Symptoms
Steering play, a clunk through the wheel, or a split ball-joint boot. Mitsubishi Japan warns that on old, hard-used trucks with integral ball-nut steering, corrosion and wear can break the pitman-arm ball joint and cause loss of steering. Every second-generation chassis code, the V55W Evolution included, is on its list.
The fix, step by step
- Following Mitsubishi's notice: lift the truck and rock every steering rod and arm by hand, looking for play, loose mounts, bends or missing split pins.
- Check every dust boot.
- A cracked boot may have let in muddy water, so replace that ball joint complete.
- 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 relay rod (idler end first).
- Push the pitman-arm boot up, wipe off the grease and feel the stud where the boot lip runs.
- If you can feel a dent or a catch, replace the pitman arm.
- If it's smooth, grease the boot lip with molybdenum-disulfide chassis grease, refit the relay rod, torque the nuts to 44 N·m and pump grease in through the nipple.
- Mitsubishi recommends new boots every five years on trucks that go off-road often.
Tools & part numbers
- Jack and stands
- ball-joint separator or hammer
- torque wrench
- grease gun
- molybdenum-disulfide chassis grease.
Where to buy the parts
Hunting a used or discontinued part? Search eBay Motors for Mitsubishi Pajero / Montero (Second 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.