Question for the experts

[hayduke]

So i finally got off my island (ketchikan) to Prince of wales with a lot more road system, not to mention deer. Extensive logging roads all over this Island with caves and deer all around. My girlfriend and I camped for 5 days in the truck (98 tacoma trd limited stock) and had a great damp time of it suning . My question to the experts is this, my frount suspension/steering was making some almost jarring bumps that I could feel through the steering wheel as we hit potholes/ drove on remote logging roads. Is this normal? THe steering wheel wasn't really moving with the bumps but the jarring sensation was carried through it. The truck was pretty loaded and the rear was hitting the bump stops on the frame. It felt very simular to this but up frount. I am planning on some heavier suspension very soon but am saving my money as long as I continue to live in ketchikan and the 50 miles of roads that we have. Thanks for the inspiration on expedition trucks, I browse the new postings at work when we have down time. i love to see the progression of peoples trucks. thanks for the advice. Brett

 

[obscurotron]

Did it feel like the front suspension was bottoming out, or like the steering shaft was transmitting excessive road 'feel' back to the steering wheel?

The bottoming out could be bad struts/worn springs. The latter would be slop between the upper and lower steering shafts where they meet under the dash (slip-joint type assembly). Another possibility is the #2 steering ujoint at the firewall (inside the cab) if it felt like excessive road feel to the steering wheel.