JohnnyC
Long ago TLCA# 2231
Please update when fixed !
Steering Wander on my 82FJ, help needed!
- Thread starter merbesfield
- Start date
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Stumpalama
Forum Junkie
Good luck and I hope the shop makes good on their promise.
The center arm and draglink should have been INSPECTED, tested to be within specifications and corrective measures taken if they were found otherwise. If a shop did not do this, they were trying to cut corners and that isn't good especially when it comes to something as critical as steering. Oh, and have them mount a proper stock steering damper too.
The center arm and draglink should have been INSPECTED, tested to be within specifications and corrective measures taken if they were found otherwise. If a shop did not do this, they were trying to cut corners and that isn't good especially when it comes to something as critical as steering. Oh, and have them mount a proper stock steering damper too.
merbesfield
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #63
Well I am sorry to report that my steering is still not fixed. As many above have mentioned, this is not a complicated thing, but unfortunately the shop really blew it. I went to get the cruiser and they said it was all good. Comment was "That the truck drove what was considered typical for a truck of its age". I did not agree. Like suggested above, I through the truck on my lift in my shop and within 10 seconds found this! Very sad and disappointing. As the saying goes I guess, if you want it done right do it yourself. If I had had the time to deal w this in the beginning I would have done this, but I wanted to pay for professional assistance. I have orderd a center link kit and will report back after I rebuild it.
DIY FTW! It'll drive like a new truck once that drag link is sorted out. I'd put money on it! (Actually I'd put money in it...two pennies to be exact) but a proper rebuild is fine too.
what a complete lack of competency on the shops part.
I know you did not want to mention the name of the outfit......but it might be a good time, save others the experience you have had
I know you did not want to mention the name of the outfit......but it might be a good time, save others the experience you have had
merbesfield
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #66
Warning...Long Post....help needed!
Local Atlanta Shop. And it's not Urban! PM for name if anyone wants to know. They are terrible and wracked w issues. Stay clear, bad news. My steering saga continues. I took it back to them, big mistake. Said they adjusted the center link. What a joke. First think I found when I got back to my shop was that the center link was literally rocking back and forth within the body. Pathetic and no excuse. So I ordered a new kit from SOR and installed it. That problem was now fixed but of course the allignment is now off. But the truck still wanders.
I think i have a couple of issues. One may simply be allignment. The truck does not track straight and does not return to center. I don't think it is the drag link bc when looking at it I don't see any play there.
But another issue that has me concerned is there continues to be a "clicking" sort of feeling when you turn the steering back and forth. You can feel it in the steering wheel. I have checked the normal things. The Steering Coupler is brand new. All TRE's are brand new. As mentioned Center Link is brand new. This only leaves the Drag Link and the Gear Box itself. Drag link does not appear to have any play. Gear Box was freshly rebuilt.
??? Is it possible that the gear box was not rebuilt correctly and has slop in it? How would I tell? When the S wheel is turned, and if I touch the various parts, I feel clicking in the shaft, and steering wheel itself, but I cannot actually feel the clicking when touching the gear box. Not saying it's not there, just don't feel it like I do on the other side.
This is so frustrating. I have spent a ton of money to have new perfect PS and it is not there yet. I am confident I can get there, just don't know what to do or even who to take it to. Thanks for the help, Frustrated in Atlanta
78fj40mg
TLCA #23510
It appears you've rebuilt everything except the steering knuckles, it could be where the problem remains.
merbesfield
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #68
I just realized I have not updated this thread. Unfortunately, i have no news to offer. I am hoping that the wondering is related to old shocks, leaf springs and worn bushings. Until I come up with the money for an OME suspension kit, we will not know. I can only hope that after i spend the money for the OME kit, that this thing drives better, because if it doesn't I will really be upset. Too many projects right now so this will just have to wait. The Cruiser does not get drive often and with s***ty suspension I don't want to drive it. Wonders all over the road and too much effort to drive it. Catch 22.
Stumpalama
Forum Junkie
Need pictures of the shackle and spring bushings.
merbesfield
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #70
look above, i believe i posted some pics above. if those are not what you are looking for let me know and i will take others. thanks for helping.
greenbeasty
SILVER Star
I would rebuild the knuckles,
check the length of ALL rods
If you have not already, throw that damn steering stabilizer away!
Isolate each joint and check for slop
Check the bushings
Center everything according to FSM
Check this centering process again.
Reassemble
Do the push pin alignment
With wheels on the ground, turn wheel and watch your spring eye bushings, and the u bolt plates at axles.
It is a system, and somewhere in there is a weak link. If you go through it from top to bottom, instead of letting someone else skip around, you will find the weak link. When properly put together, it will work properly. It has no choice!
In a shop like yours this should not take a day. Throwing on a new suspension is not going to fix your steering issue. It is a steering issue. If you do not want to do all of this, bring it to WNC and leave it for a few weeks.
Not trying to be cutting, just straight forward.
Frank
check the length of ALL rods
If you have not already, throw that damn steering stabilizer away!
Isolate each joint and check for slop
Check the bushings
Center everything according to FSM
Check this centering process again.
Reassemble
Do the push pin alignment
With wheels on the ground, turn wheel and watch your spring eye bushings, and the u bolt plates at axles.
It is a system, and somewhere in there is a weak link. If you go through it from top to bottom, instead of letting someone else skip around, you will find the weak link. When properly put together, it will work properly. It has no choice!
In a shop like yours this should not take a day. Throwing on a new suspension is not going to fix your steering issue. It is a steering issue. If you do not want to do all of this, bring it to WNC and leave it for a few weeks.
Not trying to be cutting, just straight forward.
Frank
merbesfield
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #72
Frank, I 100% agree with you. It is a mechanical system and something is weak. The mechanics I have used in past would also be considered weak bc they have not done exactly what you said. I am not super mechanically inclined, I am more a metal worker than wrench, but as you mentioned it’s all in the damn manual. Very frustrating that there is not a good mechanic here in Atlanta. The independent Toyota place I use for my Tundra won’t touch it. “Too old”. If anyone knows of a good shop in Atlanta pls let me know. And don’t say ACC.
I didn’t read the whole thread, but if the truck wanders and the steering wheel does not self center after turns, there is a caster problem. Try a 2 degree caster shim between the spring and perch with the fat end facing the shackle.
greenbeasty
SILVER Star
The closest to you, who I KNOW knows what he is doing is Marshall at Trollhole. Vendor on here. He is in the Greenville Spartinburg area. Talk to him. Sounds like you need to put it on a rollback and send it somewhere.
Frank
Frank
merbesfield
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #75
Funny you mention this. The aforementioned piss poor shop swears they had the truck aligned properly but never mentioned a shim to correct no return to center. BTW, the old steering damper has been removed. And there are new shocks on the rear. The springs I know are worn out bc the truck sits low and squats to the rear. The truck only has 44K miles but I guess it suffers from age. Regarding the shim, would a regular alignment shop be able to do this or would I need a specialist?
merbesfield
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #76
I have met Marshall. Have actually sold parts to to him long ago. I knew he sold parts but was not aware he had a shop.
An alignment shop that does trucks with solid front axles can do it. The stock manual steering gets +1 degree, but with power steering more like +2 degrees would give more self centering force. Zero caster is the magic angle for wandering and no self centering, so I predict you are close to zero. This is a little odd for stock springs and shackles, but not unheard of. I probably did a thousand alignments back when I was turning wrenches for a living, so I have some experience with this.
MOTOV8R
SILVER Star
Check the steering box adjustment. It seems like it may be too tight. Over tightening this is not only bad for the steering box but it will tend to keep the steering locked in one direction until you turn it again and it will feel notchy when you turn the wheel.
How much for the truck "as is"
merbesfield
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #80
They gave me a print out from the alignment shop that shows the 2 degrees and it still sucks.
