Steering as vague as an ocean liner

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farmershort

farmershort

Well-Known Member
Posts
1,067
Location
West Berkshire
Hi All,

Last fault question for the day - I promise :)

So, since I bought her a few weeks ago, I've been convinced that the steering is a lot lot more vague in this '95 110, than it was in my old '92 110.

The only 'real' difference, apart from engine, etc, is that this current one has had a slight suspension lift.

So, what are the common things to check for with steering play? Excessing play was an advisory on the last MOT, but the seller had that fixed at his garage the day before I collected her. Clearly their definition of fixed differs to mine.

Thanks

FS
 
"They all do that, sir"

I was horrified at the steering when I first got my '88 Ninety. A couple of months into ownership and I wondered what all the fuss was about. Then I put bigger tyres on and sh*t myself all over again.
 
instantsquid said:
"They all do that, sir"

I was horrified at the steering when I first got my '88 Ninety. A couple of months into ownership and I wondered what all the fuss was about. Then I put bigger tyres on and sh*t myself all over again.
Click to expand...

lol - I wonder if the tyres are the issue then. my old one was on proper 750R16's, but these are something else:

media2.jpg


I've still not got round to putting up a SWAP thread, to see if anyone wants to swap some good original rims for these webber(?) rims.
 
Have somebody underneath as you wiggle the steering, start with shaft to steering box, then steering box in and out, the drop arm, the trackrod ends and ball joints, panhard rod bushes and see where there is excess movement. also worth jacking each of the front wheels up and shake them top to bottom and in and out to check your wheel bearings/swivels.

I did all my wheels bearings, TREs, recon steering box, panhard rod bushes and it's made a big difference. (by land rover standards!!)

And i think your rims are weller ones. You shouldn't have problems with the BFG ATs you've got, they are very good tyres. I believe land rover may have fitted them as standard to some defenders?? think the 50th anniversary, heritage and maybe even a few county models but i could be wrong.

Harry
 
Mine wobbles all over the place...in fact when i picked her up i thought i was gonna take over the whole damn motorway with slight twitchs to the steering wheel...3 seconds later...i then float over into the next lane.

Like Instantsquid says, you get used to it and wonder what the fuss is about, but at least check it all out to be sure ;)

I got AT2 grabbers on mine, not sure of size but they're big...
 
my 110 csw has steering that does not move from its intended path!! has taken me some time to get it to be like this!! new bushes in lower arms / panhard rod all original LR rubber. new steering box lower arm, 3 new track rod ends, swivel preload set to correct tolerance, new wheel bearings, steering box adjusted for free play, running on wolf rims with cooper stt's, do not let anybody tell you "they are all like that" as they did not leave the factory with any "float" in the system, it just needs methodically going through all the above items to get it back to spec - start with the non cost items first ie, adjustment as per the book
 
bmp42 said:
my 110 csw has steering that does not move from its intended path!! has taken me some time to get it to be like this!! new bushes in lower arms / panhard rod all original LR rubber. new steering box lower arm, 3 new track rod ends, swivel preload set to correct tolerance, new wheel bearings, steering box adjusted for free play, running on wolf rims with cooper stt's, do not let anybody tell you "they are all like that" as they did not leave the factory with any "float" in the system, it just needs methodically going through all the above items to get it back to spec - start with the non cost items first ie, adjustment as per the book
Click to expand...

cool thanks!!!!

as for the others, cheers for the advice too - It is a long long time since I last owned a fender, BUT, I'm sure it wasn't this bad. in fact, whilst I owned by '92 defender, I had a go in my neighbours series 3 - it was bloody awful, no brakes, and steering like a boat. This new landy feels exactly the way I remember that old series being - I'm sure it's not "right".

Thanks

FS
 
Have to say that my steering is light, responsive and goes which way I point it. On the drive if I turn the steering wheel to the right (engine off) till I spot a slight movement in the road wheel.... when I turn it to the left the steering wheel moves 1 inch before the road wheel just moves to the left... hope that makes sense. Don't go nuts as you can do damage trying to turn the wheels with engine off.
Next cheap fix is the steering Uj's... doing the same as above (if you have long arms) and see if any play in them, not very likely I don't think but its one less. If steering is heavy or lumpy the Uj's can seize up... easy fix.

Steering like a boat? leaning in bends and feels like an old sprung 4 poster? I stood at the side of mine and pushing up on the gutters give it a good rocking. When I let go it would rock another 3 or 4 times before stopping. I just replaced shocks and springs, steering damper and now it rocks 1 and a bit. Totally different vehicle to drive now, a real pleasure and 265/75r16s on it.

I can only comment on what I found with mine.... track rods, swivels, I leave that to our wiser members.
 
I would like to add that my steering etc, is fine and she tracks perfectly on the road, but getting into & driving a landy with large wheels/ tires does take getting used to and at times shouldn't be confused with a possible problem...

btw I may be interested in your wheels, PM me.
 
is there any backlash in the steering? does the steering wheel have play in it before it moves the road wheels? im guessing with it being a 95 defender it will have a 4 bolt steering box? there is a nut in the centre of the top of the steering box with a "allen key bolt" centre. Undo the locking nut whilst holding the allen bolt with an allen key, then wind the allen key clockwise to "take up" any slack in the steering box. Worked fine on my defender and is tight as ever now
 
disco2shaun said:
is there any backlash in the steering? does the steering wheel have play in it before it moves the road wheels? im guessing with it being a 95 defender it will have a 4 bolt steering box? there is a nut in the centre of the top of the steering box with a "allen key bolt" centre. Undo the locking nut whilst holding the allen bolt with an allen key, then wind the allen key clockwise to "take up" any slack in the steering box. Worked fine on my defender and is tight as ever now
Click to expand...

yeah it's just that the steering wheel has lots of play before the road wheels move at all. not sure what backlash is - so I guess I dont have it :)

I'll have a root around next week and see if I can find the steering box doobry, and then I'll have a go at tightening - will this put extra stress on possibly worn components though?
 
just to add to this a bit, im guna have a crack at tightening my steering up a bit tomorrow, how much should i be looking at adjusting it at a time? sort of 1/4 turns or more/less?

cheers
 
farmershort said:
lol - I wonder if the tyres are the issue then. my old one was on proper 750R16's, but these are something else:

media2.jpg


I've still not got round to putting up a SWAP thread, to see if anyone wants to swap some good original rims for these webber(?) rims.
Click to expand...

Remember seeing that on eBay I think, looked nice but I think I would paint the crossmember and ironwork black again, maybe the wheels too.
 
Thay all do it.....................................unless they are set-up correctly and then they handle & steer almost like a car (higher COG accepted of course).

The moment my 90 started handling anything other than perfectly I decided to take a look and indeed found that the steel-insert on one front radius-arm bush had decided to separate from the rubber and a second was on the way. New bushes fitted and it handles perfectly and turns in the direction I point the wheel.

I've been there, constantly moving the wheel from side to side just to keep in a straight line and when you hit the brakes you don't know which direction the vehicle will point first but it just takes some action to stop this happening and have a vehicle that behaves predictibly & safely.
 
bmp42 said:
my 110 csw has steering that does not move from its intended path!! has taken me some time to get it to be like this!! new bushes in lower arms / panhard rod all original LR rubber. new steering box lower arm, 3 new track rod ends, swivel preload set to correct tolerance, new wheel bearings, steering box adjusted for free play, running on wolf rims with cooper stt's, do not let anybody tell you "they are all like that" as they did not leave the factory with any "float" in the system, it just needs methodically going through all the above items to get it back to spec - start with the non cost items first ie, adjustment as per the book
Click to expand...

Aye me too stig;)
Another thing to check is the rear wheel bearings as these can sometimes play havoc wi' the steerin';)
 
Mine just goes wherever the he'll it wants at the mo! So how much do I turn the adjuster by each time?? To take up the slack
 
I adjusted mine just b4 mot but i didnt need to turn it much maybe about quart of a turn.
You should know if you have gone to far as it will get hard to turn stearing.
Just do a little at a time....
The guys are right best check all the bushes n joints first....
 
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