Disco 2 Swivel ball joint help please

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Sukiemaxie

Member
Posts
56
Location
East sussex
Hello all,
Just some advice if possible please .
I’ve just had my front swivel ball joints changed and it’s much better now regarding no squeaking and feels a lot more positive.
However when driving along it doesn’t feel quite right , it feels like you have to steer it in a straight line all the time (if I’ve described that correctly) if you are turning for example even on a long slow curve when the road straightens back up the steering won’t go back to the centre by itself it wants to hold the turn it is on like it’s on auto pilot and is very different to how I’ve remembered it for the last 7 years ( actually feels like a completely different vehicle that is nowhere near as nice to drive anymore).
My questions are ;

1, is this normal when they have been changed & will it loosen up with use?
2, are they adjustable ( could they have been over tightened) ?
3, could they be faulty or inferior quality parts ?

As always you comments will be very much appreciated and many thanks in advance

cheers
 
Thats not normal for a D2,something has been installed incorrectly or they weren't good quality parts. I'm not aware of any adjustment on a D2 (there is on a D1 & Defender)
 
Thats not normal for a D2,something has been installed incorrectly or they weren't good quality parts. I'm not aware of any adjustment on a D2 (there is on a D1 & Defender)
Your correct :) only Defenders RRc and D1 have the pre-load done adjustment by shims.
D2s have a tension collet, number 12 in the attachment, which accommodates manufacturing tolerances when tightening.

To answer the OPs question for 2 & 3 who knows, but possibly, and 1, very doubtful if a LR genuine part.
 

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Your correct :) only Defenders RRc and D1 have the pre-load done adjustment by shims.
D2s have a tension collet, number 12 in the attachment, which accommodates manufacturing tolerances when tightening.

To answer the OPs question for 2 & 3 who knows, but possibly, and 1, very doubtful if a LR genuine part.

Ah....another of those modern 'improvements' :p
 
Many thanks for your replies.
Is there a torque figure for the nuts on the upper and lower joints ?

There will be but that wont cause the problem as that only attaches the pin of the ball joint it doesnt adjust the tension of the ball joint.
Id assume a ball joint is not fitted correctly or has been damaged during fitting.

Ive driven stuff with the problem you describe and new ball joints usually fix it not cause it.
 
Have the tracking checked. If it’s toeing out too much it’ll have somewhat unpredictable handling.
+1^
Provided they were fitted correctly, and it would be difficult to fit them incorrectly it is far more likely to be a tracking problem than anything else.
Don't forget all the steering ball-joints had to be separated and reconnected during this process.
Don't overthink this, take it one step at a time and get the tracking checked first. It is relatively cheap and straight forward, to coin a phrase!:)
 
Did you by any chance have any other work done, like replacing the steering damper? Because as a rule of thumb anything other than a genuine LR version won't or doesn't self-centre correctly IIRC.
Balljoint replacement alone won't and can't affect the self-centrering aspect of the steering.
 
What gives a car self-centering is the caster angle, but sure, a dodgy steering damper could jam up a bit and make this more difficult.
 
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