Outer Limits 4x4 Board

I just bought an 89 Dual Cab LN106R 2.8L Hilux which I am doing up as a bush basher/camping 4x4 ($3k for those curious)

Anyway, it has a fair amount of work necessary to get it to pass a safety certificate.

Apart from the body work, I have to fix the inner seal on the front left diff housing. Replace the front brakes (possibly new disks) and sort out a few oil leaks. The timing belt is a given as I have no idea when it was last replaced. And it appears that the cutoff solenoid also needs some attention as the diesel flows faster there than anywhere else.

The one thing causing me a little grief is working out why the steering is so bloody heavy. You literally have to use your body weight to steer the thing, even with a little speed.

Is the pitman or idler that commonly causes the problems like this ... or something else entirely that I am off on the wrong tangent?. There is a ton of play in the wheel (up to 90mm or so) so the steering box will need to be adjusted at the very least, would prefer not to overhaul.

With the wheels off I can turn the steering at the disks with considerable effort, but its not easy (at least not as easy as the last time I played with a cruiser/hilux where you could do it without having to put your back into it)

Any suggestions welcome ...

I am trying to get this past the safety certificate as cheaply (while being safe) as possible. Certain things are a given, but I don't feel like replacing the steering system just yet if it can be avoided, I am already replacing enough as it is. It will be spending some time swimming so a snorkel as well as venting the diffs/gearbox to the snorkel are on the cards as well.

Mine had very sloppy steering, check the ball end and the cups in the draglink, cause they wear out and mine were buggered.

Does it have power steering? Cause mine doesn't and it makes it very heavy.

No power steering. I wonder how difficult it would be to swap in a ball power steering box if mine is buggered from a wreckers or something. Wouldnt it just be a matter of bolting on the pump and installing the new power version of the box?

I have the wheels off at the moment and I am going to more than likely disassemble the linkages and work out which one is causing the grief the hard way.

You be lookin at about $400 for a power steer setup.

Get one of these and replace this first.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Toyota-Hilux-Dra ... 240%3A1318

heck the ball on the pitman arm isn't worn down too.

Just check the play in the draglink, goes from the pitman arm on the steering box to the swivel hub.

Fixed mine a treat

Weiner wrote:Get one of these and replace this first.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Toyota-Hilux-Dra ... 240%3A1318

heck the ball on the pitman arm isn't worn down too.

Just check the play in the draglink, goes from the pitman arm on the steering box to the swivel hub.

Fixed mine a treat

didnt fix mine, went wrong big time I just got a new drag link, not sure what went wrong but grenanded big time.

but yeah drag links are a big 'play' point.

Weiner wrote:Get one of these and replace this first.

Yep, after taking a quick look at the front end, I am thinking this is a good idea (or at least can't hurt)

I might put my name down at the wreckers for a power steering setup from a wreck anyway, if anything to make it easier for the missus to drive.

Going to be a fun shopping day today, off to buy a toolkit (something I have needed at home a long time, but the Hilux has finally given me an adequate excuse for the bank manager) not to mention a ton of parts. I have the timing belt already, but until I get the knuckle pulled apart I won't know the extent of the work needed there ... as well as the brake discs etc.

Come on Tax Time, going to need a fair chunk of that to finish off the work.