Erratic steering on P38

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rasheed said:
Frosty, if you happen to have your camera next time can you take a pic of the centralising marks or tell me how to find them? Need to do that myself in the next couple of days. Cheers!
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Have a look at RAVE technical bulletins steering box centralisation is covered in there under steering wander.
 
My version of Rave doesn't seem to have bulletins. There's a bit on steering centralisation in part 2 of the workshop manuals but the illustration's not great. Guess will just have to get under and have a look.
 
kooky_guy said:
Neither of my copies has the Technical Bulletins either.

Anyone know where I can find a version of Rave that does have them?
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The tech bulletins only cover models prior to VIN LH 647645 Adwest steering box using a special locator pin in bottom of box to lock drop arm. Later versions just have marks on box and steering coupling. Follow RAVE for later models.
 
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Yeah my copy of rave has a pretty rubbish drawing as well!

Rasheed, If you look down at the steering coloum as it enters the box you'll notice on the right hand side there as a small pertruding stud, maybe 3 to 4mm in size. there is a bar on the steering box also on the right that this lines up with that stud.

I just drove the car forward then adjust the front drag link till those little studs lined up and job done.

I'm away on a training course at the moment but I'll get a photo for you Rasheed when I get home.
 
kooky_guy said:
Ooh! Mine does this. I assumed that someone had just had the steering wheel off and apart and reassembled it incorrectly. Are you sure that's a sign that the steering box isn't centralised? Wouldn't your steering wheel be in an odd position?

Guy
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Forgot to say Kooky guy, once I centralised the box she stopped this so I would definatly say you need to centralise the steering. I'll get those pohots done when I get home to help folk out as said the RAVE diagram is a bit rubbish!

As for the seals, both are leaking now and I keep putting it off and topping up the diff but I have a secret weapon at work to remove the shaft nut... a 7ft long toque wrench nicknamed "The M*****f****r" :D

Failing that the hydraulic tightening equipment should be able to sort it out... I mean it'll loosen and tighten to over 5000Nm so that should have it sorted! :cool:
 
Going to have a look at my steering box alignment this weekend as it's pulling quite a bit to the left - so much so that I have to steer to the right to keep it straight - although not always, which is a bit weird... It 'might' be camber related, but it never used to do it. Usually it pulls to the left, but occasionally it will be fine for a couple of minutes.

The indicators also do what Frostycab's were doing - ie cancel straight away in one direction. But they've always done this so probably unrelated.

Trying to get my head round all this - will aligning the steering box screw up the tracking? I'm thinking not, looking at Rave.

I suspect it's out anyway - the last bunch off numpties spent 5 hours doing it and it made no difference whatsoever to the pulling to the left.

Can't help thinking something else is causing the pulling but I can't think what. The rear passenger side suspension feels 'soft' but I can't really put my finger on it but the suspension heights are all correct as far as I can tell.

Any thoughts of what else to check anyone? I'm somewhat baffled and I don't really want to have to pay someone to investigate if I can avoid it as this kind of investigation usually just turns into a licence to print money.
 
Steering box alignment is done by having the wheels straight ahead and adjusting the drag link until the marks line up. If that then means your steering wheel is not straight you will have to remove it and re position. Because splines will only let you move it in 5 degree increments it may not be possible to get it bob on. So you then take that out by slight
re-adjustment of drag link. It does not effect the tracking as track rod is not touched.
 
wammers said:
Steering box alignment is done by having the wheels straight ahead and adjusting the drag link until the marks line up. If that then means your steering wheel is not straight you will have to remove it and re position. Because splines will only let you move it in 5 degree increments it may not be possible to get it bob on. So you then take that out by slight
re-adjustment of drag link. It does not effect the tracking as track rod is not touched.
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Thanks Wammers. I actually understood that!

I'll have a go at the weekend and see if it fixes anything.
 
Hmmm, spigot rings...... They're a pain, my wheels are so tight on the hubs I really struggle to get them off, then the ring stays on the hub and what a right pain to get them off to change the discs.......
 
Alan C said:
Hmmm, spigot rings...... They're a pain, my wheels are so tight on the hubs I really struggle to get them off, then the ring stays on the hub and what a right pain to get them off to change the discs.......
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Copper grease and a wire brush is the answer for your next go.
 
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Mine used to wander a bit, adjusting the steering box transformed it. Still need to adjust the drag link coz my steering wheel is slightly ****ed going straight ahead.
 
My autobiography on 18" wheels was just like that on worn tyres. I was told just replace the tyres (anything black and round, 255/55-18, will do). I did-perfect. It seems that p38s are really sensitive to tread depth on 18" wheels, I'm told they are much better on 16's
 
Well I think I may have found a culprit, rangie failed its MOT on ball joints on passengers side. have been searching on here for a how too, think I have the gear to get the things out but not sure how to align the thing afterwards... not looking forward to this!
 
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