Symptoms
Wander, play at the wheel, or split ball-joint boots. Mitsubishi Japan's notice lists every first-generation code (L041G–L149G). It warns that on old, hard-used trucks with integral ball-nut steering, a corroded pitman-arm ball joint can break and cause loss of steering.
The fix, step by step
- Lift the truck and rock each steering rod and arm by hand.
- Look for play, loose mounts, bends and missing split pins.
- Replace any ball joint whose boot is cracked, because water has probably got in.
- To check the pitman joint, loosen the relay-rod nuts at the pitman and idler arms but leave them on, break the tapers, then remove the nuts and the rod (idler end first).
- Push the boot up, wipe off the grease and feel the stud where the boot lip runs.
- A dent or catch means a new pitman arm.
- If it's smooth, grease the boot lip with molybdenum-disulfide chassis grease, refit, torque the nuts to 44 N·m and grease through the nipple.
- Mitsubishi recommends new boots every five years on trucks used off-road.
Tools & part numbers
- Jack and stands
- ball-joint separator
- torque wrench
- grease gun
- molybdenum-disulfide chassis grease.
Where to buy the parts
Steering parts, 1989 Montero 2.6RockAuto ↗Amazon ↗
Steering parts, 1989 Montero 3.0 V6RockAuto ↗Amazon ↗
Parts catalog, 1988 Dodge Raider 2.6RockAuto ↗
Hunting a used or discontinued part? Search eBay Motors for Mitsubishi Pajero / Montero (First Generation) parts →
Rated for a competent home mechanic with a decent tool kit. Confirm torque figures, fluids and procedures against the factory service manual for your VIN, support the truck on stands rather than a jack, and work at your own risk (disclaimer). Some parts links are affiliate links, which pay us a small commission at no cost to you.