Steering box query

For the second year running I've had an issue at MOT time with my steering box.

Last year, I got that it's got relative movement betweeen sector shaft and drop arm, so replaced drop arm - was fine.

Now i've got the same again, the MOT guy showed me and he thinks the shaft is loose (not very loose, but not solid!) in the box, so box will need replacing.

Box is only 2 years old - surely they're supposed to last longer? It was one from paddocks who I believe use quite a good company to supply them.....

Thoughts?

Give Paddocks a ring? See how helpful they are.

2 years is rubbish for a steering box to go I'd say!

are you sure bottom of shaft is loose ie side to side play or is there play in input to sector shaft ,quite a bit of play will be evident unless drop arm and box are central by design,if you check in either lock there will be play

jamesmartin said:

are you sure bottom of shaft is loose ie side to side play or is there play in input to sector shaft ,quite a bit of play will be evident unless drop arm and box are central by design,if you check in either lock there will be play

Click to expand...

How he showed it to me was he rocked the steering wheel and the output shaft was going left and right..... i'll try over the weekend and see if having the steering box central (presumably having steering box arm point straight forward?!) and see what play is there.

I notice from reading around that you can adjust the box, is that the right sort of play that I can (hopefully) adjust out?

you can either use a suitable drill bit up the back of drop arm into bottom of box or count turns of steering wheel and set in middle

jamesmartin said:

you can either use a suitable drill bit up the back of drop arm into bottom of box or count turns of steering wheel and set in middle

Click to expand...

Cheers! I'll take a look

So I managed to get some daylight time the other day to look at steering box. Cracking the locking nut was OK, once I got the breaker bar out, but didn't manage to turn the adjuster screw in it....I guess I'm going to need to buy a socket with an alan key in, as an alan key on it's own it just wouldn't turn. I guess it's as stuck as the locking nut was.

While I was there, I took a look at the drop arm again, and noticed the nut holding it on was loose - the tab on the washer was bent over the nut still, but it'd come loose. I'm not really sure how - perhaps the arm didn't go on far enough before, and sometime after it was on (and since the last MOT!) it's moved further up, causing the nut to be loose.

Tightening this seemed to solve the movement that the MOT guy found, it's interesting as it didn't seem like the arm was loose, so I hope that it's going to be OK when I take it back for a retest

if box is central pull on drop arm now nuts tight ,something he should have noticed and see if box has play

Ok so I found the nut holding drop arm on was loose......not sure how as the locking washer was still on, but tightened and the evident play seemed to go.

Did other jobs and took it back to MOT today, failed again.

Still on play on output shaft.

The play that they have the issue with is side to side play, ie it looks (maybe) like there is a few mm, if that, of play side to side as you turn wheel.

Is this the play I can remove by adjustment?

The garage are adminent nothing can be done apart from replacing box.

I've rang paddocks and they're getting back to me, kept saying it's got 1 year warranty, and it's just gone two since I fitted it, but still, I don't expect to pay £200 every two years to get a new steering box.

Thoughts? Tomorrow is my last day of MOT & the 10 working days since I got the original one done, so i'm either driving to MOT place with a glorious solution (fingers crossed), or I'm walking to work....

center pas box by counting turns lock to lock then undon 19mm locknut and whilst trocking steering inpout shaft by hand wind 6mm allen screw clockwise till play is removed refit nut ,box will have play by designeither side of center point

jamesmartin said:

center pas box by counting turns lock to lock then undon 19mm locknut and whilst trocking steering inpout shaft by hand wind 6mm allen screw clockwise till play is removed refit nut ,box will have play by designeither side of center point

Click to expand...

So am I looking for play on the input to be removed? Or will doing this remove the side to side play on the output?

Sorry for the repeating questions...

your pressing output shaft on to input worm by adjusting it so both, but box must be central as said either side of center play is normal getting bigger as you get to both full locks

gse1986 said:

So am I looking for play on the input to be removed? Or will doing this remove the side to side play on the output?

Sorry for the repeating questions...

Click to expand...

to be clear, you are saying you are failing due to excessive steering wheel play?

if so, the adjustment nut on top of the steering box can be used reduce the play (you still need some)

spray the nut with penetrating oil and give it a hard tap with a hammer and extension bar to help free it. loosen the locknut and turn the middle bit a little until your steering wheel is tighter. tighten the locknut.

james was telling you how to align the drop arm to do it properly, but for now just turn the nut for the mot a little until you understand

No, I'm failing on side to side (as in looking straight on at the steering box, the output shaft is moving probably fractions of a milimeter left and right).

I'm going to have a go now, will report back very soon...

Thanks for the help so far!

then i think i've probably misunderstood everyone.. nm me carry on!

gse1986 said:

No, I'm failing on side to side (as in looking straight on at the steering box, the output shaft is moving probably fractions of a milimeter left and right).

I'm going to have a go now, will report back very soon...

Thanks for the help so far!

Click to expand...

center box,adjust screw whilst rocking input till you feel play removed

I think the OP is trying to say that there is lateral play between the shaft and housing (needle bearing failure?) rather than rotational free play?

I think I was.....however have just tweaked it as suggested and it seems, from my eyes at least to have sorted the play. I just gotta wait and see what they say, though.

The garage were insisting it was a new box job. If it is true, then i've got paddocks ringing back once they've spoke to adwest. It surely should last more than two years....

As an extra comment, the steering does seem firmer.

I've tested it on axle stands and also on the road (reading MOT manual they test it with wheels on floor, so thought would check just incase play appears there, and I don't think it does).

Must admit it's put me off the garage a little, as they were very insistent that the box needs replacing, but I will probably be able to comment better after tomorrow.

My plan of action if they refuse still, is to get a quote for them to do the work, and then wait and see what paddock come back and say tomorrow.

Another thought is to try another garage, I dunno if anyone has any recommendations in and around Eastleigh, near Southampton?

And the MOT man's opinion was.....PASS!

He was happy with the result, unfortunately the guy who said it was definitely new box time wasn't there to comment.

Also got a call from national power steering who supply the boxes to paddocks, explaining to do the very same thing.

Many thanks everyone - hopefully that's me OK for another year, though I'm planning on taking the landy off the road in September (when insurance is up for renewal) to to a bit of a rebuild and tackle some of the bits and pieces that I've wanted to do for a while. I'm hoping by next MOT the testers won't recognise it!