Hello , I'm new to this forum - allthough have been reading it for a while. I am a long time Toyota driver , and was a mechanic at a Toyota dealer for 10 years here in Norway.
My rig is a 2000 model 4,2 tdi , 5 speed , with AHC/ IFS. No mods. 200000 km, I've had it for 7 years , and no one in the family wants a new car. I try to keep up the maintenece , and do allmost all the work myself. The main problem is the steering/stability . At speed (and slow) it wants to wander allover the place . The steering wheel pulls, and at times you have to be on the ball to keep it in a strait line. There is often pull to the left or right when coming to a stop. As others have mentioned here, when turning , it is often heavy to respond, then it "over reacts". It also likes to stay in the turn - . I also feel pot holes and other unevenes in road surface ,right up in the steering wheel. feels like somthing is lose, but nobody can find anything.
Whats been done: new lower control arms + bushes and ball joint. new springs rear,new sphears -4, New shocks 4, new bushes on the steering rack. Tried many tires. I had at least 4 wheel alinement, by dealers and 4wd experts who promise, and a little tinkering myself (front end and ride height). But I can not say it's any different.
None of the parts that were replaced seemed to be worn out , apart from a lower ball joint and shock bushings. I don't think anyone has had a good look at the upper control arms, and woundering if this could be the source of the problems. The AHC is not ajusted to spec at the moment, but the sensors are checked and work. The dealer thinks the LC rides fine, so not much help there
Well thought I'd here if anyone here has had this problem and found a fix.
Thanks
My rig is a 2000 model 4,2 tdi , 5 speed , with AHC/ IFS. No mods. 200000 km, I've had it for 7 years , and no one in the family wants a new car. I try to keep up the maintenece , and do allmost all the work myself. The main problem is the steering/stability . At speed (and slow) it wants to wander allover the place . The steering wheel pulls, and at times you have to be on the ball to keep it in a strait line. There is often pull to the left or right when coming to a stop. As others have mentioned here, when turning , it is often heavy to respond, then it "over reacts". It also likes to stay in the turn - . I also feel pot holes and other unevenes in road surface ,right up in the steering wheel. feels like somthing is lose, but nobody can find anything.
Whats been done: new lower control arms + bushes and ball joint. new springs rear,new sphears -4, New shocks 4, new bushes on the steering rack. Tried many tires. I had at least 4 wheel alinement, by dealers and 4wd experts who promise, and a little tinkering myself (front end and ride height). But I can not say it's any different.
None of the parts that were replaced seemed to be worn out , apart from a lower ball joint and shock bushings. I don't think anyone has had a good look at the upper control arms, and woundering if this could be the source of the problems. The AHC is not ajusted to spec at the moment, but the sensors are checked and work. The dealer thinks the LC rides fine, so not much help there
Well thought I'd here if anyone here has had this problem and found a fix.
Thanks
