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4 Wheel Drive/SUVs/1998 Toyota 4Runner

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Expert: - 6/22/2005


Question
My son replaced the shocks and struts on his 4Runner a few months ago.  Now he complains that while driving, any kind of bump or rough road feels like he is going to lose control of the vehicle.  He says it almost pulls the steering wheel out of his hands.  The vehicle is in excellent condition and has approx. 140K miles.  Any ideas?

Answer
Scott,

Check out the shocks, and struts to make sure that they haven't come loose, or nothing has broken.  Also, make sure that they are the correct replacement parts.  I have seen parts such as these replaced with parts that were listed as replacements, but were not the proper length.  If they are too short, this can cause your problem.  Next, if it has a steering stabilizer, it should have been replaced at the same time as the shocks.

If these all seem to be ok, then I would check out the power steering pump, if it has power steering.

If this doesn't locate the problem, then I would go to a reputable front end shop, and have the 4-Runner's front end aligned.  When this is done, they can check the ball joints, along with the steering components to see if there is a worn, or broken part in the steering system.  Any of these parts could cause this type of problem.

Carl

4 Wheel Drive/SUVs

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Carl Brandt

Expertise

Will discuss suspensions, lifts, lockers along with tire suggestions. Trail ratings and possible requirements needed for specific type of trails. Safety equipment and what you should carry with you. Certified off-road instructor. I am not a mechanic, and 4-Wheeling is a hobby, so if I can't answer a technical question it is due to my mechanical knowledge being related to vehicles that I have owned, or have worked on. I do not have manuals on all vehicles.

Experience

40 plus years of 4 wheeling in a variety of vehicles. At the present time, my major off-road rig is a 94 Jeep Wrangler with a spring over and a 1 1/2" suspension lift. This gives me a total lift of 7" or so. I have lockers front and rear. I have removed the track bars, and sway bar for maximum articulation. I am running a stock 2.5 ltr 4 cylinder with a Jacobs ignition along with a cold air high flow filter. It has 4.56:1 gears with a Dodge NV4500 transmission along with a 3.8:1 Atlas II transfer case. This gives me a final ratio of 105:1 in low gear/low range. Other vehicles I own, are a 96 Ford F-250 with a 6" lift, posi rear end, 36" Hummer tires, 5 speed with a fuel injected 460 ci engine, an 87 Samurai with an 8" lift, Ford 9" rear end with a spool, Chevy Dana 44 front end with an electric locker, 5.88 gears, 16% reduction in high range and a 6.5:1 low range with 35" Baja Claws, and a stock 2003 Grand Cherokee Overland. Trails I have run are the Rubicon (10 times), Dusey Ershim, Fordyce Creek trail, McGrew trail, several trails in Moab, Utah along with local monthly runs.

Organizations
Lost Coast 4x4's Cal 4-Wheel Corva UFWDA Blue Ribbon Coalition

Education/Credentials
Certified off-road instructor - Certificates in engineering/electronics

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