Caster and Wander

[Rev_D21]

Ok question,

Do the 4wd HBs share the same Idler Arm Bushings with the 2wd? The reason I ask is because my idler arm is sloppy and I would rather replace the bushings with a set from pirate4x4.com than replace the whole unit with something of the same or lesser quality. Thoughts?

[Rev_D21]

According to Pirate4x4 they are the same. I have some OEM bushings on order right now. Debating going bronze but I hear they wear out quick as well, don't know if that is the case on a 2wd that never goes off road though. Any thoughts?

[AZhitman]

I was doing some reading elsewhere where people were machining new ones out of Delrin, but that was for an older truck.

[Rev_D21]

I have been reading up on that as well. I don't think much has changed since the old days except for maybe the size of the parts. Lots to be read out there in internet-world.

The 4x4 guys are a great help for us 2wd guys.

[seang]

IIRC, I have read from some owners who frequently go wheeling that their idler arm bushings wear out regularly.

[Rev_D21]

I need to make a correction. I mistakenly listed the vendor as pirate4x4, it's actually Bandit4x4. My bad.

[Saudade]

I need to make a correction. I mistakenly listed the vendor as pirate4x4, it's actually Bandit4x4. My bad.

I just saw this. I thought I misread your earlier one about how helpful pirate4x4 is for us 2wd guys. Certainly not the Pirate4x4 I know (those guys are pretty hardcore).

[Rev_D21]

Ordered my bushings from Bandit. He shipped them this morning. He's a man of few words but responds quick and moves quick.

[Desert Rat]

Bronze is really no better than the OEM plastic ones. The wear rate is about the same.

OEM plastic ones are cheap and effective...at about $6 a pop, you can replace them once a year and still be money ahead.

[Rev_D21]

I have read 50% positive reviews and 50% negative reviews. In a hardcore wheeling truck I imagine they won't last long but in a road queen 2wd truck that only sees dirt driveways I would hope they last longer than the OEM plastic bushings.

[BronkStang]

how about the moog idler that eliminates the bushing? or the idler arm braces?

[Rev_D21]

I read that the Moog idler is not recommended. Don't remember why though.

[Rev_D21]

Bushings arrived in the mail today. The weather is a** today so I might not be able to get this project done till tomorrow or Monday. NY weather sucks!

[Rev_D21]

Ok, here's a thought.

As some of you know I have replaced just about everything on the front end of my 95 minus the steering gear box and the idler arm. I am replacing the idler arm bushings with bronze bushings tomorrow. Even with all this work done I have a really bad steering wander problem right now. Everything is tight. I was thinking it could be the steering box being shot until I reviewed the alignment sheet from two weeks ago.


I had the alignment done 2 weeks ago(second time in two weeks).

Here's my educated question:

looking at the right vs. left side caster(L=.2deg vs. R=.-5deg)- Could this be my wander problem? I am pretty convinced it is but would like a second educated opinion.



I don't think this alignment shop is competent enough to get the numbers where they need to be so I will be taking it to another shop for re-alignment. Any suggestions?

[seang]

The shop that did my alignment was a reputable, recommended shop with lots of business; and he said he my truck was difficult and he could not get it perfectly right no matter what he did. I think the caster was a little off on the final specs.

I don't have a terrible wandering problem, though, too bad I don't have the results anymore or I could compare them to yours. All I remember was him telling me that the stock parts only compensated so much, and that there was nothing he could do except get it as close as he could because the stock parts only gave him so much to work with, I think it was the radius rods IIRC.

Those things said, it does make sense that caster affects handling--of course it does. Look at how shopping cart wheels follow whatever direction you move them; now scale that up, take out the radical caster, add a few other things like highway speeds and you basically have a front suspension!

[RT22]

what size tires width especially? fatter tires follow road groves and ruts like a bad dog. My old d21 was still new about 20k miles and I went to 15 inch tires and wheels and much wider than stock and that thing followed every rut on the road. So if you have wider tires than stock you WILL get more wander. The wider tires grad all imperfections, drive across a big mall style parking lot on sunday when it is empty, and i bet with no hands on the wheel it will track a lot better, as they are more flat and have not been rutted by large trucks and tons of usage.

[Rev_D21]

I do have 15" tires that are wider than stock. 215 vs. 195. Could the rear sway bar be having an effect? Since my rear spring bushings look like s*** could this be affecting the geometry of the truck more drastically because of the rear sway bar?

[RT22]

When my bushings on the leaf springs were shot it clunked when I turned as the axle was shifting about 1/2 inch to the side so that may very well be the problem. Mine did it when they were shot and it is no problem now with the new urethane bushings. I mean figure if the axle can slide 1/2 inch to one side the truck will be tracking crooked. not to mention the worn bushings allow slack from side to side and also top to bottom so it can make the suspension act wild over ripples and bumps.

[Rev_D21]

I just took the truck for a 30 mile test drive and I paid attention to the rear end the most during that trip. It does seem to act like the truck has a rudder on some roads. Other roads it tracks nicely. We might be on to something here.

[Rev_D21]

Installed the bushings this afternoon. I don't know if it's just a fluke or not but 90% of my slop has gone away. Steering is a treat now...so far. I put about another 10 miles on the truck during a quick test drive. I am hesitant to say I fixed the problem but I have no choice to admit steering feels 10000x better now.

[RT22]

Glad to hear that enjoy the ride, as the old nissan commercials said LOL