Help! Steering mechanism problem.

[litol]

Here's my 1996 3rd Generation Hi-lux Surf. It is acquired from Japan and we use it now in the Philippines. So it is technically a Right Hand Drive converted into a Left Hand Drive vehicle. Everything worked fine except this one problem that's bothering us for months now.


My problem is:
1. The conversion of the steering posted some problems. The power steering was inverted in order to accommodate the inversion of the steering wheel from right to left. So the power steering bracket was re fabricated and refitted.


2. The power steering lines (e.g. steering fluid lines) got snagged in the front axle (remember: RHD to LHD conversion) so we have to lower the power steering by about 2-3 inches.

3. And so another problem occurs. As we lowered the power steering the the angle of the steering joint was way off line. see picture:



To anyone out there who encountered similar problems please feel free to input your suggestions. Any suggestion and tips will be much appreciated.

that's all for now. thanks everyone!

p.s. Will continue to post once i got to take a picture of the other related problems.

[litol]

up for this thread!

the manifiestation of the steering setup is when driving 70kph and up and there's a road repair. the sudden plunge of the suspension makes the vehicle unstable. and the tires will squeak.

and another one, if we lift the vehicle on a lifter in the maintenance station, when all the four tires are suspended in the air the front tires tend to face each other.see picture. sorry for that one.




;-)

[BUSHWHACKER]

You should get the steering alignment done as soon as possible, as it seems you have too much 'toe-in'. this will destroy the front tyres in no time with the steering set up how it is at the moment.
When you carried out the conversion, wouldn't it have been easier to obtain a steering pump from a left hand drive Surf/4Runner?

[Morr]

It would appear you are suffering from "bump steer" this is caused by the angle on your steering rods due to the lowering of the steering rack.
These arms should be level when the vehicle is sitting normally on the ground, as you lift the vehicle up, the wheels drop and the arms level out pushing the rear of the wheel outwards causing the toe-in you have shown in your second post.
A similar effect will occur when driving as any bumps in the road will cause the arms to level are affect the steering as you drive.

The only effective way to cure this is to return the arms to their correct angle, this would be best done by changing the rack for a proper LHD one from a 4Runner as Vince suggested.
Anothe possible alternative would be to fit a suspension lift kit to force the wheels lower when the vehicle is on the ground, thus leveling the steering rods.

[litol]

You should get the steering alignment done as soon as possible, as it seems you have too much 'toe-in'. this will destroy the front tyres in no time with the steering set up how it is at the moment.
When you carried out the conversion, wouldn't it have been easier to obtain a steering pump from a left hand drive Surf/4Runner?

yes sir! we have done some alignment plenty of times. when the surf is on its normal position (meaning: all tires on the ground plus vehicle weight) the steering is somewhat straight and when you look at it it's quite normal. the problem is when the lifter starts to lift the vehicle and the tires begin to drop down, that's when the picture on the second post appears.

the conversion posted some problems because steering fluid tubes and the steering shaft are now aligned in the same same space as the front propeller shaft(read: RHD to LHD conversion).so if we force the power steering to its normal position the propeller shaft will snag the steering shaft.

[litol]

It would appear you are suffering from "bump steer" this is caused by the angle on your steering rods due to the lowering of the steering rack.
These arms should be level when the vehicle is sitting normally on the ground, as you lift the vehicle up, the wheels drop and the arms level out pushing the rear of the wheel outwards causing the toe-in you have shown in your second post.
A similar effect will occur when driving as any bumps in the road will cause the arms to level are affect the steering as you drive.

The only effective way to cure this is to return the arms to their correct angle, this would be best done by changing the rack for a proper LHD one from a 4Runner as Vince suggested.
Anothe possible alternative would be to fit a suspension lift kit to force the wheels lower when the vehicle is on the ground, thus leveling the steering rods.

i guess you're right sir morr! i think my vehicle is suffering from "bump steer". the option i am now thinking is replacing my sagging stock springs to old man emu springs. in that way the height of the vehicle will be back to normal or maybe 1-2 inches higher. maybe this option could correct the bump steer that you have said. any more input sir?

[litol]

let the comments and suggestions flow!

to all who have replied: thanks masters!

[Razorhoof]

Am I the only one who finds this a little bit funny?

[The Hornet]

I wouldn't imagine so.