110 TD5 steering play

So I’ve been gradually replacing all the worn parts on my TD5.
The steering wheel has always had a lot of free play (about 1/4 turn) and after a lot of faff I think I’ve found out why.
The new steering box drop arm moves with the wheel with very little free play. However, where it attaches to the drag link/damper bracket it seems to be moving within the hole in the bracket. As if the bolt is too narrow/hole is too large in diameter.
This seems to be where the wheel free play is coming from. Does anyone have any experience of this? Or know how to fix it?

The drop arm ball joint has a taper on the pin that connects it to the drag link, so maybe it's not done up tightly enough. Take it off and see what the hole diameter is compared with the pin going through. If the hole has worn into a slot then the only realistic option is a new part. Have a search for part number ANR2858

I had this issue at MOT this year, just had to tighten nut. But as above hole may have worn, or as joint look new it may have not been tightened enough in the first place.

Resurgam said:

The drop arm ball joint has a taper on the pin that connects it to the drag link, so maybe it's not done up tightly enough. Take it off and see what the hole diameter is compared with the pin going through. If the hole has worn into a slot then the only realistic option is a new part. Have a search for part number ANR2858

Click to expand...

Thank you very much. I’ll try tightening the nut tomorrow and see if it helps. I assume if that doesn’t stop the play then it’ll be obvious that the hole is worn?

tottot said:

I had this issue at MOT this year, just had to tighten nut. But as above hole may have worn, or as joint look new it may have not been tightened enough in the first place.

Click to expand...

Fingers crossed it’s the same for me!

Soundsfine said:

Thank you very much. I’ll try tightening the nut tomorrow and see if it helps. I assume if that doesn’t stop the play then it’ll be obvious that the hole is worn?

Click to expand...

If it comes out easily enough I'd check the hole to see that it's round before you tighten it. It should be fairly obvious if there's any sort of irregular shape. I suspect there is wear, or somehow the joint is the wrong one. In the photo the castellated nut doesn't look like it could be tightened much more before the split pin misses the nut.

Resurgam said:

If it comes out easily enough I'd check the hole to see that it's round before you tighten it. It should be fairly obvious if there's any sort of irregular shape. I suspect there is wear, or somehow the joint is the wrong one. In the photo the castellated nut doesn't look like it could be tightened much more before the split pin misses the nut.

Click to expand...

Here’s a video of that helps shed any further light on what it might be:

You've got two faults there, 1. the drop arm ball joint is not pressed home correctly in the drag link drop arm, and 2. the steering damper rusted bolt is either too lose/too small a diameter. Or, the drag link drop arm holes are worn and a new unit is needed.


Suggest you disassemble, clean and measure holes and the bolt first to ensure snug fitting. If all okay re-assemble. Re' the ball joint, re-fit and clamp the ball joint to the drag link drop arm with mole grips/g-clamp to ensure thread base is fully home and then tighten the castellation nut and insert spilt pin.

ps your inner chassis could do with a good jet wash to get rid of that accumulated crud and then treat with Dinitrol.

Resurgam said:

If it comes out easily enough I'd check the hole to see that it's round before you tighten it. It should be fairly obvious if there's any sort of irregular shape. I suspect there is wear, or somehow the joint is the wrong one. In the photo the castellated nut doesn't look like it could be tightened much more before the split pin misses the nut.

Click to expand...

The castellated nut looks like a half-nut. Wonder if it's been incorrectly supplied?