Offroad-Express

i have a vzn130 surf. has a lokka in the front and 33inch tyres. sometimes when in 4wd ill be trying to turn and the steering seems to lock. not like there is some thing stoping the wheels turning but like gears in the stearing box arnt meshing or something. to fix it i have to put the cluch in and rev it up and try again or back off. its quite annoying when on a gravel track and you have to slam on the breaks cos you cant make it round a corner. also happens alot in rivers with rough bottoms. is this just cos of the lokka? is it something i have to get used to or could it be the steering box or something. i havent changed the powersteering fluid since i got the truck a year ago, am i ment to? if so how do i do this?

Cheers Pete

I have heard that steering with a locked front can present turning problems, but I aint heard of the steering locking. Is it when you're at full (or close to) lock?

My guess would be the Lokka. Whats the steering like when the hubs are free?? Other option would be to check the CVs. Make sure all the bearings are present and accounted for and sitting in there respective places.

na not really near lock. you can always turn it back the way you came but have to have another go to keep turning in. if ya know what i mean lol. hard to explain. its really weird...

its fine when in 2wd. i only have one manual hub on it (has add) so havent tried it with that out as would be a 3wd. but could try it i spose

Cheers Pete

just saw your last post. sounds like it might be the steering box. If you were to jack up the front and turn the wheels does it bind up then?? if it does then disconnect your steering box and try it again, see what happens.

Petemcc wrote:its fine when in 2wd. i only have one manual hub on it (has add) so havent tried it with that out as would be a 3wd. but could try it i spose

Cheers Pete

it'll be the lokka then, so not much you can do unless you take it out

Mine has been known to play up like that. I,ve found that it is all cool if flat and level, but if any flex is happening one way (can't remeber which way) she goes into super heavy steer mode. And I mean it is really heavy, like both hands reefing down on steering wheel. Feels like you are trying to push the tyres through the gaurds (and that is quite likely on my wreck). The only thing left on my list to check is the steering box. Although it only stsrted doing it when the locker went in. I can,t see how the locker affects the weight of the steering (although it definatly affects the amount of turning circle you can pull).

yea its just weird that its so violent. like it good then you really cant keep turning it at all. the lokka is definately working properly (unlocking as it should). should i be trying to drive through it? i imagine if it happend to all people with front lokkas i would have heard about it by now. it mainly happens when going slow too... sometimes it it starts when im going slow if i stop and keep trying to turn it without letting off the pressure it stays "stuck"

Cheers Pete

Hi

I have a lock right in the front of my truck and it does the same thing. It started when the lockright was fitted. Very have to explain but it not fun waiting for it to unlock going down hill on a high track and trying to get around a corner.

I like the lockright in the mud and rivers.

My theory is that the while turning a corner, until it unlocks the front wheels are trying to travel the same distance around the corner and are fighting which makes the steering hard to turn, When the unlock happens the steering becomes easier. A lockright is locked all the time and unlocks when it has to....

possible fix would be to play around with the thrust washer size, i know they make a bit of a deal of it when you install the locker (has to be within a tolerance) might help it unlock sooner, Someone who knows more could help with this but just an idea

na its a prick to play round with that. and i doubt it would help much. it seems to be unlocking quite easily when you jack it up. i spose my theory of just give it a bit more shit so the wheels spin might be the way to go lol.

Cheers Pete

bump... anyone elce got any ideas. am going on a big trip on the weekend and want to make sure shes all good.

Pete