Thursday, May 28, 2009 at 08:42
Clemi,
Not quite sure what you mean by light and unsteady?
Sorry, rephrase that, I know what light and unsteady means in the front end, I have a 74 beetle, it does wonder in a light cross breeze and feels light in the front,
well it doesn't have any weight in the front :o)
I have a 96 NJ (320,000k) owned since new, and before that I had a 85 NB (330,000k) owned since new, and the power steering in the pajeros does give a light feel. Trying to work out if your is abnormal. You suggest it is. Some of this is obvious, so sorry about that, but not sure about you car knowledge.
What did you have before that, that you are comparing it too?
Have you driven other series 2 pajeros to compare it to, you mention others with pajs driving it?
Unsteady? Does it wonder easily, or does it move around over bumps, or does it tram rail easily on uneven bitumen?
Mine does feel light normally, but if you minimise input, it stays in a straight line pretty
well. High tyre pressures give a light feel. Standard tyres try about 32 psi in the front. Mitsu recommend 26 from memory, but they scrub out and fuel consumption improves with 32.
Is the front
suspension height set correctly?
Uneven height one side to the other affects handling. A good tyre place doing a wheel alignment should
check suspension height each side and adjust to the same before starting the wheel alignment.
There should be clearance at the top and bottom bump stops on the A arms. Should be about the same at the top and bottom, and side to side. Some people wind up the front
suspension for clearance and this limits droop, and can give a funny (choppy) ride.
I am a bit fussy about shocks, like to keep them reasonably good. Yes, shocks do affect the handling of the paj alot in the front. Starts feeling soft and spongy in the front with worn shocks, especially if pushing it around the corners. I usually replace mine about every 60,000 to 80,000 in the front, and about 100 to 120000 in the rear. Some friends only do the front every 100 to 150000. The front shocks are only short and are mounted 1/3rd up the A arm, so they don't get much time and distance to react to bumps etc, so good condition shocks help.
Always found the paj needs regular front wheel alignment with the independent front end. Every 10,000 to 20,000k. depends on how hard you have been pushing it off and on road. If you have different camber one side to the other, it will wonder more. Found most tyre
places do not like adjusting camber at a wheel alignment. I ask to set mine up with less positive camber, 0.5 to 1.5 deg positive is standard. I try and get mine as near to 0 as possible. You can adjust camber at the top A arm by putting spacers in. Wheel alignment
places charge an extra $20.00 or so to do this. Standard bolts are not long enough to get 0 or negative camber. But the car will wonder a little more with negative camber. If you have negative camber at the front, you have worn bushes, most probably top A arm bushes. Just replaced my original bushes at 310,000k, so they take a while to wear.
Get a
check at a good wheel alignment/
suspension place like Fulcrum? Found they will give you a long list of problems hoping for the work. Good people, and fussy, but I get the basic work done by my local mechanic or do it myself.
Do not try the local Mitsu dealer.
Give Richard a ring at Motorcare at Albion? 3252 4039. He has been a pajero owner for years. Has contacts with the Qld Mitsubishi club. Known Richard for years, don't use him much since I am on the south side, and he is not cheap, but he knows his pajeros.
All I can suggest for now. Hope it works out for you.
AnswerID:
367116
Follow Up By: Clemi - Thursday, May 28, 2009 at 21:37
Thursday, May 28, 2009 at 21:37
Hi there, I really appreciate your input and I am amazed the response of this community. I had this experience today; on my way to work I was driving through Gympie road in an area were there is quite a few bends and yet speed limit is 100kph and taking these smooth bends at that speed I would usually make a small correction which normally I know it will follow "this bend" but still I need that further movement as she still goes towards next line??? it feels as if the steering box let go with a mind of its own. At times as I slow down for example in to a traffic lights going in to red I am in the middle of the line keeping the steering straight but as the car gets in to uneven bitumen and those different bumps of a road that needs attention I can feel on the steering how the wheels move towards the right or left depending were the grroves are taking the car. You have suggested Richard from Albion and I think I will call him first thing in the morning. Thank you so much... Clemi PS I wouldn't mind keeping in touch
FollowupID:
634955