Monthly So Cal Off-Road Run

crap I just remembered I have an indoor skydiving thing with my dad on the 25th...I can do the 24th or the weekend after Labor Day weekend in Sept.

 

Where is this run? I might be interested too

 

Let me know too, usually have Sunday’s off so probably can make it

 

i want in! i need to test out my new camera mount...

 

I'd like to join in September date.

 

Hey guys, quick question. First of all, I’ve yet to really do any major maintenance to my truck since everything has worked great until about now, I think. I’ve recently gotten this creaking sound when I turn the steering wheel to the right, but only when stopped. I’ve looked it up and it lists a couple of things, so my question is what should I look for to see what may be the problem?

 

A 'creak' to me is pretty specific to bad bushings at least in my experience. My lower control arm bushings creak pretty bad on dips like old barn doors or something. Maybe those or your UCA bushings?

edit - I missed the part where you said it only happens when you're stopped. Is it coming from the steering pump or rack? Might be time to change the PS fluid

If it doesn't sound like a power steering whine then I'd jack the front end up and see if you can recreate it by moving things...check for tie rod play, see if you can isolate the sound to one of your bushings, etc.

 

Yeah, i read up on it maybe being the power steering fluid, so maybe I can start there. I just wanted to see if there was anything else it could possibly be. Thanks man

 

yeah it's likely the power steering if it's more of a whine kind of like a ghost going "wooOOOOOoooo" haha

Mine was doing that awhile back and changing out the PS fluid made it go away. When it gets old and worn it makes the pump noisy

Flushing it is the best way to get it all out and replaced with new but the procedure is more complicated. I just bought a bunch of new PS fluid and did the turkey baster method...pull some old fluid out, pour some new fluid in, turn the steering wheel a few times, repeat 10 or 12 times until most of the fluid is replaced with new.

 

Gotcha, I’ll go ahead and try that then and hopefully that works.

 

Huh I’ll have to try that, the silver truck’s pump is making a bunch of noise when at parking lot speeds. Although it might need replacing all together since the power also fades when at low speed.... ehhh

 

With the miles it has I would replace that PS fluid first, I bet that'll help. Who knows if it's been done before, and if that's original fluid or really old fluid it will definitely make the power steering noisy AF

 

Cleaning the screen in the reservoir will eliminate the whining. It gets clogged and makes the pump work harder. Replace the fluid after you clean the screen.

 

Yeah I probably need to do mine again now that we're talking about it, been a couple years and it makes that ghost 'woooo' sound in the AM when cold/turning sharp

 

Probably, everything else on that truck was original. Thanks

Thanks, I need to remove and take apart the reservoir to pop that screen out right?

 

Alright I'll make a list for the 2wd friendly route potentially August 25th.

And I copy @eon_blue you're busy that Sunday funday with pops. That sounds amazing by the way.

List so far is:

Sunday August 25th

@Norsemanvike
@Trah
@eon_blue
@Nicklovin
@bprout

Disclaimer: I'm a weirdo and I usually stay away from big group runs (like instagram/facebook groups) so I'll try keep it to just you folks and some buddies of mine. I'm also a FNG at 4x4. I just crawl around trails and try to take safe lines....so please dont use me as a guide. It sounds like @eon_blue is the most trail rated person in this group and he's not coming. That being said, if yall are looking for a fun time of exploring pilot rocks easier routes and just figuring shit out let's roll!

I'm up in the bay area right now but when I return monday I'll message you guys to get some logistics down.


**if anyone of you guys on the list know pilot rock like the back of your hand I'm gonna tag you in at the meet up. I just know the LEFT harder route....until it leads to fire trails and beers in arrowhead.

 

You need to to remove the reservoir. There's an o-ring where it seats into the pump that you'll probably need to replace as well. You don't pop the screen out. If you try you'll put a hole in it. Just get the reservoir out and spray the screen from the backside with brake cleaner.

 

Wish I could make it but yeah got plans with my pops that day. If you stick to the main road you won't have any trouble. Bout halfway through you start coming up on a lot of offshoots that have some more challenging parts if anyone wants to give them a go...all the offshoots eventually wrap around back to the main road.

If just sticking to the main fire road you can take Pilot Rock from the staging area to the bottom of Lake Arrowhead mountain (not sure exactly what it's called) in about an hour and a half, less if you aren't stopping for anything. You get to a point where you go right to take the fire roads up into Lake Arrowhead (also 2wd friendly if it's dry) or go left and you'll eventually get to the highway, which also goes up into Lake Arrowhead.

 

My photography assignment for church in Carlsbad is done at 11am. I can meet at about 12 noon"ish." What time were you planning on getting started?

 

Possibly count me in too. A meet got cancelled, and want to go wheeling before the summer is out.