Can you adjust the 'play' in a 90 steering box?

.....the play in the box..yes.. is it adjustable?
I know this is possible in other, older vehicle steering boxes, just wondred if it was possible in a lr90?
If it is, is there some guff on it? or should i just Trawl throught the defender worshop manuals? i have downloaded them and they are on my harddrive, but i find it very hard, finding what i want. I prefer the old fascioned book
Or the lazy option of asking some wise old/young land rover bods

Steering Box adjustment
This is what RAVE says for a 300tdi ... .

1. Apply park brake brake, chock wheels and Jack
up front of vehicle until wheels are clear of
ground.
2. Support chassis front on axle stands.
3. Disconnect drag link from steering drop arm.
4. Check torque to turn See Fault diagnosis,
Stiff Steering Checklist.
5. Centralise steering box See Centralise
Steering Box.
NOTE: Only check for no backlash when
steering box is in central position.
NOTE: If steering wheel is not straight, it
should be repositioned See Repair,
Steering Wheel.
6. Adjustment is obtained by rocking the drop arm
about centre whilst an assistant slowly tightens
the steering box adjuster screw.
7. Tighten locknut when all backlash has been
removed.
8. Repeat the check for backlash. If backlash exists
loosen locknut and repeat adjustment
procedure.
9. Turn steering wheel lock to lock and check no
tightness exists.
10. Ensure front wheels are aligned and in straight
ahead position.
11. Adjust drag link 924 mm between ball joint
centres.
12. Connect drag link and tighten to 40 Nm (30
lbf/ft).
13. Lower vehicle to ground level and remove
chocks.
14. Road test vehicle
If so they want you to jack both front wheels off the deck, and waggle the steering arm under the box to see if there's any free play.

You get a mate to lie under the car and waggle the steering arm, while you working from the top undo the adjuster lock nut just a little, and very gently nip down the adjuster till your chum says there's no free play. Locknut now. You then turn the steering wheel gently and slowly to full lock one side, then all the way to the other side, and back to centre. If it feels good, that's the job done.
If it doesn't feel good you need to make little adjusts till it feels at least sort of OK, bearing in mind it's a LandRover after all.

You bored Trewy?

Cheers, i will give that a try.

Afternoon

Very helpful stuff, one questions (may be stupid so apologies if so) what is backlash, is this simply movment of the arm??

thought I would check before attempting.

Duncydoo said:

Afternoon

Very helpful stuff, one questions (may be stupid so apologies if so) what is backlash, is this simply movment of the arm??

thought I would check before attempting.

Click to expand...

yes - backlash is movement of the arm without corresponding movement of the steering wheel.
a tiny bit is good (better than trying to get none at all and over-tightening it).
over-tightening yer steering box will put you in the ditch, or worse still, into the path of oncoming traffic, so don't get carried away.

wicked, job sorted for the weekend then!! thanks.

Sorry to hijack this thread. I got a recon steering box 12 months ago and I have never been able to adjust all the backlash out. Its quite bad - maybe 6 to 8 inches of steering wheel travel. I have adjusted the 'adjusting nut' until it feels like its gone as far as it can. The play is definitely in the box. How much force should I apply to this adjusting screw and what else can I do?

PS i have slackened the locking nut right off before anyone asks

I have got an MOT in a week so not sure how slack thay are allowed to be - being a landrover an all that.

thanks in advance

jeremy

6 to 8 inches is a definite MOT fail - there's sommat seriously wrong.
The adjustment screw will be quite stiff to turn but it aint gonna correct that much play.
There's something else wrong.
Check that the drop-arm is tight, all the ball-joints are good, the steering column splines / bearings are OK, the swivel bearings and wheel bearings are OK etc etc.
If that's all OK, you've got a duff box.

Treworgey 90 said:

6 to 8 inches is a definite MOT fail - there's sommat seriously wrong.
The adjustment screw will be quite stiff to turn but it aint gonna correct that much play.
There's something else wrong.
Check that the drop-arm is tight, all the ball-joints are good, the steering column splines / bearings are OK, the swivel bearings and wheel bearings are OK etc etc.
If that's all OK, you've got a duff box.

Click to expand...

There is the adjustment on the end nut as well, wich may be worth a try (presume you have been tightening the top one)