P38 or if possible rack and pinion steering?

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R

Roccorat

Member
Posts
14
Location
Benfleet
Hi, the steering on my 90 defender is at best scary it is almost as if it has a satellite delay and has a lot of play and makes a squeal on both full lpcks so i think time for a change??
How easy is it to fit a p38 box and is it that much hetter than the original one?
Also can rack and pinion steering be fitted???
Ta
Lee
 
First thing,the fact that your truck has the steering wander may well have nothing to do with the steering box. All items such as track rod ends,suspension bush's, swivel housing bearing's and pre load have to be right. If there is play in just the steering box when the wheels are straight ahead then there may be a problem here. It is possible to adjust and take out the play but the job while simple has to be done right.
The fact that you do not know that you should not hold any power steering on full lock shows limited knowlage. When you reach that point just back of a bit.
It is not unknown for the steering arm on the box to come loose so worth a check. Best way is for one person to waggle the steering wheel while another looks at all joints in turn.
A rack would be totaly unsutable for a Defender.
 
tottot said:
First thing,the fact that your truck has the steering wander may well have nothing to do with the steering box. All items such as track rod ends,suspension bush's, swivel housing bearing's and pre load have to be right. If there is play in just the steering box when the wheels are straight ahead then there may be a problem here. It is possible to adjust and take out the play but the job while simple has to be done right.
The fact that you do not know that you should not hold any power steering on full lock shows limited knowlage. When you reach that point just back of a bit.
It is not unknown for the steering arm on the box to come loose so worth a check. Best way is for one person to waggle the steering wheel while another looks at all joints in turn.
A rack would be totaly unsutable for a Defender.
Click to expand...
tottot said:
First thing,the fact that your truck has the steering wander may well have nothing to do with the steering box. All items such as track rod ends,suspension bush's, swivel housing bearing's and pre load have to be right. If there is play in just the steering box when the wheels are straight ahead then there may be a problem here. It is possible to adjust and take out the play but the job while simple has to be done right.
The fact that you do not know that you should not hold any power steering on full lock shows limited knowlage. When you reach that point just back of a bit.
It is not unknown for the steering arm on the box to come loose so worth a check. Best way is for one person to waggle the steering wheel while another looks at all joints in turn.
A rack would be totaly unsutable for a Defender.
Click to expand...
Hi, thanks for the reply. I am aware that rhe steering should not be held at full lock just noticed this noise and as the steering is so wayward anyway thought it may be an indicator of why the steering is so bad!
All track rod ends are solid as are the new ball joints, bearings and suspension. The preload was set as advised to 4kg and new pitman arm fitted.
The steering box does weep but from what i hear this is normal for them?
Just wanted more feeling and solid steering hence the ask about the conversion.
 
With your wheels straight ahead [engine off] how much can you turn your steering wheel ? They can weep but one in good nick won't. A problem that comes with age is wear the output shaft and bearing.To look for this again someone on the steering wheel and look for any side to movement in the output shaft as the steering arm tries to move the steering rod.
 
To test for wear in the box put it centre, engine off, wiggle the steering wheel, do the same on full lock. Full lock will have more play but it will give you an indication.

What tyres do you have, wheels, suspension, is it all standard? What about the rear? Any play in wheel bearings or Railko bush?

Has it been set up correctly? Its not just a matter of bolting stuff together, setting up a Defenders steering has a process that you must follow.

And usually always overlooked, steering column UJ's, they do go pear shaped and give bad steering wander.
 
For more feeling and solid sense you may need to replace the steering damper. Assuming everything else is good condition this made a huge difference to my strrring feel. But if there is another underplaying problem it will not help.
 
What everyone else has said but also, if your drive belt to the power steering pump is even slightly too slack it will squeal on full lock, easy enough to adjust (just can't be arsed to do mine at the moment - "Buttercup" is taking up most of my spare time.)
 
"The steering box does weep but from what i hear this is normal for them?"

Not true at all. ;)
That is the sort of comment made by people who can't be bothered to carry out maintenance or repairs, any Defender can be made to steer straight & true while remaining perfectly oil-tight.

As already stated in previous posts, there are lots of places where wear can occur and if it has happened to more than one then the effect will be magnified, the knack is to identify those places and adjust and/or replace. When working correctly the vehicle should go only where you point it and there should be no need for constant corrections to the wheel.
It can happen, it is just that too many people put up with shoddy handling and explain it away by saying "well it is a Land Rover after all!". :mad:
 
Litch said:
"The steering box does weep but from what i hear this is normal for them?"

Not true at all. ;)
That is the sort of comment made by people who can't be bothered to carry out maintenance or repairs, any Defender can be made to steer straight & true while remaining perfectly oil-tight.

As already stated in previous posts, there are lots of places where wear can occur and if it has happened to more than one then the effect will be magnified, the knack is to identify those places and adjust and/or replace. When working correctly the vehicle should go only where you point it and there should be no need for constant corrections to the wheel.
It can happen, it is just that too many people put up with shoddy handling and explain it away by saying "well it is a Land Rover after all!". :mad:
Click to expand...
 
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