Isuzu Trooper Owners Club UK™

Philp · Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 12:34 Post subject: The Pulling to the left saga

As you will know from previous posts my Trooper has a tendency to pull to the lft resulting in uneven tyre wear on the inside of the O/S and outside of the N'S front wheels. I've had a full four wheel alignment check carried out including tracking, camber and caster angles,thrust axis etc and all was OK.

Interestingly when I got onto French roads with the camber the opposite way the pulling switched to a slight pull in the opposite direction! Is this a sign of the chassis flexing or being twisted, or something else loose somewhere as the camber surely shouldn't have that much effect. As a workhorse it's quite livable with but it would be nice to sort out eventually. I am going to totally rebush the rear springs to see if that helps out any.

All suggestions however barmy welcomed!
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Phil

96 or is it a 98 Isuzu Bighorn Lotus

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jon willy · Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 12:54 Post subject:

Hi Phil
Thats a bit of a *beep*! I remember commenting previously on your original post, I'm on my second 3.1td and at 150k and at several stages swap front to back as I mentioned before, generally I would have expected either the outside or inside of the tyres to show wear but total opposites is weird.
Did Mr Alignment man give you a full report of results ? and are you 100% confident it was done fully in accordance ........ akin to any tune up machine / alignment equipment 'its only as good as the chap using it'........ Hope you get to the bottom of it.

Regards Jon.
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Chris01 · ** Joined: 13 Dec 2004 Posts: 108

I have had this a lot on other 4WD's and other cars, but its worse on 4WD's because of the large wheel sizes and soft suspension, its basicaly the camber of the road. You a steering up the hill to the right all the time, as you have said moving to France is an instant cure but a bit extreme.
Assuming the tracking is correct I have improved mine considerably by adjusting the steering box, this takes out the slack and improves the amount of righthand lock required considerably. Fit new tyres or swap front to back, as the tyres wear to the camber the pull gets worse, fitting new front dampers also helps as you may find you are constantly correctly over bumps if the dampers are old.
New tyres + tight box + new dampers changed mine from nearly a 1/8th of lock to the right to virtualy straight ahead all the time, it feels like a new car.

Philp · Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 14:06 Post subject:

Useful suggestions Chris, thanks, I had a four wheel alignment done and the tracking is spot on as is camber/caster etc, there is however some slack in the steering box, I've already fitted new tyres and shocks and this did improve it some, i'll have to adjust the free play out, the trouble is I find it hard to get my big old paws down to the steering box! I am even considering replacing the box as I wonder if it has a worn sector inside.
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Phil

96 or is it a 98 Isuzu Bighorn Lotus

Chris01 · ** Joined: 13 Dec 2004 Posts: 108

Philp, definately adjust your box then, if nessecary pay someone you'll be amazed at the differnce it makes!

Hard1 · Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 15:30 Post subject:

I agree that the removal of "slop" in the steering makes drivability that much better, but the manual recommends between 10mm - 30mm of free play. That seems excessive but it is Isuzu parameters on the 3.1, so I guess the moral of the story is, don't be tempted to remove ALL the free play!
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rg · **** Joined: 05 Jul 2003 Posts: 356

Just as a reminder, my 3.1 has worn in the same places! My local tyre place suggests camber and roundabouts. They are seriously expereinced, and found nothing wrong with the tracking.

If you are adjusting the steering box, I have a good link from another forum with pictures to describe the job and offer hints. One key issue is that the locking nut can often be "painted on", and hard to release.

rg

Chris01 · ** Joined: 13 Dec 2004 Posts: 108

Agree you a can go too far, some slack is required and its immediately obvious if you have overtightened it, the wheel doesn't try and self centre if you let it go. However if 30mm is the maximum Isuzu think is acceptable, which must be fairly bad, then the 50-60mm I have typicaly encountered on at least 3 troopers is certainly cause for concern, any trooper with over 60k miles can be this bad.

Philp · Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 16:28 Post subject:

rg that'd be useful, I've adjusted landrover boxes before so have an idea what I'm doing but the link would be useful.
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Phil

96 or is it a 98 Isuzu Bighorn Lotus

rg · **** Joined: 05 Jul 2003 Posts: 356

See

http://www.planetisuzoo.com/articles.htm/88

My fear is shearing off one of the shaft edges in trying to free off the lock nut. Maybe a touch of paint stripper might help to free it off. All kinds of releasing fluid did not affect mine.

Cheers

rg

frank sucevic · Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 19:12 Post subject:

bit of heat normaly does the trick a plummers blow torch for 1 minuet should do it wrap the surrounding area with bacco foil

Hard1 · Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 20:01 Post subject:

The link to adjusting recirculating ball steering is on Planet Isuzu I'll try and post the link directly here:

http://www.planetisuzuu.com/articles.htm.88
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1999 Cougar with a NICE motor..

Click HERE to see under my bonnet!

Hard1 · Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 20:03 Post subject:

*beep*! Spelt it wrong, sorry. Try this:

http://www.planetisuzoo.com/articles.htm.88
_________________
1999 Cougar with a NICE motor..

Click HERE to see under my bonnet!

Hard1 · Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 20:04 Post subject:

Nah, that didn't work either. Sorry. Search planetisuzoo.com for "Adjusting Recirculating Ball Steering" Embarassed

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1999 Cougar with a NICE motor..

Click HERE to see under my bonnet!

rg · **** Joined: 05 Jul 2003 Posts: 356

My link (above) seems to work ...

Smile

)

rg