SFA Steering play - possible fix

[ToyX4]

I know this topic has been discussed. I quickly scanned through the posts, but didn't see this solution.

My SFA Hilux had lots of steering play. It felt very unsafe, thus I needed to correct it.
I took it to a wheel alignment shop, and they advised the following:

The springs and seats on both ends of the steering drag link should be replaced, which should sort the problem.
The springs collapse, and the seats get chipped.

These parts are only available at Toyota. (Someone refered to the seats as "halfmaan seats" )
I didn't do it myself, because they were going to do the wheel alignment as well, but it is an easy, quick job.

I circled the springs and seats on the pic below for your reference.

[Dadz Toy BFI]

Have the same problem at the shocker end of the Rod, excessive play - shows up as scaring of the shock absorber body. :x

Have heard of Several remedies:

1. replacement genuine Toyota - darned expensive at R2,5K
2. Solid Dyna Tie Rod coversion at R1,25K- but steers like a race car, thus horrible on corrugations - whipps your hands
3. Alan (Hoppy) Venter's Mod - gives same free play and most cost effective - but don't know exactly what this mod entails - but will have it done next month - so can give feed back, unless you wanna PM now, if so please keep me in the loop

Rich

[ToyX4]

Thanks Rich

Mine was BAD. After the above fix, it is much better.
Don't know how it should be, but at least I feel safe to drive it now, and I'm happy.

Give us an update after you've done it

[CasKru]

Jis thanks man Riaan... This is some useful information and as alot of SFA drivers have play on their steering, this could help them

[BenHur]

Riaan

How much did you end up coughing up for the parts?

[ToyX4]

It was just under R300 for the parts.

[JohanM]

Riaan,

Dankie vir die inligting. Het klaar vir myne dieselfde bestel en sal dan volgende week dit insit saam met die nuwe cab rubbers, want myne is nie meer daar nie, dit lyk net so!!! :roll:

Sal dan sommer bietjie foto's neem en dit hier upload sodat almal kan sien hoe dit lyk as jy dit self doen.

Moet net nog iemand kry om my te help om die body te help oplig sodat ek die rubbers kan vervang. :roll:

[ToyX4]

Johan, sal gaaf wees as jy die foto kan neem. Maar dis erg maklik, ek was net nie lus om dit self te doen nie, want wheel alignment knaap het gese hy sal dit sommer insit as hy alignment doen.

Hoop dit werk vir jou steering ook.

[JohanM]

Johan, sal gaaf wees as jy die foto kan neem. Maar dis erg maklik, ek was net nie lus om dit self te doen nie, want wheel alignment knaap het gese hy sal dit sommer insit as hy alignment doen.

Hoop dit werk vir jou steering ook.

Riaan ek maak graag so, en dan sal ek weer die wheel alignment laat oor doen, en dan behoort hy baie meer direk te bestuur, en nie so float nie.

Sal sommer kyk of ek die cab rubbers vervang kry en dit ook sommer post vir almal om te help.

[Family_Dog]

Bulldog had the same problem, I think I did mention it here but your description and drawings are perfect! Thanks for the input :) .


-F_D

[Toybox]

Johan, you dont happend to have the part numbers and prices of the cab rubbers?

[JohanM]

I have ordered it from my friend at the agent, and will collect it next week from him. I will then post the numbers and the prices on the forum with the pictures.

This might be an interesting topic, seeing what 20yr old cab mountings look like after 20year of doing duty on my vehicle.

[BenHur]

Johan

As jy wag tot ek terugkom kan ek jou help dan organise ons sommer vir jou ook daai body lift, kan vir jou mooi 50mm spacers maak vir so R800 dan kry jy weer die lift terug wat jy verloor het met die blade wat julle verwyder het. Dan doen ons sommer my rooi hings joune en Deon sin in een go.

Maar laat weet wat kos daai origional rubbers myne lyk ook nie meer te gaaf nie. Ek wonner of mens daai rubers self kan maak? Watse materiaal sal mens gebruik wat maklik masjineer maar tog die shock kan absorbeer. MMM...

[JohanM]

Bennie,

Dit klink vir my na `n plan!!! Ek sal net volgende week die steering uitsorteer, en dan kan ons gesels as jy terug is. Ek sal jou in volgende week laat weet as ek die rubbers gekry het, dan kan jy my laat weet, of ek vir jou ook moet kry. Ek sal ook terselfdetyd foto's opsit van hoe die nuwes lyk.

[Toybox]

Maybe a mini gtg at Bennies' for a cab rubber replacement session?

I have considered a small body lift for a while now. Figured if the rubbers were shot (and they are) i might as well do it while i'm down there.

Got as far as buying a length of 50mm UHDPE. BUT after Bloms uber lux thread I see I now need some 60mm...

[Hannesve]

Hi Guys

I just phoned Toyota Woodmead, got a quote for nearly R1000 for the springs and seats indicated on your diagram. (Price breakdown comes to R110 per seat etc!)

This seems to be a lot more expensive than R300?

Should I confront them or not?

I do have a lot of play on steering, but it seems quite an expensive way to find out if this is the problem.

[LouisZ]

You should get the draglink kit from N1 4x4 for R251. If you like a few can order through me and we can get it a bit cheaper. :D

Hannesve, that is a rip off.

[Sifu-Lux]

Why not just get a complete NEW draglink with all the parts from Gemini Parts in JHB for ~ R450 !

See here: viewtopic.php?f=16&t=4578

Mine is in for a few months and is great.

[merwn]

Ek wil hulp vra my lux is gelig deur die ou vere te recon en een veer by te sit nou as die regter kant ver sak dan vang die draglink se kop op die u bolt van die veer en wat ek ook agter gekom het my prop voel party keer as ek wegtrek dan klink dit of iets teen die body kap

[Family_Dog]

Nick, easy fix. Look here:

viewtopic.php?f=67&t=3315

Notice the special U-Bolt in the photos.


-F_D

[Mud Dog]

I've always greased the draglink knuckles (there are nipples) every time I do the propshafts / shackles / leaf spring slifders and steering hubs etc. My mileage is coming up on 300k and my steering has no play at all. Preventative maintenance is better than replacement maintenance, I say.

[gbaker]

Ya mud dog is right grease is the answer they always seem to be the :forgotten nipples: one thing you must always check is the ball on the drag link as this can wear into an oval shape and also has a tendancy to move inside the link as it is originally pressed in, a lot of guys tack it on the outside.

By the way i am working here in the south of France and the Lux here is called, wait for it a VW and I dont think thats a translation!!!!

UP THE SHARKS

[Family_Dog]

Hi Gary,

In a bid to enter the European market sme years ago, Toyota had an agreement with VW to build the Hilux and market it as a VW. That agreement ended some years ago. We have an overseas member here who also drives a VW-Lux!

Recently, VW released its own 4x4 pickup, which still bears an uncanny resemblance to a Hilux!


-F_D

[Mud Dog]

That's interesting Eric, strange that Toyota would do something like that though, as their brand is well known and respected world wide. Perhaps it had something to do with a European restriction on imports .... ballance of trade, that kind of scenario. But interesting nonetheless.

Hi Gary and welcome to the forum ..... I see you are a recently joined member. Hope you get as much from this forum as have I.

[gbaker]

Thanks, im here in France till april then back to SA and off to the swamps and central cant wait have got my own little hidey hole in the northern delta, I think this hilux forum is great

[dalkill]

thanks for this post Riaan.
Will add it to my to do list.
This weekend my buddy was asking about the play on my steering, and I showed him how i moved the steering from side to side, and the lux was still going straight
My lux has a mind of it's own. I constantly have to fight it, especially if the road is bad. Follows every bump in the road.

[BenHur]

When Oupa was here with me I noticed quite a lot of play on the steering even thought Riaan who started this discussion had the drag link repaired. I showed him how to adjust the steering box itself as the play can originate there too and is normally an easy fix.

Riaan het jy nou al daai steering box van jou getune soos ek jou gesê het?

[ToyX4]

Bennie, ja, maar dit was nie die steering box nie. Het hom gestel, met geen verbetering.

Ek het die draglink storie, daar waar die seat en spring in is, vaster gedraai, en nou is hy 100% reg

[BenHur]

Cool

Plak bietjie prentjies vir die mense om te sien.

[Hannesve]

Thanks Louis. I am sending Ramkat for a big "once over" next week. I will ask the guys to check out the possible cause and maybe just replace with the kit.

Thanks for the help.

[BenHur]

Hannes

you must update your vehicle info in your personal profile

[Mud Dog]

Another new member, I see .... Welcome Hannes!

Geez this forum seems to be growing in leaps and bounds ... the Admin's will have to upgrade / modify the severs soon .... maybe something like a Lexus V8 conversion. :D ..... and don't forget the Diktator management system!