Steering slop, what to check......and Dan clean out your PMs!

[Arya Ebrahimi]

Ok, I've got about an 1/8 of a turn of slop in either direction from dead center. It's not complete slop, it's just that the steering is VERY sluggish and kind of wallows about in that range of steering. Once I turn past that range it's very crisp like it used to be. For those not familiar my 80 was in an accident and the front right wheel was struck from behind. It was struck with such a force to bend the draglink/relay rod into a "U". The steering box is not leaking at all, but there is an EVER SO SLIGHT twist in the sector shaft splines(by slight I mean I'm teetering between it's twisted and my eyes are playing tricks on me, VERY SLIGHT). The TREs are kinda shabby looking and will be the first thing I address, but I'm wondering if there's anyway to tell if there's something amiss w/ the box.

Also, how the heck do you get those little buggers out(the tre's)? I've tried all the usual methods, pickle fork, BFH, etc. and nothing seemed to budge them. Do I need to get ahold of a two-arm puller to remove them?

Thanks

Ary

P.S. Dan, clean out your PMs please so I can spend some more money

 

[cruiserman]

You use a tie rod end puller to remove tie rod ends. OTC makes a nice one.

You can tighten the box. If the sector shaft is visibly damaged, I imagine the internals are tweaked. How is the axle housing?

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Harbor Freight mkes a fixed U shaped puller for around $10. Ya I know Harbor Freight (cheap stuff)but I have used it several times over the years with no problems. Pickel forks are POS IMO they F the boots up every time.

 

[MoJ]

Your owners manual lists a spec for allowable wheel slop. IIRC correctly it's 2 inches either way. Not sure how this compares to your estimate of "1/8 turn"

 

[Arya Ebrahimi]

I've got about 3-4" in either direction. I traced the slop down to the TREs. I guess with 150k miles and the severe blow they took in the accident, they got really sloppy. I can phsically feel them shift if I have someone turn the wheel back and forth. I'll be ordering new ones tomorrow since none of the locat parts houses had any of them.

Ary

 

[Rookie2]

Arya-

FWIW, you can get a good TRE popper from Autozone's "loan a tool" program. They've got several kinds. You might run a search for Tie Rod End puller. I've seen some pics. of one that is recommended, and Autozone has one that is very similar... can't remember the part number or anything. The one you want has a slotted cup on the end that slides in under the boot. Then a pointy bolt that engages the end of the tie rod bolt. Just tighten it down until the tie rod pops.


Rookie2