IFS woes..

[sloman]

I did a short run on a local trail last weekend and after trying some fairly technical lines (well...for a stock ifs rig on 31's anyway) I starting to hear a light clunking up front that got progressively worse as I continued up the trail. I stopped and noticed the idler arm was bent. I could still turn both directions but the idler hit the frame and slide under on left hand turns. The other, more complex problem (for me anyway) was when the hubs are locked and I turn hard left or right I couldn't move. It felt as if the front brakes were locked up. With hubs unlocked I could turn fine. I had to straighten the wheel and give it some gas to move. When I hit the gas there was loud clunk then it was free. I have never broken anything besides steering crap so I don't have much experience troubleshooting front drivetrain annoyances... Drives fine in 2wd. Thoughts?

One more thing... while moving slowly in 4wd and turning towards extreme left or right the drivetrain makes a knocking noise and shakes (more of a pulsing action) the tranny & tcase. Only does this when turning hard left/right..

[primergray]

The clunking sound maybe coming fron the steering stops when turned full left or right. When the plastic cover wears out, it's metal on metal. A little grease will take care of that.

[primergray]

Please post what year and make!

[sloman]

87 4runner, completely stock except for tires which are only 31x10.50. I will be replacing the idler arm this weekend, but as for the wheels locking up I would think it either has to be CV or Hub related. AS I said before I have never broke cv's or hubs before so I don't know what it feels like. I'll check steering stops as you suggested.

[Terry4X4]

You can do a quick visual to see if any boots are torn. Usually when a CV breaks it rips the boot too. Since the vibration was worse in tight turns I wonder if the bent idler arm was causing some binding in 4WD.

If the problem is not obvious, replace the bent idler arm then on a solid flat surface put your truck on jackstands just high enough that all 4 tires are off the ground. Carefully put it in 4Lo in low gear and have a buddy turn your steering wheel lock to lock while you look for any binding/vibration. (Your buddy should sit in the driver's seat so he can stop the truck should the truck shift on the jack stands. And don't stand in front, observe from the sides or from behind the front tires.)

Good luck.

[welndmn]

In 4x4 on a hard surface like the street, the truck will try and climb over itself when turning. Could this be the jerking you are talking about?

[sloman]

Yes I know what your talking about and it is a lot like that only it clunks loudly like something is broken or misaligned. As I turn the wheel the clunking gets louder and the front wheels beging to lock up. the lockup is progressive, I start to feel it at about 3/4 of a turn on the steering wheel and then the more I turn the more it locks up..

[primergray]

It really sounds like it is still in 4 wheel drive even though you have shifted out and unlocked the hubs.

After you replace the Idler Arm try the following:

Jack up the front end, put the tranny into 1st gear. Can you rotate the front driveshaft freely?

Try to spin each tire and see if the binding is there while some one turns the steering wheel.

[TheBandit]

Where are you in SLO? I am also in SLO. IFS typically breaks either CVs or the inner stub axle (passenger side is most frequent). Neither are hard to figure out. The damage ($$$) depends on where they broke and if they caused breakage of anything else. Chunks of inner axle is not good for the diffy.

Also, where did you go wheeling? Pozo or somethin'? Shoot me a PM and maybe we can hook up during the week to see what's broken.

[sloman]

Where are you in SLO? I am also in SLO. IFS typically breaks either CVs or the inner stub axle (passenger side is most frequent). Neither are hard to figure out. The damage ($$$) depends on where they broke and if they caused breakage of anything else. Chunks of inner axle is not good for the diffy.

Also, where did you go wheeling? Pozo or somethin'? Shoot me a PM and maybe we can hook up during the week to see what's broken.

I'm actually in paso now. I was on Garcia ridge (pozo) when this happened. http://realcruiser.com/garcia04/ here are some pics of garcia ridge for those who care. Wouldn't be much fun for built rigs but it has some challenging lines for stock ifs junk like mine.. Plus its fairly close to my house..

didn't have time to do anything with the runner this weekend. I am at a bit of a crossroads though. I have a SFA in my garage and I am thinking this may be a good time to go forward with the swap. But, if I can fix this cheaply then I will and wheel it until it breaks again I guess..

[TheBandit]

I'm actually in paso now. I was on Garcia ridge (pozo) when this happened. http://realcruiser.com/garcia04/ here are some pics of garcia ridge for those who care. Wouldn't be much fun for built rigs but it has some challenging lines for stock ifs junk like mine.. Plus its fairly close to my house..

didn't have time to do anything with the runner this weekend. I am at a bit of a crossroads though. I have a SFA in my garage and I am thinking this may be a good time to go forward with the swap. But, if I can fix this cheaply then I will and wheel it until it breaks again I guess..

I think that might be the same place I was at. I'm not sure. It probably has changed a little since the last rains.

I would see what's wrong with the IFS before jumping into a SAS. That's an expensive way of fixing things! There's a good chance your problem is a broken CV or stubshaft, neither of which are incredibly expensive to replace. Lots of people doing SASs have these parts for sale for cheap.

What's the status on the SFA in your garage? Did you rebuild, gear, or lock it? Or is it a junkyard piece?

[dyizhere]

The spider gears may be going and the teeth may be getting bound up in there. HTH

[jde224]

If the idler arm is bent it can effect the toe in or out on turns, onver stressing your cv's. I'd fix what you know is screwed first and try it.