IFS Hilux steering issues

[Courts InSession]

Hi guys looks like its time to replace the first parts on the hilux. 7 months is the longest i've owned a car for that hasnt blown up an engine so i'm not bothered in the least!

I was asking this question in another thread but would like to add a little more information as to my symptons and some digging around the net that ive done.

Basically, I had my tyres rotated/balanced last week when I mentioned to my mate at the tyre shop that the hilux had a strange clunk coming from the front end when you held the wheel at full lock then released it. We had a bit of a poke around it and it looked like the idler and pitman arms both had too much play in the joint.

When we fitted the 31s last year they scrubbed like all hell on the mudgaurds, to stop this the torsion bars were wound right up. Ever since the clonk noise in the steering has become more prominent and noticed what sounded like the tyre rubbing on the gaurd but I had dismissed it as there was previously heaps of clearance. I was driving along a road I often travel earlier tonite, down a steep hill and into a little gully then back up the other side. When it hit the bottom it scrubbed really badly, was no mistaking the tyre hitting something. Looked at it when I got home and the tyre is now rubbing on the mudgaurd on both sides. The springs do not appear to have sagged. Would a dodgi idler/pitman arm allow the wheel to basically shift in towards the mudgaurd?

Im quite perplexed as to how this can happen. Ive looked at the steering stops, greased the hell out of them to no avail. This pic is from a surf, it shows there are actually 2 stoppers on each side. Does the hilux just have the 1 or am I missing one? I had steering stopper noises on the Feroza and they did sound quite similar but im 98% sure this is a different problem as the grease did clear it right up.

As with most of us I like to do my own maintenance, it seems the pitman arm install/removal is quite difficult and requires some specialised tools, what kinda stuff do you guys use?

I found this tool on ebay, a pitman arm puller, would anything else be required as far as removal/installation of the pitman arm goes? eBay Australia: Pitman Arm Puller - Made From Drop Forged Steel {QTQ} (item 200100484905, end time 15-Jul-07 22:48:38 AEST) (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=200100484905&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=010)

This site details the removal/install and rebuild of the idler arm, my understanding here is you can only rebuild if the joint is not clapped out. Id prefer just to replace the arm if these things are indeed the problem. It speaks of a pickle fork or a tie rod puller to split the joint, what are peoples preferences? Idler Arm Maintenance (http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/maintenance/idler/)

I would jump into this head first if I had a decent workshop manual. I have an 02 Tacoma manual, most stuff in it relates to the luxxy but they seem to have different frontends, Tac being rack and pinion.

Sorry if this has been long winded, hope I managed to paint a reasonably clear picture of what is happening! Any help would be much appreciated. Ive priced idler/pitman arms from toyota. $217 for the idler and $147 for the pitman. Might have actually been the other way around. Thanks for any help you guys can offer.

Regards
Brad

[taresk]

The idler arm has bushes that are practically classed as consumables, on my 4Runner they were replaced about every second service, no doubt made worse by an auto front locker, but that's where i'd look first, for the clunk at least.

As for the wheels hitting the mudguard, that sounds more like maybe the upper control arms, perhaps the bushes in them, or worst case (something I had myself) cracked chassis around either the control arms or the idler arm.

[4runner8]

As for the wheels hitting the mudguard, that sounds more like maybe the upper control arms, perhaps the bushes in them, or worst case (something I had myself) cracked chassis around either the control arms or the idler arm.

sounds like either of the two

idler arm removal- use pitman arm puller or ball joint removal fork (puller is better) the body and idler arm come as one unit.
pitman arm- use pitman puller to remove from steering box and from relay rod.

as for the crunching, mine was simply that one of the tie rod ends had rotated in a way that caused them to not have any movement (twist)

[Courts InSession]

Thanks guys, went to a few places today, none of which were any help at all. I wont be walking through the doors of pedders again thats for sure! When I said my torsion bars were wound up the bloke just started ranting saying he wouldnt let my car leave his shop with them like that, I would need to buy his new torsion bars at $700 a pop!!!! Needless to say I laughed at him and walked out! He wanted $425 just to replace the idler arm!!! Fulcrum wasnt much better but at least they were civilised. Priced me at $198 in Labor to replace both arms. I would think 3 hours labor would be around the mark for the job, sound about right guys?

Cheers

[4runner8]

with a couple of coldies in between, not bad for a shop job.
its really quite simple to do yourself, 198 bills would get a whole lotta beer to do it yourself with!!

[brokelux]

to help combate the ider arm wearing out the bushes all the time make sure ALL the steering stops touch at the same time e.g. the ones on the idler arm and steering box corrospond and touch the stopper at the same time that the one on the wheel does.

[Courts InSession]

Yeah I probably will end up doing it myself. Would rather spend $50 on a pitman arm puller and the other $150 on some turps! I can only see 1 steering stopper on each side of the lux. In that link I posted up top of the surfs setup there is 2, am I missing one? Ill take a pic of mine and post it up, someone might be able to point it out.