical service that needs to be done, and if done on schedule, you won't notice anything different. Key is that doing it is hard, but gratefying. Once you've done it, you know you are really "one with your cruiser."
Item: Power steering pump leakage
Repair: Rebuild
Difficulty: I purchased a Toyota rebuild kit, but after reading the FSM, I chickened out. There were a bunch of steps that required measuring to the thousand's...so I sent my pump to a place in Florida and $150 later, I got it back.
Effect: My pump had been spewing fluid all over the place. I refilled the resevoir at least once per week. I'd had the air pump sieze once too as a result. No leaks after the rebuild. It still groans a bit, but it was cheaper than a new one. Not sure how long this one will last. If it starts to fail, I'll pop the big bills for a new one.
Item: Alignment
Repair: Did it myself and also took it to a shop.
Difficulty: Easy to do yourself.
Effect: There are lots of posts by guys who do their own alignment. Since I want to be one of those guys too, I did it that way for a year or two. However, I broke down a month ago and took it to a good alignment shop. Way better. Steers better, tracks better. Could be that I'm just not very skilled. Could be that the guy who did the work is a 4X guy (he has a Taco w/front and rear lockers).
Item: Drag Links
Repair: Adjusted them to Factory specs and to a "spec" on the web.
Difficulty: Really easy.
Effect:Factory spec is 1.5 turns back off of tight. I read a tech report on the web that suggested 0.5 turns was the right amount. I did this in stages. Went to .75 turns first. Nice improvement. Steering was more centered, less play/slop. Felt less like an old truck. Then went to 0.5 turns. Didn't really notice a difference. Strongly suggest doing this mod. Once all the worn parts are fixed, this one is free and easy, and makes a difference.
Item: Spring Noise - especially irriating while turning. Could be called a severe "clunk."
Repair: Spread top leaves apart and put grease in between the leaves.
Difficulty: Messy, but easy.
Effect: No noise anymore. Might return after lots of wet weather driving.
Hope this is usefull to somebody.
Best Regards,
is complaining about loose steering. Turned down the adjustment screw on steering box 1/2 turn, "no improvement" she says. Put the front end up on jacks, moved the front wheels side-to-side, direct translation into movement of steering wheel, no loose tie rod ends, nuthin'. PO put in OME all except steering damper, so thought maybe that would "help" if I put it on.
