So I finally got my 88 4runner with 4in lift and 35's running. The front end needs a rebuild or I think it does as the steering wheel wobbles back and forth in a straight line. Steering feels sloppy and lose. Truck is aligned and tires are all at 30psi. Looked at it last night and the inner tie-rod bushings are shot (hole in ball joint), might as well replace it all.

Going to do:
New steering stabilizer
New tie-rods
Bushings? Which ones?
Pitman arm? - Pic?
Idler arm? - Pic?
Ball joint? (This at the end of tie-rod?

Am I missing anything else? If someone can post up a how-to on all this, that would be great. I am not sure I am identifying all the parts with the correct name.

Since there are so many front end parts, we should have a pic of the front end with all the labeled parts to help future Front-End rebuilders.

 

Here's one thing on your list:
http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/maintenance/idler/

 

Bump. Put on the stabilizer and it feels better, but still jerky and shaky. Thinking about doing tie-rods, upper and lower ball joints next.

Where is the best place to buy these?

Thanks

 

I ordered mine here, great service and prices: https://www.1sttoyotaparts.com/partscat.html

Also check your control arm bushings:

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...cement-152186/

 

I found these on Ebay, I have been thinking about buying them. I dont know anything about them though, other than the price is great, and they come with a waranty. Hopefully someone will chime in. Probably just a too good to be rue deal though. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...IF:MOTORS:1123 There is also one for half this price, but I dont have the link handy. I think it's $107.99 it appears to be about the same stuff just cheaper.

 

I like staying with OEM parts for the front end, but I've never tried any of those aftermarket parts so I can't say they are not good. I'd be especially worried about an aftermarket pitman or idler arm unless it was a special heavy duty replacement better than OEM or something like that.

Stopping and steering are your most important handling features.

 

this is for a '93, yours should be identical:

http://personal.utulsa.edu/~nathan-b...15componen.pdf

http://personal.utulsa.edu/~nathan-b...g/16steer0.pdf

If you're actually gonna wheel the rig, I would definitely upgrade your idler arm at least. You can do this:
(High performance bushing kit)
http://www.custommachiningusa.com/Specialty_Items.html

and this:
(Idler arm gusset)
http://www.downeyoff-road.com/Suspen...s/1986-95.html

and know you might still have problems. Or you could do this and be done with idler issues forever:

http://www.chaosfab.com/toyaccess_4wd.html

 

Thanks but I don't want to spend that much on this. I would just like to rebuild the steering and hope it drives semi-normal. Anyone else have done a complete steering overhaul with ball joints and all?

Should I get a ball-joint puller instead of using a pickle fork?

TIA


And this eBay kit looks so easy and complete, but kind of pricey. What do you guys think of this kit?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...IF:MOTORS:1123

 

Most auto parts stores have a tool loan program, you pay nothing if you return it.

For the lower ball joints a pitman arm puller works best, for the upper ball joints a pickle fork may be the only way to go due to things in the way.

 

Mine is a pitman arm puller or something like that - just a fixed 2 jaw puller. They're not expensive, and everything is the same size, so one is all you need. Comes in AWFUL handy. It is definitely in the "tools to take on the trail" bag!

 

Not trying to hijack but I should be replacing my idler arm bushings and tie rod ends sooner or later and was wondering does anyone make a idler arm/pittman arm drop bracket or extension to fix the geometry to slow the wearing of new bushings down with 1.5" BJ spacers and tbar crank?

 

That's an interesting question. Actually Superlift used to make what was basicly a drop bracket for the idler and pitman arm. It was a double decker relay rod:

 

interesting, I'll have to search around