Steering box

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Teo-boy

New Member
Posts
9
Location
Scotland
Hi just put a 300tdi engine in my 1988 2.5td 90 to a but the steering is scary at over 60mph would a recon steering box and poly bushes make a big difference as I think the existing one is probably the original I have already replaced the steering damper which had definitely helped at lower speeds thank in advance
 
Depends. Did you have steering issues before the Tdi?

You'd need to look and see what appears to be wrong/worn/broken. Obviously replacing everything will have a good chance of fixing the problem. But a bit of diagnosis is never a bad thing either.
 
Depends. Did you have steering issues before the Tdi?

You'd need to look and see what appears to be wrong/worn/broken. Obviously replacing everything will have a good chance of fixing the problem. But a bit of diagnosis is never a bad thing either.
Depends. Did you have steering issues before the Tdi?

You'd need to look and see what appears to be wrong/worn/broken. Obviously replacing everything will have a good chance of fixing the problem. But a bit of diagnosis is never a bad thing either.
It was never great but I think with the extra power now it just seems worse pretty new to defenders only having discos before so nothing to compare it to
 
What age Disco? If a Disco 1 they use almost the same same steering. The D2 isn't all that different either.

Lots of things to check, first place would be to get some one to rock the steering wheel back and forth (engine of and key in the ignition to remove the steering lock). You'll probably be able to hear something clonking, while some moves the steering wheel back and forth (fairly vigorously), crawl under and see if you can where the noise is coming from. You may have worn balljoints/track rod ends. Ot you might be able to see/hear movement in the drop link from the steering box. You can also see the box from the top if you open the bonnet.

Other areas to check are the radius arm to chassis bushes and radius arm to axle bushes. As well as the wheel bearing and ensure the hubs/swivels are properly affixed to the axle tube (they can work loose on occasion).
 
Disco 2 td5, will check that stuff. first ball joints look new and track rod ends look OK tracking just done just seems to be a lot of time / play between imput and any thing happening the steering box is wet as some of the seals are weeping
 
On mine the biggest improvement to steering feel on the motorway comes about when I replace the steering swivel bearings. When they're old, you get a sort of loose floaty feeling at speed which is quite unnerving. They don't necessarily feel loose when you attempt to wobble the road wheels, but over a period of time the rollers tend to indent the races where they sit in the straight ahead position. There's a picture of mine when I did them last autumn here Brakes and bearings, and prior to that I replaced them at the end of 2014 too.

As a basic service check, I jack the vehicle up and attempt to wobble the wheels. If there's any slack it could be wheel bearings or steering swivels, which is worth knowing about and correcting as soon as it appears, to keep the handling safe and tight. I last changed the bushes and ball joints several years ago and they appear to be lasting pretty well. But it's certainly worth giving them a vigorous shake from time to time to see if any slack has appeared.
 
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