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Just bought an 84. Steering and other issues

Discussion in '1st Gen 4Runners (1984-1989)' started by Zoom39222, Jun 6, 2021.

  1. Jun 6, 2021 at 8:20 PM
    #1
    Zoom39222

    Zoom39222 [OP] New Member

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    Big lifts. Litttle tires
    Hey guys. Just bought this truck today. And it steers really bad. And the body moves more than the wheels half the time. I need help on what to do or fix

    9A095A69-F005-428A-A5B4-94F4F8EEF78B.jpg
     
  2. Jun 6, 2021 at 9:00 PM
    #2
    Moon Landing

    Moon Landing AFFTC 1967/68 Eddies Air Patch

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  3. Jun 6, 2021 at 9:40 PM
    #3
    SlvrSlug

    SlvrSlug Slightly bent.

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    Well yeah, welcome to the forum.
     
  4. Jun 7, 2021 at 2:40 AM
    #4
    Toy4X4

    Toy4X4 New Member

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    Welcome from Wisconsin! I bet it's a challenge keeping it in one lane on the road. Been in this situation once with a full-size Chevy. The alignment shop can be your best friend!
     
  5. Jun 7, 2021 at 9:47 AM
    #5
    Ironguy

    Ironguy New Member

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    Welcome!
     
  6. Jun 7, 2021 at 10:44 AM
    #6
    diverdon

    diverdon New Member

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    Welcome from northern NY
     
  7. Jun 7, 2021 at 11:19 AM
    #7
    DRobs

    DRobs New Member

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    Pinstripes, lots of em. Plus a couple dents.
    Buddy of mine has an 85 that looks similarly lifted. He has a lot of body movement and currently has it at a shop getting a full external cage added on.
     
  8. Jun 7, 2021 at 11:22 AM
    #8
    fajitas21

    fajitas21 New Member

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    Hah 10% chance the OP really wants our answers, 90% chance they never post again, 4% chance I'm holding out hope we become best friends.
     
    Zoom39222[OP] likes this.
  9. Jun 8, 2021 at 6:55 PM
    #9
    Zoom39222

    Zoom39222 [OP] New Member

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    I’m still here. Reposting an Waiting for help. Located in Orlando. Any suggestions
     
  10. Jun 8, 2021 at 7:07 PM
    #10
    Doubleduty

    Doubleduty Life is better on the mountain

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    Examine more closely how the lift and such was done. Hopefully, you might find the shortcomings of the transition.
    Beyond that...I would lose the " Big Foot " look, and bring it back closer to stock.
    Do you want go, or show,?
     
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  11. Jun 8, 2021 at 7:11 PM
    #11
    Doubleduty

    Doubleduty Life is better on the mountain

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    I would get the cage too, if mine was set up like that!
    No offense intended though. To each their own. Pretty rig, other than the testosterone look!
     
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  12. Jun 8, 2021 at 7:40 PM
    #12
    trlhiker

    trlhiker Lazy Bum

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    Put it back closer to stock and most of your issues will likely go away.
     
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  13. Jun 8, 2021 at 7:40 PM
    #13
    fajitas21

    fajitas21 New Member

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    Well heck yea the OP wasn't a troll, glad you're still here.

    The leaf springs allow for some movement, while controlling lateral play somewhat. However, a better option would be to ensure you have panhard bars set up, they will help with the side to side movement. I bet you don't have any, and the leaf springs are doing both. That works ok until you start going really high, like this vehicle.

    Of course the best option is 4 link, but that's a pretty extreme departure to what you have.

    Are those tires Bias? I suspect so, they probably shimmy the steering wheel until they warm up. Also, they are going to be hard to control just based on the tread pattern.

    Center of gravity is pretty high, it's gonna wander naturally. The idea is big tires + low center of gravity, so if you can lower it while keeping those tires you'll drive better and perform better.
     
    Last edited: Jun 8, 2021
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  14. Jun 8, 2021 at 7:55 PM
    #14
    Moon Landing

    Moon Landing AFFTC 1967/68 Eddies Air Patch

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    Or leave it as is and get it a trailer.
    [​IMG]
     
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  15. Jun 9, 2021 at 6:49 AM
    #15
    Zoom39222

    Zoom39222 [OP] New Member

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    Thanks for some of the replies. Am not looking to daily drive this at all. Maybe a fancy off road toy. But not a mud machine. Cuz crusing but yea she wonders pretty good.
    It’s lifted with leafs. An also has a 3-4 body lift on it.

    and doesn’t have a panhard bar so that would probably be a great place to start. Thanks
     
  16. Jun 9, 2021 at 6:52 AM
    #16
    se7enine

    se7enine New Member

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    For safety sake I'd ditch the body lift. Those do more harm than good.
     
  17. Jun 9, 2021 at 9:30 AM
    #17
    fajitas21

    fajitas21 New Member

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    Hey another thought. That appears to be a spring over conversion, which is going to massively increase axle wrap without a trac bar, or lower control arms in the rear.

    If you're trailering, might not be a big deal. If you're driving at any reasonably fast speeds, probably super sketchy feeling.

    If you kept the body lift you could back to axle under leafs, but I'd also recommend ditching body lift first, then the leaf config in that order.

    The main problem with super high body lifts is that bolts are really strong in the direction in which they bolt in, but aren't on the perpendicular angle (they want to shear). When you add 4" of body lift, you move the cab up 4" and create a lot of leverage to shear a bolt when you're leaning off camber in an off road situation.

    It's probably fine as long as the bolts are over-sized and in good working order, but if they appear old, small, and rusted....
     
  18. Jun 9, 2021 at 9:42 AM
    #18
    glwood54

    glwood54 Stop making me buy stuff!

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    The question arises - did you know this prior to purchase, or did you discover this after you bought it? Point being, that is such a radical lift/tires/suspension modification, I would have thought that a test drive would have revealed all of the above. Unless, of course, it was purchased mostly for the coolness factor.
     
  19. Jun 9, 2021 at 8:33 PM
    #19
    Zoom39222

    Zoom39222 [OP] New Member

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    Too: glwood54. I did test drive before an I knew about it. I’m just trying to fix the problem now. It’s not gonna be a daily driver bought mostly for show. But will take it “off-roading”. I like to use the things I spend my money on But as previously stated there is no panhard bar. Which is something I’m now looking into because seems like a good idea
     
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