tire problems

[SSTigerMerc]

Hi all,

I recently did the 85 minitruck disc brake swap on a 1968 fj40. Ever since this the steering has been really sloppy and loose and when flat towing the vehicle the tires will take a hard right and then lock that way opposite the direction the of tow rig and it almost looks like the tire is leaning on the ball joint. Meaning it uses the ball joint as a pivot point and the top of the tire leans away from the truck and the lower side tries to go under the axle housing . Could this be due to incorrect shims and bearing pre load or is there something really really wrong here.

 

[SSTigerMerc]

No one has ever had this problem?

 

[platypusREX]

Can't say that I have.

 

[lostmarbles]

...or is there something really really wrong here.

I'd say "Yes".

And I wouldn't drive it anymore till this problem is fixed.

Any photos of the this?

 

[3_puppies]

X'2 on the pics, anychance you swapped the knuckles from side to side?

 

[Roboosfj40s]

Agree with photos and I would not drive it until investigated and corrected as suggested. Could be a disaster waiting to happen. Be safe!
And I am the one that drove a Chevy pickup 50 miles to get home with bailing wire wrapped around a stripped tie rod end ha ha!! Years ago that is!
Rob

 

[DaveWest5150]

sounds like it has poor caster... is it lifted? does it have larger than stock shackles? it would be kinda hard not to notice if you put the knuckles on the wrong sides but the brake calipers are on the back side of the axle right? usually if you have the problems you describe while flat towing... its due to improper caster angle.

 

[SSTigerMerc]

Calipers are on back side of knuckles. I rebuilt the front end new bearings races seals grease and did a shim both top and bottom using the centering tool and a fish scale. Checked for slop in the steering and torqued everything to oem specs. I guess we will just wait and see . I did notice that the side in question the knuckle studs were the wrong diameter for the holes but still torqued so I changed them out for the proper ones I guess we shall see

Regards
S

 

[3_puppies]

Calipers are on back side of knuckles. I rebuilt the front end new bearings races seals grease and did a shim both top and bottom using the centering tool and a fish scale. Checked for slop in the steering and torqued everything to oem specs. I guess we will just wait and see . I did notice that the side in question the knuckle studs were the wrong diameter for the holes but still torqued so I changed them out for the proper ones I guess we shall see

Regards
S

Is it just 1 side? or both tires leaning out at the top? If this wasn't an issue before the disc swap, but now is an issue, there is something wrong, pics would help alot. It shouldn't be caster if you didn't lift it or do anything else but install the "new" knuckles.
where did the 85 parts come from?

 

[SSTigerMerc]

I lifted the truck 10 years ago and it has never had a problem till now. The parts came from an 84 mini truck all the bearings are koyo all seals are marlin and I followed a write up from here to re assemble it. The only thing I noticed is the studs were the wrong size on that knuckle so that has been corrected