wandering cruiser
Submitted: Wednesday, Feb 18, 2009 at 11:44
ThreadID:
66062
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al
hi all
mate has a 80 series cruiser while holding the the steering wheel tight and staring where you are going it drives straight. blink your eyes or cough and this thing is all over the place. slightest touch of the wheel and it just about jumps a cross the road. it has been checked by three front end specialists can't find any thing wrong. all agree it is very sensitive to drive but can't suggest any thing. he has had the vehicle only 12 months and all ways done it. it has some very big rubber on it 33" and three inch lift some one suggested it could be the big tyers causing the light steering. has any one else come a cross this problem any one any ideas how to fix. it is a very nice fourby but he is at the stage where he is thinking of getting rid of it and try something new.
thanks in advance to any one who answers
regards
al
Reply By: Member - Troll 81 (QLD) - Wednesday, Feb 18, 2009 at 11:59
Wednesday, Feb 18, 2009 at 11:59
When was the last time the front bearings got packed? I had a problem with my GU where if I hit the slightest bump or hit the anchors hard the car would swerve to the right. I took it to so many
places and eventually re-packing the bearings fixed the problem because there was some free play in there
AnswerID:
349626
Reply By: Hero - Wednesday, Feb 18, 2009 at 12:00
Wednesday, Feb 18, 2009 at 12:00
Most certainly a Caster geometry issue. A set of Caster Correction bushes will solve this common problem.
AnswerID:
349627
Reply By: Wayne (NSW) - Wednesday, Feb 18, 2009 at 12:10
Wednesday, Feb 18, 2009 at 12:10
Al,
Because of the 3" lift the caster angle has been changed.
To fix the problem the vehicle can have off set bushes installed in the front trailing arms where they attach to the diff housing.
Any good 4WD
shop should be able to help with the bushes.
What you have describe is common in Cruisers and Patrols that have a
suspension upgrade.
Wayne
AnswerID:
349630
Follow Up By: Member - Roachie (SA) - Wednesday, Feb 18, 2009 at 13:03
Wednesday, Feb 18, 2009 at 13:03
Totally agree with Wayne but would add that he should also check his tyre pressures.....too high and the symptoms will be the same.
Also, instead of the offset castor bushes, sometimes you're better off keeping the factory bushes and fitting castor correction plates....they have the same effect, but it is almost always better to keep the factory bushes in place if possible.
Roachie
FollowupID:
617902
Reply By: hotfishez - Thursday, Feb 19, 2009 at 08:25
Thursday, Feb 19, 2009 at 08:25
definatley look at your castor correction, with a three inch lift you are best going for a set of corrected arms but you can get a 3 degree bush. i have the 3 degree bushes and still have a slight wander but i can live with that. look at the play in the steering box, it can be adjusted but if you do, only turn the screw 1/8th of a turn each time, it is easy to " lock up " the boxes.
on another note have a look at your front driveshaft. with a three inch lift mine has hit the sway bar during some heavy off road work. you will see an indent all the way around the shaft. you can remove the sway bars as most people do or extend the sway bar mounts. aparently there is a kit available. i am still looking into it
AnswerID:
349821
Reply By: Axel [ the real one ] - Thursday, Feb 19, 2009 at 10:01
Thursday, Feb 19, 2009 at 10:01
3" lift is the problem , upto a 2" on the 80s no castor correction is needed , go over the 2" and the wanders start. .. have a bit of a look at the lcool site in the tech section,
AnswerID:
349843