Archived Truck stuck in Central America!

[96ram]

Hi for some silly reason I decided to move down to central america and couldnt part with my truck[duhhh] I need some tech help on this quick! The roads are awfull down here so the truck has taken a beating. Most of the steering/front end problems I have had parts sent to me for but not these:



1) Steering dampner puking oil(anyone know the exact specs(length?stroke etc) on a replacement? Parts are rare down here so I have to try and match one up in a shop) My truck is always offroad so I think I need one [laugh]



2)Intermittently heavy/binding steering ie when parked on a cambered roadside

What should I check into?



Looking forward to the help [coffee]

 

[JFaughn]

I found this , TSB 19-05-96

 

[RDyson]

As much as you love your truck, it's not going to get any better down there. I've spent some time in Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. The missionary we worked with had a 4 door Toyota diesel. I didn't know they even made them. First time we were there was in 99'. We have been on roads/trails where only a burro could go. But that Toyota took us anywhere we pointed it. It's light and tough as nails. The only thing that we have broke on it is the rear bumper. That was due to hauling a bed full of sand across a wash out where there used to a bridge. We put a winch on it, so when we did get stuck it was easy to pull out.

Also parts are more readily available.



Don't get me wrong, I'd fight to keep my Cummins too! But when you are, where YOU are, practicality and reliability are the most important things.



Good luck in what you do,



Randy

 

[96ram]

RDYSON you're probably right! Ironically I owned a 23 year old toyota diesel when I lived in Canada so the whole parts problem I have lived through already. However I can always have stuff shipped down to me and there's nothing like upgrading stuff to make it stronger

JFaughn thanks for the link I will see if I can get at least a Rancho 5000 down here to work in the meantime but I will probably get the kit sent down to me.

Some people tell me to just throw it away and not run a steering dampner doesn't sound good to me... any thoughts?

 

[JFaughn]

I would think that you may have seen this , but just incase .

TDR Roundtable - replacing steering stabilizer

 

[96ram]

update from central america....

Thanks for that link! It was very helpful! I will be looking into getting that stuff sent down here..... Maybe this'll be a useful link one day for someone as unlike most people I drive my truck offroad hard and fast in sand, mud and water EVERYDAY... .



update:

1)so I replaced both front hub assemblies(with SKF) as the bearings were shot aswell as the bushing on the tracbar and everything was all sweet until the driverside front wheel started squeeling a month later. That side has heaps of play now and it seems that the bearing races are dry :{

After all the pain to get the damn things down here it doesn't seem right... I seem to have been shipped a defective one!



2)Discovered the weight of the mighty cummins is chewing up bushings(aftermarket) pretty fast. Apart from the aforementioned tracbar bushing The skyjacker control arms really cured the steering/clearance issues of the 35's but 6 months later the bushings have heaps of play... I have spare bushings with me but thinking going full heim soon.



I will keep posting problems/updates.....

 

[96ram]

Silly question??

Does anyone know what the torque specs are for the huge axle nut with the cotter pin involved in putting the new hub assembly on? How easy is it to overtorque or undertorque?



How can you tell if you have a bent axle?

 

[96ram]

update:

Took the offending hub assy to a machine shop down here to see what they can do... . they can mcguiver or fix anything down here..... we'll see...
I see the torque spec on that nut is 175lbs... . can't believe it wasn't on tight enough... axle is fine too... .
Got Carli suspension control arms on the wish list and their defiant steering dampner system. Might upgrade all the tracbars with the kit from Thuren Fabrication.....

 

[BGlidewell]

Keep the steering damper, it will help in the rough stuff and keep from having the wheel jerk out of your hands or possibly break an arm.

 

[96ram]

update: after a good few trips back to the machine shop it finally seems to be rebuilt ok. I'll be upgrading the front end soon enough!