Good evening Yotatechers,

I need help trying to figure out what's going on with my 2002 4Runner SR5 4WD. I installed the Total Chaos Lower Uniball Conversion (OE Tie Rod) and new 9168 CVJ Axles as well but even after an alignment job my rig gets squirly in the turns even at low speeds. When I'm on the freeway and in the turns she gets so squirly that her a## end wants to step out. I'm not even on the throttle when this happens. Pucker factor to say the least. Even in slight turns I'm having to make steering corrections to keep my rig centered in the lane. It's much worse when it's a sweeping turn, thats when the above stuff happens. It doesn't settle back into a neutral steering position on its own.

I called Total Chaos and the rep said there is up to a 5,000 mile break-in period for the Uniball joints and he said I just had to get those miles in so they wouldn't be that tight. The alignment tech commented on the tightness too. I wish they would've listed the mileage break-in period on the product webpage. I'm having major buyers regret, that's a lot of mileage before I can safely bring my daughter with me in my rig. I had better expectations of a product from a proven company. I figured it would've been a bolt on and forget it product especially at that price. I refuse to take my infant daughter on a drive with me because of the issue. I've never had this issue after installation of new OEM LBJs and new CV Axles, and I've done quite a few over the years due to torn boots and being proactive about LBJ replacements.

When the rig gets fishy the traction control/skid light flashes when the rear end wants to step out as it should in that situation. SO MY QUESTION IS...

1: Is the traction control making it step out due to the tightness of the new Uniballs not wanting to settle back in the neutral steering position on its own?
or
2: Is the traction control preventing it from stepping out more by adjusting rear wheel speed on one or both of the wheels to get the rig centered again?

I hope those questions make sense, LOL

I'm asking because I've been reading about the mod to turn the traction control on/off but I don't want to make the issue worse and/or wreck my rig or worse, die. We live in a hilly area so this is a pretty big safety issue for us.


Thanks ahead of time for the useful tech help.

 

While the uniballs can be stiff when first installed, I fail to see how that would cause issues with the rear or the traction control.
A lot of things can cause wonky handling.
Have you checked all the bushings and the rear link bars? Are you lifted? Are you sure the alignment guy did a proper alignment and not just a toe and go? These things need alot of caster to return to center properly. Do you have a rear locker? Checked your tire pressure?

 

Another possibility is the ABS sensor was damaged while replacing the control arms, and this is causing the stability control to act up? I'd think the ABS would be having issues as well, though, not just stability control.

I would agree that stiff LBJ/uniball should NOT cause symptoms such as described. I could see some hesitation to return to center and that being felt as wandering in corners, but shouldn't make it prone to oversteer.

And once my lifted '99 picked up an 'oscillation' at highway speeds. Usually kick started by going over a heave or bump, then the back end of the car would get into a bit of a slow wag back and forth. I made sure i wasn't subconsciously helping it along by holding the steering wheel with my leg (PIO - Pilot Induced Oscillation - is a real thing). Turned out to be a very small amount of slack in the rear panhard bar bushings. So slight I missed it when first looking at it during the road trip, I only noticed it late on at home when shaking the back of the car back and forth as hard as possible.