Very Stiff steering not towable (1 Viewer)

[FJ-40Original]

Have anyone of you got some tips on loosening up the steering?

I just pulled this thing to the alignment shop and it fought me all the way.

It was no better after being aligned, the steering don't like to follow the lead vehicle.

What to do?


FE

 

[nspctr1]

try removing the steering stabilizer. mine did the same way a while back. the stabilizer froze up and wouldn't allow the rig to turn at all...

 

[FJ-40Original]

Anything else?

I will take it off and check it, but it genuinely feels stiff and does not want to straighten out from any turned position.


FE

 

[ArmyFJ]

If its not that...do you have PS? Big tires with tight stabalizer with no fluid for PS or a sized pump can resist movement alot esp. the more you go out from the center.

 

[grant5127]

center arm binding?

 

[Rocky_LC]

Key turned on? Ignition Lock Disengaged?

Rocky

Just joking,,,

 

[FJ-40Original]

I have manual steering...

Never having been into an FJ before it's a 65, and there is a double nut situation going on with the center arm bracket... What's the proper adjustment for it?

Anyone?

 

[D'Animal]

Did you recently install a lift kit or anything that would make you want to take it to an alignment shop?

 

[FJ-40Original]

No... but I recently got it in a pile of rubbermaid bins, and there was litterally not one nut installed on a bolt, ANYWHERE!

It's a bare frame on up resto...

FE

 

[FJ-40Original]

Bump....

 

[FJ-40Original]

I guess bumps don't work...

 

[valkyrie610]

The search does...

Flat towing is a problem without the correct caster.

Search "flat tow" & "caster" and you'll find you are not the first one to have this question- there is a ton of information here already.

 

[FJ-40Original]

Flat tow and caster? The caster should have been built in at the factory and the alignment was done two day's ago.
Everything is correct...

I'll play your game though and use this horriffic search process we have here...


FE

 

[Fast Eddy]

Dude! Jack it up and start taking things apart until it loosens up. The center arm is probably a fused hunk of rust inside.

Who set the knuckle preload?

 

[FJ-40Original]

I think I got it figured.

The retard who had the frame before I got it painted EVERYTHING with Epoxy Primer... My customer is slightly retarded to have paid $800 bucks for some other retard to powder coat the frame... Only to leave all the rust on it and painted over everything...
The friggin steerign shaft and the column inside and out...

If I want it to tow good I will have to remove the outer shaft as well as teh steering wheel... To hell with that Idea...

It's Dolly time, and let the owner deal with the stiff steering that will eventually free up with time as teh damn paint wears off...

It really can't be anything else...

The alignment is ON, the castor/camber whatever hasn't been changed, all of the drivetrain components are stock original parts except for the u-bolts... The stiffness must be coming from the column.

Thanks again for the good direction.


FE

 

[Pin_Head]

Flat towing is a problem without the correct caster.

.

X2

The stock caster angle of 1 degree is a little too low provide enough self centering force for flat towing with larger tires.

If it is hard to turn w/o towing, you need to find out what is binding.

 

[valkyrie610]

Flat tow and caster? The caster should have been built in at the factory and the alignment was done two day's ago.
Everything is correct...

I'll play your game though and use this horriffic search process we have here...


FE

I will be interested to hear how it flat tows now that you've corrected a problem.

Many others, myself included, cannot flat tow because it doesn't have enough caster to return to center... even though the alignment is correct.

I have drug my particular 40 sideways all over the place - OME soft lift and 33x9.5's. Due to the lift, I can't shim the caster without turning the pinion down past parallel (where it is now), so my last option is to cut & turn, which I am mulling over.

The search works, there is a lot of info on this.

 

[tlcrz]

stiff steering

The only way to make it tow correct is to give it more caster. Then it will not steer correctly because you do not need that much caster. And it will be a real pain to turn at low speeds.

My '66 is that way and I have tied off the steering wheel with a rope to allow only 3/4 of a turn of the wheel. it will follow a little bit but on big corners you just drag it around (SLOWLY).

And be very carefull the cruiser will take control on too fast of turns and try to pust the rear end of the tow truck, unless it is a one ton or larger.

Get a trailer , it's safer & faster, & saves the toy for thr trails.

Brian

 

[FJ-40Original]

{quote}

Many others, myself included, cannot flat tow because it doesn't have enough caster to return to center... even though the alignment is correct.{end}

YOU GUYS! Dammitt! You could have told me this when I first posted... ;p



{quote}The search works, there is a lot of info on this.{quote}

I used the search and found about 300 posts where someone askes a question and get's told to use the search button.

I'm likely going to dolly it now anyhow, but the real problem is the Fuctard who painted the steering shaft with epoxy primer, that's where all the stiffness is coming from.


FE
P.S. Thanks for the help fella's