4runner_keith

OK so i went in to the woods on sat as usual,(evens creek WA.) but i realized i was hearing an odd squeeking and mabey even a bit of grinding when i was on the trail through tight corners (only when the wheel was compleatly turned though). i continued to wheel lightly through the afternoon with no problem but my question is what the heck. Im includeing some pics of the front end. It looks like some sort of bolt is comeing off the back of my breaks assembly and digging into some sort of stop? Tis pick is not at full turn cuz im by myself right now but when it is its totally jamed right into that thing. Any help would be appreciated

4runner_keith

yotarob2005

Everything looks normal except that there is supposed to be a little plastic cap on the end of that bolt.

xxxtreme22r

not another thread on steering stop noises !!!

2DoorRunner

Grease em up every once in a while, it wont be as bad.

4runner_keith

well it was pretty gnarly now and then... But ya say mabey a bit of grease and some caps to cover umm up'll do the trick?

yotarob2005

Just don't force the steering wheel against the stops, I generally turn to full lock and then back off a hair.

iamsuperbleeder

yep, you found the culprit


the steering stops; happens to every IFS Toyota eventually


you can pick up new plastic cover thingies from a dealer if it concerns you that bad, but yeah just smear some grease on them every other oil change or so (the grease like that used for tie rods and what-not), and you should be fine

4runner_keith

will thats good to hear because i just had the shop here in town put in 2 new axles, and for a minute there i started to get quite pissed lol thanks

rattlewagon

My thoughts too! HAHA. however, at least this one has the answers, instead of 20 posts that just say "search"

There was a guy selling replacements on ebay, I tried to look but I couldant find them. I usualy just throw a dab of grease on mine every couple of weeks.

hamish_18

I also heard anti-seize. Don't ask me why, as I have yet to try it, but something about not having to put as much on as often...

RustBucket

iTrader: (1)

Anti-seize would work better since it works well with sliding contact, unlike MP grease which is more along the lines of rolling elements.

A good waterproof grease with moly in it will do the trick, though!

Those stupid little plastic caps are like $4 a piece but they work too (until they wear out). I have contemplated making some sort of steering stop with a brass acorn nut on the end to act as the bearing element...

4runner_keith

Let me start this off by saying i did search this, and yes i did find some info, idler arm replacement and so forth. But what i am asking is for those with IFS front ends, if you were going to go thru your steering componets.... What all would you replace. im posting a couple pics too! there may be some bent componets. Because in the snow its very hard to keep her under control. She wants to wander around quite a bit even in 4-hi. Anyway heres some pics!

4runner_keith

passenger side looks bent up past tie rod aye???

NYChopshop

if you're going to do any front end work, you're going to need an alignment. If you're going to need an alignment, I'd make sure I had all the perishable parts and did it once. In fact, that's just what I did. Pittman arm, idler arm, inner and outer tie rod ends, adjusting sleeves, upper and lower ball joints. Check your control arm and sway bar bushings for excessive wear. Control arm bushings are a pain in the ass to deal with in most cases unless you replace the entire control arm.

peow130

Tierod ends, Balljoints, wheel bearings, idler arm bushings..
That's what i'd replace.
If that's not it, Control arm bushings.

Marc

I would replace what's worn.

An incorrect alignment will cause wandering even if all the components are good.

iamsuperbleeder

I'd start by relaxing your t-bars some...

you're going to keep destroying your idler arm with the TRE's at those angles



but yes, replace ANYTHING that's loose and wobbly, or has a gaping hole in the greaseable joint

everything should feel snug, but still be able to rotate like normal without binding

angrybob

I just went through this exercise with my '87 4Runner.

NOTE: I live in AZ - there is no corrosion here and the blue wrench was not necessary for anything (not a bad tradeoff for blazing summers!)

Mileage is 179k miles and had new(er) tie rod ends and the rest original parts. Thats how I bought it in April of this year. As received the vehicle wandered pretty bad and had a tire shimmy around 62mph with new 33" MT-R's on 17" wheels.

Quickly found that the idler arm was bad and that a wheel would rock back and forth slightly when up in the air on a jack. Replaced the idler arm and quick fixed the bearing by reseting the pre-load per FSM.

This last month I finally had the time to go through the front end and replaced the following:

• upper and lower ball joints
• upper and lower control arm bushings
• inner and outer hub bearings/seals and of course freshly packed grease

Pitman arm and steering stabilizer checked out OK. Anti-sway bar is not currently installed (gonna order some quick disconnect links from 4crawler tonight).

Post alignment, it now rides flawlessly up to 70mph and the center of steering is perfect. I get vehicle feedback if I give a half inch input at the wheel. This thing is smooth enough to be a daily driver.

4runner_keith

I had posted a couple threads on my front end veering and wandering around in 4wd while accelerating, attatched is some pics that you may find funny because i replaced just about everything i could and somehow missed these... Lmao!