Steering Box knackered?

Hi All,

Finally reaching the point of getting my 98 4.6 vogue on the road after bit of TLC and additions etc.. I now have a couple of issues with the steering.

1. Steering seems to wander a fair bit when driving along normal roads and around 40mph. Constantly correcting the steering wheel to keep it in straight line. Also very light.

2. When going around a corner I have to unwind the steering wheel to straighten the car up. Which appears quite dangerous as keep over steering the corners etc..So I assume there is something wrong with the self centering of the steering?

Now I know one way to try to resolve the first problem is to tighten the adjuster on the steering box? but am I right in saying that the way to fix the second issue is to loosen the adjuster on the steering box?

History, I have replaced all shocks and steering damper. She is riding on Prosport 18" with Uniroyal rain tyres all round. All with good tread. I've just had the tracking and camber checked and adjusted. I don't remember this being such an issue or even an issue before I changed the shocks and steering damper. Tyres are at 36psi. Went through MOT in September last year without any play reported in any ball joints etc.. also had new discs and pads then as well. Was then taken off the road until now.

So any suggestions/ideas what to try first?

Cheers
Al

Is that the recommended pressure for your tyres ?

tomcat59alan said:

Is that the recommended pressure for your tyres ?

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OMG.... what a tw*t...

I've just checked my book and no its not... haha where the hell did I get 36psi from....hmmm

Fronts should be 28 and rears 38...

Right back to basics lol

Out of interest what do others run 16" or 18" tyres at?

Thanks for the simple heads up...

I run my 16's at the pressures you quoted.

Ok thanks will correct the pressures and see if these corrects the problem.

Cheers

Self centering is done by castor angle not by steering box. If you have to physically turn steering wheel to pull it out of corners something is to tight. Did the bloke who did your tracking also adjust the steering box? If so sounds like he has overdone it. Track should be set first, then drag link adjusted to centralise steering box.

No they didn't touch the steering box. To be honest the tracking wasn't out really just needed front toe adjusting if I remember. So nothing really changed and was doing it before the tracking etc was checked.

The problem is I don't remember it being like this before I took it off the road. I drove it for from Southampton to Lincoln and it was fine. Then took it off the road and now finally drove it again over weekend and it felt weird. I wonder if previous owner has tighten the box up in the past and now I have fitted the new steering damper it needs loosening again?

Lazylabs said:

No they didn't touch the steering box. To be honest the tracking wasn't out really just needed front toe adjusting if I remember. So nothing really changed and was doing it before the tracking etc was checked.

The problem is I don't remember it being like this before I took it off the road. I drove it for from Southampton to Lincoln and it was fine. Then took it off the road and now finally drove it again over weekend and it felt weird. I wonder if previous owner has tighten the box up in the past and now I have fitted the new steering damper it needs loosening again?

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If the steering box has not been touched it will not be that causing your problem. I would be taking a good look at the steering damper. What make did you fit? If you adjust the track you alter the steering box centralisation. Depends how far out it was. Normally parallel to 1/16" toe out. You can't adjust the castor or camber.

I fitted the Britpart cellular dynamic one.

I'll check with the garage as to how much it was out. But it wasn't much. And tbh the problem was worse before anything was down with the tracking.

Coming back from the garage didn't seem as bad but still not right.

Does the centralisation affect the self centring?

Lazylabs said:

I fitted the Britpart cellular dynamic one.

I'll check with the garage as to how much it was out. But it wasn't much. And tbh the problem was worse before anything was down with the tracking.

Coming back from the garage didn't seem as bad but still not right.

Does the centralisation affect the self centring?

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Only thing that can cause you to have to pull steering out of corners are steering box is adjusted to tight, you have a very tight swivel or steering damper not working correctly. Lift front wheels and with engine running get hold of a wheel and you should be able reasonably easily to turn wheels from lock to lock. If it is difficult to do. Remove damper and try it again. If it becomes easy damper is duff check damper. But as said before if damper is not at fault, your symptoms are classic of overtightened steering box adjuster. Or take damper off and go for a drive and see if problem still remains. Follow instructions in RAVE for steering box adjustment.

wammers said:

Only thing that can cause you to have to pull steering out of corners are steering box is adjusted to tight, you have a very tight swivel or steering damper not working correctly. Lift front wheels and with engine running get hold of a wheel and you should be able reasonably easily to turn wheels from lock to lock. If it is difficult to do. Remove damper and try it again. If it becomes easy damper is duff check damper. But as said before if damper is not at fault, your symptoms are classic of overtightened steering box adjuster. Or take damper off and go for a drive and see if problem still remains. Follow instructions in RAVE for steering box adjustment.

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Cheers Wammers... fountain of knowledge again...

I shall investigate further and report back.

Thanks

wammers said:

you can't adjust the castor.

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I've always been maladjusted.....

Britpart steering damper

Haha not bad. Good few hours before someone makes that comment.

Well turns out the tyre pressures are the culprit. All adjusted to F28 & R38.

Drives like a dream now... my beast is alive...

Lazylabs said:

Well turns out the tyre pressures are the culprit. All adjusted to F28 & R38.

Drives like a dream now... my beast is alive...

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So you dropped the front TPs from 36 to 28 and all your troubles ended. It now self centres and you don't have to pull it out of corners. Sorry don't buy that.

Lazylabs said:

Well turns out the tyre pressures are the culprit. All adjusted to F28 & R38.

Drives like a dream now... my beast is alive...

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Congratulations!
I bought mine from a bloke who hated they way it drove - he had 40 front, 30 rear. On the grounds the front end was the heavy end and the manual must be wrong.

Sigh....

Well wammers it isn't for sale. Haha.

I couldn't quite believe it. Garage only adjusted the toe on the front. Was only slightly out.

I think another factor is its been a while since I have driven one of these. Been in very stiff modern cars lately. Able to throw around corners without thinking. Jumping in this was bit of a shock. But she handles well now. Self centres after corners just as normal. And no wandering.

Backs went up by 2.

Well I did prod you in the right direction.

tomcat59alan said:

Well I did prod you in the right direction.

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Certainly did thanks. Just goes to prove even the simplest things can make all the difference.

Cheers everyone.