Should my front axle have any lateral movement?

I took my land rover (S2) in for a pre MOT having replaced the front swivels etc. and all the tie rods and ends, so all is pretty much back to new. I still have wandering steering on some road surfaces but I noticed that the front axel moved slightly from side to side ( about 1") when the steering was checked on the ramp. As far I can see this can only be down to the bushes in the parabolic springs. The garage did not see this a concern and said it all check out. But is this the source of my wandering steering. Can anyone shed any light on this please.

I run standard springs and bushes and the axle is rock solid from side to side. How much free play do you have at the steering wheel rim?

Check the big U bolts holding axle to springs are tight.
When you changed the swivels did you set the preload ?

Check your steering relay has oil in it.

Hi, So steering wheel only about 1" play, and all supports checked, swivel set to 12lbs, the Ubolts have double nuts to stop movement. Basically all the obvious things sorted, however if as rob1miles says, his standard springs are rock solid on lateral moment it looks like the parabolic and spring hanger bushes are probably the problem area. To me this makes sense because a floating front beam axel is surly going to screw up the steering and I notice it only gets bad on uneven and cambered road surfaces. On a flattish duel carriageway it behaves itself and all is good.
So next question please, how do I definitively check the bushes, it it a case of put a prybar in and see if things move?

Just to add the steering relay was check and is only resitting to about 8lbs and not the recommended minimum of 12lbs. which is why I set the swivels to to the top end to compensate as I am looking for a decent replacement or rebuild.

1" is fine, and judging by my relay the preload is not too critical. My wanders as all Series do but not badly. I agree, my suspicion is on springs and bushes. mine is a LWB with HD springs so its rock solid anyway, but there is no lateral movement. My bushes (metalastic) are all quite new, but when they were badly worn the lateral movement was still small, they just clonked from side to side about 1/8". It didn't affect the straight line feel, it was shift over when you went from left to right and back.

bultacobob said:

. I still have wandering steering on some road surfaces but I noticed that the front axel moved slightly from side to side ( about 1") when the steering was checked on the ramp.

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To clarify Was wheels on car ramps when you turned steering wheel or was chassis supported by stands with wheels hanging and was movement in line with axle or forwards and backwards
To check bushes prob best to unbolt and drop from shackles which obscure view

As you have parabolics, do you have shocks to match?

The car was unsupported with the wheels siting on the moving plates. the lateral movement is also noticeable if the steering is turned from side to side when on the road. The parabolic has a rear shock at the front to take the additional movement, I have replaced these with like for like. It just does not sound right even typing this out, I am hoping it worn bushes. The road camber does also seem to play a part but the axel alignment defiantly has movement, which is surly a bad thing. Or is this a parabolic anomaly?

bultacobob said:

The car was unsupported with the wheels siting on the moving plates. the lateral movement is also noticeable if the steering is turned from side to side when on the road. The parabolic has a rear shock at the front to take the additional movement, I have replaced these with like for like. It just does not sound right even typing this out, I am hoping it worn bushes. The road camber does also seem to play a part but the axel alignment defiantly has movement, which is surly a bad thing. Or is this a parabolic anomaly?

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When under a truck doig a shake and brake test, I notice the body/axle will shift sideways as the steeirng is shaken, maybe an inch total, but this is on a truck not a car.

Camber seems to play havoc with all land rovers old and new, especially if the road surface is a bit beaten up.

My landrover has no wander at all but that is after putting allsorts right. When I firts bought it my son borrowed it to go tow a boat home for a pal came back ashen and has never asked to borrow it again he was so terrified.with the poly bush compression. have your polybushes got the large steel washers fitted on rear of front spring hangers?[see attached pdf]
I have parabolics with Orange grade poly bushes and the whole axle is probably able to move a bit
Steering relay acts as a damper and if that damper is loose it will add to any other issues you have.
I fitted a heavy duty retaining plate to bottom of steering relay to stop it flexing at that point.
Have you checked steering column is tightly clamped at bulkhead footwell and chassis brackets tiny bits of movement all added up.

Thanks for the insight and pdf. Camber and a rough surface is exactly the conditions that trigger it off but it is borderline deadly at 40mph.
Mine is not on poly bushes as far as I can tell. I have wondered what stops the bushes moving on the springs as there is a gap either side, I assumed it was the fit within the spring that held it in place.
I have tightened all the bolts for the steering to the bulk head and this improved things. there is though a small amount of movement / flex within the main support ( about2mm). I have noticed a slight moment at the bottom of the relay and will fit a heavy duty retaining plate although I haven been able to track one down as yet. Thanks for all the good advice, hints and tips, I am working my way through all of them.

If you haven't alreay check the steering box bolts, mines felt tight but were thread bound and letting the box move.

bultacobob said:

I took my land rover (S2) in for a pre MOT having replaced the front swivels etc. and all the tie rods and ends, so all is pretty much back to new. I still have wandering steering on some road surfaces but I noticed that the front axel moved slightly from side to side ( about 1") when the steering was checked on the ramp. As far I can see this can only be down to the bushes in the parabolic springs. The garage did not see this a concern and said it all check out. But is this the source of my wandering steering. Can anyone shed any light on this please.

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Did you check and set the toe in of the front wheels after changing the track rod ends?

Keith Gott are selling a heavy duty plate but state it is only for newer type relays.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DDE-Stee...790568?hash=item3b53c99628:g:jCQAAOSwbs5f2IAT
Charlie ecu on ebay has one also.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Precisio...218063&hash=item41eca8d1e0:g:UowAAOSw7SZea26E
Get some one to gently rock the steering while you view the under side of relay to see if any movement at that point in the chassis if it has been there a long time may be solid , gives you a chance to look for movement on splined shaft to arm joints as well.

Will double check the steering bolts again as I can still see a slight movement. Toe in was done after the track rod change, I used the string line method which is surprisingly accurate. It also highlighted the axel shift when I rechecked a week latter an the axel was sitting 1/2 in out to the offside. I will also check the the relay as it seemed a little off in regards movement. I know that all these small things add up, but at this time I feel the axel movement trumps all else in the steering / wandering problems.

Have you checked all the shaclke bolts are tight front is just a through bolt. rear of front spring need to slacken lock nuts then tighten bolt.
Post a photo of spring hangers front an rear of front springs showing the spring and chassis bush areas.
In post 13 you state there is a gap either side should be no gap between suspension bush and brackets.The bush in the spring should be tight in the spring eye ie a press fit and should not allow the spring to slide about on its bush.

Have you checked the swivel preload, and how much play there is on the swivel bearings?

Blackburn said:

have your polybushes got the large steel washers fitted on rear of front spring hangers?[see attached pdf]
I have parabolics with Orange grade poly bushes and the whole axle is probably able to move a bit

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Thank you!
I've fitted poly bushes on my rebuild, but I hadn't seen anything about needing washers. I've had a look at this, and I can see it would indeed be possible for the bush to ride over the spacer on the shackle. So set of washers ordered from ebay, to be fitted before I take to the road.
Thanks for fixing a problem I'd not recognised yet!