Offroad-Express

I am chasing a steering problem on my 80 series. My steering is a little sloppy (exaggerated play), from what I have read - bigger tyres exagerate play. play that may not normaly be felt with stock tires, due to the larger sidewall. I have done castor correction bushes, steering damper, control arm bushes, tie rod end and wheel bearings have recently been adjusted - but not sure to what setting. Steering still is a bit vague, ie, I turn the steering wheel a bit more than I would like to get a response. I am unsure of what the standard torque setting is for the front wheel bearings.. My question is can I get the wheel bearing pre-load set a bit higher than normal to achieve good steering response?? - if so what should they be at for 35s on 15x8s. Other option is rebuilding front swivel hubs as well? Would wider rims help?

Cheers,
Tom.

Check the passenger sider kingpin steering arm bolts as they come loose.. pre load I think from memory is around 45lbs from fsm toyota..will check later..otherwise check steering box to chassis connection and also the brace that goes from drivers side to passengers side..it may have departed from chassis..as mine almost did.. someone else may suggest something also..

x2 as above the steering arm studs on the swivel housings commonly come loose especially when running bigger than standard size tyres, also have a good look at the chassis where the steering box mounts they are under engineered and all flex and crack

Not sure that I would alter pre-load torques based on tyre size.

Basically more pre-load equals more lateral load on the bearing and too much will cause it to run hotter than normal. Hot bearings not good..

My 2.5cents..

Cheers

Cheers guys. Yeah I regularly check those king pin bolts. No cracking around the steering box either . Re tightening wheel bearings, I read this elsewhere: "Also wheel bearings need to tight . you cant run the same clearances with much larger wheels . Try 6nm on the wheel bearing nuts, its a common toque setting for 4x4 with abs brakes , instead of having clearance they have toque. your brakes will be a little better for it as well as they are not lifting the vehicle has they apply if there now improperly adjusted. " - just wanting to know if anyone here has done it...

Do wider rims help with stability (less tire sidewall play)??

Cheers,
Tom.

luxsurf wrote:Steering still is a bit vague, ie, I turn the steering wheel a bit more than I would like to get a response.

Eliminate play in steering gearbox via adjustment screw?

lax2wlg wrote:

luxsurf wrote:Steering still is a bit vague, ie, I turn the steering wheel a bit more than I would like to get a response.

Eliminate play in steering gearbox via adjustment screw?

Have tested this and there is no play in the box - mechanic said box was mint

Check ya wheel bolts then there must be something loose or ya dreaming it.?

Big wrote:Check ya wheel bolts then there must be something loose or ya dreaming it.?

Checked them too . Maybe I just need a decent wheel alignment or something is bent or broken ..

Did you replace rod ends on both the tierod and the draglink or just the tierod?

[youtube]http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=P8KAaf45g5U#[/youtube]

wopass wrote:[youtube]http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=P8KAaf45g5U#[/youtube]

lax2wlg wrote:Did you replace rod ends on both the tierod and the draglink or just the tierod?

I replaced one tie rod end on the end of the rod coming off the steering box (draglink?) On the 80 is the tie rod the rod behind the axle - I haven't done any other tie rod ends.

Yes thats the one.
If it was me First I would jack the front up and get a friend to shake each wheel at 3 and 9 oclock. Look for play in the draglink rod end on the knuckle side, ie the one you havent replaced yet.

The rod ends on the tierod, ie the rod linking the two wheels together, would be next.

how about your panord rod bushes

How about the fact that the large sidewalls are flexing and there is nothing you can do about it without going back to smaller tyres?
What tyres are you running?

crazyclark31 wrote:How about the fact that the large sidewalls are flexing and there is nothing you can do about it without going back to smaller tyres?
What tyres are you running?

Yes, that was my thoughts as well after doing some more research. That's why i asked if wider rims might help? Im running 35s.

How much lift? Does it wonder a bit?

tomsoffroad wrote:How much lift? Does it wonder a bit?

Just a 2 inch lift. Yes it wanders a little bit but not as much as it used to after I had tie rod end replaced.

Whats your caster angle like? Too little castor and steering will be vague