play and clunk in sas hilux steering

[thehanko]

1989 ln 106 solid axel power steering hilux.

I havent worried too much about it, but my gf drove the lux the other day and complained about the play in the steering.

basically when going straight you can move the steering wheel 1.5 inches each way before the wheels do anything.

Also what may or may not be related is that there is a clunk in the steering or suspension - not always but sometimes when you turn a tighter corner (eg in or out of driveway) there is a bit of a clunk which sounds front right.

any suggestions would be helpful.

thanks

[joel HJ60]

Steering ball joints, steering box

[Sic Lux]

Tie rod ends may have play but won't cause what your saying unless there about to fall out. Look at play in the steering box or the draglink bushes may need adjusting or replacing also check the ball's on the j arm and pitman arm they have a habit of coming loose

[Surfin Alec]

My SAS (with cross over steer) on the Surf started to do the same as what you described and found the chassis cracked around the steering box bolts (mainly on the opposite side of the chassis to the box mounting side). Was very hard to see, just fine rusty hair lines. Get some one to turn the wheel under load and under no load with you under the front to try to pin point it.

Alec

[RUFF]

If its got Cross Over Steering it really needs a Panhard rod to make it steer perfectly. BUT obviously its a hard fit and it also limmits the amount of flex you can get. The clunk is commonly the springs moving sideways and this is also commonly the reason you have the small amount of play before it turns. The body/chassie basicaly moves left and right above the axle when you turn.

[bad mudda]

In my old lux when the bushes for the front of the leaf's were shagged it used to clunk when steering left to right, because the side of the bush was torn out the leaf spring would slip left to right on the mount, and made the noise when it hit the side of the mount.

Nice cheap one to fix.

[thehanko]

THanks for the tips guys.

IM thinking at this stage its probably the leaf movement - I will check out the bushes.

But will definitely check to make sure the chassis isnt cracked.

will update when ive been under it again, now i have more idea what to look for.

Thanks again
ben

[thehanko]

UPDATE. when i said 1.5 inches of play i was having myself on, it was more like 4 inches.

I finally got around to pulling out my steering box again - to fit the new high pressure lines.

decided to rip it apart again and see if i could find any play. As it turned out it was hard to notice but there is a part which you tighten with a special tool or a drift which i thought i had tightened as far as i could, however i noticed about 1mm of play in that connection and endeavered to try to further tighten it.

I got 1 more 1/2 turn out of it and that removed the play in the steering box.

which in turn removed 3/4 of the play in the steering.

So there is still a bit of play in it.

I got axl stands for my birthday and put the front up and tried to find the rest of the movement - its in the drag link. the rear ball joint bit has a fair bit of play.

This should be adjustable so i pulled the pin out and got 1/2 a turn on the screwdriver, but cant get any more. spoke to toyota and he said just keep trying to crank that thread in. hmmm not sure though about forcing it.

I though it might have run out of thread so i removed the internal bolt bit and packed 3mm of washer behind it, then tightened it as far as it would go. but this made no change.

any ideas? should i just get a vice grip onto the screwdriver as the yota guy suggested or is there another way to remove the play?

or is it stuffed and i need a new drag link?

ta

[xxxhilux]

iv had problems with my drag link aswell if u pull it off and undo the ends right out have a look at the bits inside it they can wear out which makes them sloppy

[craz3d]

I got axl stands for my birthday and put the front up and tried to find the rest of the movement - its in the drag link. the rear ball joint bit has a fair bit of play.

I just fixed this issue today in my 1986 yn67 lux. I got 2 of these drag link kits from ebay. Worked a treat, once installed it removed all play from the steering. The most likely cause is that your spring in the rear of the drag link is shot, hence not placing enough force on the ball joint.

[thehanko]

I got axl stands for my birthday and put the front up and tried to find the rest of the movement - its in the drag link. the rear ball joint bit has a fair bit of play.

I just fixed this issue today in my 1986 yn67 lux. I got 2 of these drag link kits from ebay. Worked a treat, once installed it removed all play from the steering. The most likely cause is that your spring in the rear of the drag link is shot, hence not placing enough force on the ball joint.

You are a gentleman - nah a god! toyota said unservicable buy a new one at $300.

Cheerts guys

will let you know how i go