i'm looking at a 78 fj40 (i know there's a LC section, but it doesn't get as much action as here). anywho, i'm going to make an offer today, but the thing has a bit of a shake at speeds above 25 miles/hour and the steering wheel is quite a ways off from being straight. the thing has 33x15.5 tires super swampers which i definitely would sell if i bought the truck and put some A/Ts or M/Ts. The guy says the shake is from worn leaf spring bushings, but that doesn't seem right, does it? I've never had to troubleshoot any steering problems before, so I'm relying on someone here to shed some light for me. Thanks.

Oh, and the front bumper isn't there. I was wondering if maybe it took some front end damage or something causing the steering issue????



here's a pic

 

A LOT could've (and likely did) happen in 26 years since that lc was new. You can't worry about that, you just need to be prepared to turn wrenches on it yourself. Shimmy is more than likely caused by the swampers. (Those tall shackles made me shudder...) Just plan on upgrading stuff like spring bushings and tie rod ends etc. anyway. Not major expenses and easy enough to do, that old LC is very low tech and strong too. After you know all the front end stuff is good and have your new tires on there, get it aligned and make sure they "time" the steering gear (make sure it's centered when the wheels are straight.) Then straighten the steering wheel at the column if need be.

Looks very nice by the way.

 

With those tires, I'd be surprised if it DIDN'T shudder. Swampers are notorious for practically melting away on the road. Throw in a 4x4 toe-in and they will cup the tread pretty quickly. Ask him, or help him to rotate the tires and see what sort of difference it makes.
I bet it would settle down some just getting fresh tread up front.

 

Might also point out that a brand new off the showroom floor FJ40 with stock tires drove like a tank, rough as h*ll and harsh and noisy... After all these years I wouldn't expect it would have improved ... <grin> I ended up buying my first Toyota 4x4 because I had wanted a Landcruiser, but when I test drove it, I decided I couldn't live with the harsh ride. (It was one of the very last ones, and yes, I now know I shoulda bought it and kept it all these years... oh well.) So I decided on a Cherokee. (Another bad decision.) But the Jeep salesman was an a**hole, and when I went to the Toyota dealership to have lunch with my Father and tell him the story, there was this georgeous black SR5 shortbed 4x4 just off the truck and it just called my name... So glad I didn't get the Cherokee, it would have been an '85 with the 2.8 v6 <shudder>