Return to Centre damper my experience

Has anyone experienced the same feel to the otherwise precise steering as I have when?
My Defender 110 TD5 CSW handled just as I would expect this being my first defender, no previous experience to draw from.
My steering damper looked like it had seen better days so I looked at feedback from others on this site to see what effect the Terrafirma return to centre steering damper has, good or bad and from what I read it appeared to be a benefit so purchased one and fitted it. Taking time to set the position of the spring and clamp to ensure it did not have any bias to one side or the other. The one I removed was very rusty probably the original and I believed the RTC damper would be an aid to the handling particularly when moving slowly.
What I found was, on first drive I did notice more effort was required to turn the steering only a little more but none the less it was ore effort required. OK I can live with that, how is it in general?
Did it aid the return to centre for the steering? No, not fully returning to centre from either direction.
So driving around side streets, parking in the road and car parks generally driving at 30 and 40 MPH no real difference except the extra effort required to turn the steering wheel. For a couple of weeks my driving conditions did not change mainly reasonable roads with the standard issue potholes on 30 and 40 MPH limit roads. I did in that time change all five tyres to new and that of a different manufacturer that are standard size tyres 750 X 16 Avon Rangemasters from Michelin 750 X 16 XCT. Directly after the change and continuing on the feel of the steering was just the same as when I fitted the RTC damper.
Now on a longer journey where I will be covering roads which have higher speed limits of 60 to 70 MPH, this where I noticed the difference. It was a little un-nerving the first time but I was traveling at around 60 MPH two people and the vehicle not loaded (I was going to pick something up), the road has a number of sweeping bends left, right left no need to slow down good view dry road some undulation in the road. I had every confidence in the Defender having travelled this road previously many times. It was on the change from the first left to right I thought the steering had failed just no feeling at all nothing, I had put some input into the wheel but at the neutral point where the wheels are straight ahead it felt so light again my thoughts were that I had no steering but turning the steering wheel it did turn. OK panic over but then it happened again on the next right just the same feeling. I stopped looked at all the steering components checking and double checking but all was OK, continued the journey.
Whilst driving I am thinking what has caused this feeling and trying to recreate it at differing speeds but it was really only at the higher speeds when I would notice it. I came to the conclusion that the RTC damper could be the cause because the spring would be in the neutral position when the wheels are in the straight ahead position so the added effort required to turn the steering wheel either left or right would not be required giving this feeling.
Over the next couple of days I drove with the RTC damper, original damper and the RTC damper with spring removed and each time the RTC damper with spring was fitted it gave leave to the no steering feel. The setup I now have is the RTC damper with the spring aid removed I am more than happy with the handling and the precise surefooted feeling when I first purchased it.

Interesting to see what feed back you get off this
asa im will be ordering one soon
Well as soon as i start the rebuild that is

If your tracking is properly set up the wheels will naturally return to centre.

The steering damper is there to prevent sudden throws of the steering wheel when on rough terrain, although it does prevent too rapid a return to centre on normal roads.

Why anyone would want an RTC spring-loaded damper is beyond me!!

Oldseadog said:

If your tracking is properly set up the wheels will naturally return to centre.

The steering damper is there to prevent sudden throws of the steering wheel when on rough terrain, although it does prevent too rapid a return to centre on normal roads.

Why anyone would want an RTC spring-loaded damper is beyond me!!

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Having fitted a spring loaded RTC damper and used it, I totally agree with your comments.
In standard trim the steering will slowly return to centre it is not like my Jaguar steering the Defender requires more input from the driver. The geometry of the steering and suspension plays an important role to achieve this.
I have learned from my experience that Land Rover got it correct, the set up as standard is all that I need. I guess others will be using their Defender differently to me and find some benefit from a spring loaded RTC damper or maybe not.

I haven't had a damper fitted to mine for months and either the last one was goosed or I can't tell any difference

Interesting posts as I was going to get a RTC damper at some point this summer. What are other peoples thoughts on them?

I was always under the impression RTC dampers with "normal sized" tyres made it worse, and setup properly it would self centre anyway.
RTC dampers were to offset the extra resistance to self centre form large/wide tyres.

So what is the size that a RTC is recommended? Got 265s on mine and the steering pump groans like a good un'!

Unless you have big, wide knobblies, don't waste your money on something that you will probably never use, and will make road driving and turning much more difficult!

Just my opinion

james6546 said:

So what is the size that a RTC is recommended? Got 265s on mine and the steering pump groans like a good un'!

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my pump groans, and its on 235s... lol

anyway, it'd be the point where you physically have to put the vehicle back in a straight line all the time.

Is it just better to replace with the standard damper

greyhair said:

Is it just better to replace with the standard damper

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The setup I have which is the same as it left the factory (2001 TD5 110 CSW) even the tyres are as specified in the build spec a return to centre spring assisted damper was not only a waste of money but detrimental to the handling. Much better with just a damper, I have not tried it without any damping as one suggested.

I've got a rtc damper. Steering lightly heavier. At slow speeds it does assist it to return, the rest of the time it doesn't seem to make any difference.

I personally wouldn't buy one (was fitted when I bought it).

I'd go for a quality part .... Ome perhaps?

I personally will go for a genuine land rover one on mine soon as I agree with all negative comments about these dampers , the thinking behind it is wrong ( oh hang on what thinking? )

terrafirma stuff is utter ****e from past experiance

yellow90 said:

I personally will go for a genuine land rover one on mine soon as I agree with all negative comments about these dampers , the thinking behind it is wrong ( oh hang on what thinking? )

terrafirma stuff is utter ****e from past experiance

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I am agreeing with you that the thinking behind the spring assisted RTC damper is wrong, it will give little to no advantage from the stored energy in the spring. The energy in the spring is a product of the additional energy used when turning the steering wheel from the central position, the energy is released when turning back to the central position. The steering geometry is such that the spring will have little leverage from the wheels fulcrum point to the fixing point of the damper.

Tim4x4 said:

I am agreeing with you that the thinking behind the spring assisted RTC damper is wrong, it will give little to no advantage from the stored energy in the spring. The energy in the spring is a product of the additional energy used when turning the steering wheel from the central position, the energy is released when turning back to the central position. The steering geometry is such that the spring will have little leverage from the wheels fulcrum point to the fixing point of the damper.

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or to put it bluntly , its ****e

agreed though as you said the energy has to come from somewhere to begin with , they are just not a good idea

standard dampers are best ,but you do need to ensure swivels are good joints are good, tracking is correct and steering box is central when road wheels are

jamesmartin said:

standard dampers are best ,but you do need to ensure swivels are good joints are good, tracking is correct and steering box is central when road wheels are

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James your statement just about sums it up perfectly, keep your Defender a standard setup, in good order it will work precisely as designed, all parts will work in harmony and above all it will be safe.

Tim4x4 said:

James your statement just about sums it up perfectly, keep your Defender a standard setup, in good order it will work precisely as designed, all parts will work in harmony and above all it will be safe.

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:tea:

I've just put one of these things on and tomorrow the spring will be coming off! The spring collar dosn't clamp to the dampener body so after a short drive the collar has removed all the paint from the dampener as it moved itself up the shaft with the movement of the steering! Utter garbage!