Outer Limits 4x4 Board

hey guys,
took the hilux exploring the other day, and when i got buck up the mountain and onto the road things didnt seem right.
the steering wheel was no longer straight, it has turned to the left (only a few degrees) and the car doesnt feel right in the front end.
further to that, whenever i turn right through a round about the front left wheel squeels on the road.
ive hopped under the car, nothing seems bent, broken or loose... any ideas or suggestions.
the steering damper seems a bit old and worn, but that wont make things go funny all of a sudden. not really sure about what the drag link does/symptoms.
the car is a 98 ifs hilux.
any help or suggestions appreciated.
i did come up some decent rock ledges, but its nothing i hadnt traveled a million times in the past.
to the eye the wheel alignment doesnt look out either. will prob take it to get checked over the next few days though.

go ga wheel alighment at pedders and they will tell u if anything is bent, they always pick what i bend

have ur hubs stayed locked in

nah i checked that... re engaged and dissengaged. audible clunk while disengaging and no positive drive to the front wheels.
i did have issues with them once before.

Where are you?

If you're in Brisbane, go to Fulcrum at Yeeronga. Those guys did a fantastic job on mine, and it's never been better. Pedders just wanted to wind down the torsion bars.

check the idler arm, mine did same.
if it is bent, it will hit-rub on the chassi rail.

im in tamworth... long way from brisbane

the idler arm seems to have a bit of play, so that could account for the slop in the steering, it doesnt appear bent but i will check if its fouling on the chasis when i get home tonight.
will check pitman arm while im at it i guess

heading over to my home town in a few days so its booked for a wheel alignment then. it needs one anyways since i havent done one since i lifted it. id prefer to fix the problem to save some $$ before they get it though.

changaz, if it is your idler arm, it could be just stuffed plastic bushes but they can bend in 2 places.

1- where the vertical part is welded to the horizontal part and is covered by a rubber seal. if this rubber seal is not the same thickness all the way round, then it is bent.
A broken one ...


2 - the vertical part can bend as well tho not as common

BTW there are 2 different ones available ... both will fit up and work fine but the later model ones have a thicker shaft through the bushes so should be a bit stronger.

It will be either the pitman or the idler arm is bent, unless you know what it looks like when it is in good condition it will be hard to pick unless it is hitting the chassis as suggested.
I'm betting idler arm.

thanks guys, suggestions much appreciated. ive ordered a new idler arm as it had a bit of play in the bushes anyways. Will let u know if it fixes the problem.

It will be idler arm, and/or pitman arm, I used to go thorough 1 of these every couple of times I used to go out on my 4runner. Failing that if you drive it really hard you might have bent or spread the rear mounts for the lower wishbone, which is what I did, which always made the steering really vague and felt like it wanted to wander all the time even after an alignment. The lower rear wishbone mounts need a crossmember/brace so they cannot spread when pushed really hard in the rough stuff.

cheers guys, idler arm was bent. even with a new one fitted wheel alignment was still out by 30mm. guess hopping up rock ledges doesnt do the wheel alignment much good