Confused Newby

Hi everyone. I am in Co Antrim, N Ireland. I am fairly new to Land Rovers and I now have a situation which is confusing me.
The steering on my 1980 series 3 88" wanders a lot and I am trying to improve it. With the wife turning the steering wheel I felt a little roughness in one of the ball joints so I will replace this. But on another inspection I detected a fair bit of vertical movement on the lower steering arm which I am certain was not there before. However when I moved the landy to where I could get a better look the movement was gone and I can't reproduce it. I guess my question is:- how is this possible?

Well first of all welcome to landyzone regular discussion of fish and chips.

Worth popping up on the series section for better replies, as this is mainly for goofs.

Wheels off the ground and check for play in swivels and bearings. The check for play in track rod ends, then steering box and relay and tyres.
There is a high possibility that everything is worn out, remember a little bit of play in everything will amount to a lot of play in the steering wheel.
How far can you move the steering wheel before the wheels turn?

Anaconda said:

Wheels off the ground and check for play in swivels and bearings. The check for play in track rod ends, then steering box and relay and tyres.
There is a high possibility that everything is worn out, remember a little bit of play in everything will amount to a lot of play in the steering wheel.
How far can you move the steering wheel before the wheels turn?

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Thanks for your reply. Yes, I had checked it with the wheels on and off the ground as advised by other threads. I have adjusted the play in the steering wheel to the point where it requires a fair bit of strength to turn it. A quarter turn of the wheel now takes the wheels from moving one way to moving to the other. The ball joints all looked in good condition although one felt a bit rough in operation. Perhaps I need to change this one to start with. I just wondered if there was something I was missing.

rjcol said:

Thanks for your reply. Yes, I had checked it with the wheels on and off the ground as advised by other threads. I have adjusted the play in the steering wheel to the point where it requires a fair bit of strength to turn it. A quarter turn of the wheel now takes the wheels from moving one way to moving to the other. The ball joints all looked in good condition although one felt a bit rough in operation. Perhaps I need to change this one to start with. I just wondered if there was something I was missing.

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If you have adjusted the steering box so that the steering wheel is stiff to turn, you have adjusted it to much.
Iirc you loosen the locknut, then wind the screw in until it lightly touches, then a knatts cock (1/10th of a turn?) more and lock the nut up.

Is there oil in the steering box/swivels/relay? can you twist all of the ball joints by hand, ie are they seizing/seized?

rjcol said:

Hi everyone. I am in Co Antrim, N Ireland. I am fairly new to Land Rovers and I now have a situation which is confusing me.
The steering on my 1980 series 3 88" wanders a lot and I am trying to improve it. With the wife turning the steering wheel I felt a little roughness in one of the ball joints so I will replace this. But on another inspection I detected a fair bit of vertical movement on the lower steering arm which I am certain was not there before. However when I moved the landy to where I could get a better look the movement was gone and I can't reproduce it. I guess my question is:- how is this possible?

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When you say "lower steering arm", is that the bottom arm coming off the steering relay? If so, try giving it a couple of smacks with a hammer upwards, then tighten the nut and bolt that secure it.

A Series has 3 and a half turns lock to lock on the steering, and there should be quite a bit of play in the steering wheel as well.
It sounds like you have over adjusted the box, which will cause damage. Back it off, and adjust as described by @lynall .

Also go though, grease all ball joints, fill the box and relay with oil.
Check the ball joints using your fingers, with an assistant turning the wheel. Wheels on the ground.
Then jack up both front wheels, and turn the steering lock to lock. You should be able to turn it easily using one finger on the rim of the steering wheel.

How about the track rod ends on the rod from the box to relay? Bit awkward to get to.
Price up all the ball joints, I don't remember them being expensive. If it's a keeper you will have you do them sooner or later, might aswell do them all at the same time rather than a couple.
Need to set up the box correctly and check the relay first though.

Thanks everyone. |A lot of advice there so I will go through the checks methodically and see where I get to. I did refill the oil in the steering relay box as it was low and it improved things a bit. The main steering box itself was full of oil. As to the swivels, they have been dripping oil from the seals so I better look at them although I had understood they were replaced not that long ago. The landy has had a new chassis so I look on it as a keeper. I just need to get a shed built so I can get it in and give it the attention it needs. The recent weather here has not been on my side. I will start with readjusting the steering box as you have all convinced me this is necessary.

Keep us updated on how you get on.

Anaconda said:

Keep us updated on how you get on.

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Will do, thanks

Hello and welcome

brianp38dse said:

Hello and welcome

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Thanks

Hello from Colorado

Welcome, a big source of play can be The lever arm coming out of steering box and nipping up the big nut will help that , I’ve also had the 4 bolts holding box in place loose
this is best checked either holding it while someone turns steering wheel , wheels on ground or setting up video on phone camera and looking for relative movement

Thanks for that idea. The lever arm looks pretty tight but I hadn't thought of the other possibility you mentioned. I am currently working on the rear wheels as the hubs were dripping oil but I hope to return to the steering quite soon.
I have adjusted the steering box as advised by the others here and that has made the steering much more comfortable although there is still work to do there.

Keep up the good work, although it can seem never ending at times.

never a truer word said

rjcol said:

Hi everyone. I am in Co Antrim, N Ireland. I am fairly new to Land Rovers and I now have a situation which is confusing me.
The steering on my 1980 series 3 88" wanders a lot and I am trying to improve it. With the wife turning the steering wheel I felt a little roughness in one of the ball joints so I will replace this. But on another inspection I detected a fair bit of vertical movement on the lower steering arm which I am certain was not there before. However when I moved the landy to where I could get a better look the movement was gone and I can't reproduce it. I guess my question is:- how is this possible?

Click to expand...

Don't come on here boasting about your wife helping to check your ball joints, most of the men on here haven't had a woman near theirs in years