Steering Evolution

Evening all, just after some of y'alls knowledge. I have a 1989 90, 19J engine and all quite original. Love the truck, but! the only thing that I'm not happy about is the steering, this is the only 90/110 I have ever driven, so don't have anything to gauge it to.
I don't have any modifications on the front axle , new shocks and springs (std) new bushes and 6 bolt steering box that was refurbed last year,
swivels and bearings seem ok though they are on my list to refurb, tyres seem ok, think I will swap back to front just to see if there is any improvement.
After reading some decent reviews I ordered and have just received a HD sumo bar with track rods and OME damper added to a Discovery drop-arm conversion kit which hopefully I can fit this weekend.
So it got me thinking, has the steering evolved at all on the later models, if so, how and what is different?
Like I said I don't have any experience of driving anything more modern than my 90, just curious to know if the standard set-up has improved, or indeed needed to.
Mine just seems a tad vague, but maybe that's normal, not sure!

No it shouldn't be vague, essentially the steering stayed the same until they stopped making them.
Bet you swivel need adjustment or rebuilding.
How old are your tyres, springs, shocks, steering column ujs etc.
Don't really know what advantage Sumo bars bring over standard steering arms.
Sorry missed the bit about new springs/ shocks.

Wear in swivel joints, likely the top bushes and swivel pin will need renewing and then the swivel preload set to the required amount. Do not expect much self centering, they are made like that to limit steering kickback off road.
Also check for wear in the little UJ's on the steering column.

Panhard rod bushes and or bolt being worn can make it vague too

Thanks for the replies folks, bit of an update, cannot find any bearing or swivel play everything seems solid, although it maybe a different story when I get round to stripping them down in the future.
Stripped the front drag arm, damper and drop arm off the truck, both ball joints are very stiff even though they don't seem that old, but the new HD greasable ones I purchased should improve things.
That's the good news! The big issue I have now is the thread on the bottom of the steering box, it looks like the previous nut has damaged the first few threads, thus I cannot get the new or old nut started.
Would I need an external die big enough to re-tap them? Or am I screwed and its box out to a shop?
Any help much appreciated.
Lasher

lasher99 said:

Thanks for the replies folks, bit of an update, cannot find any bearing or swivel play everything seems solid, although it maybe a different story when I get round to stripping them down in the future.
Stripped the front drag arm, damper and drop arm off the truck, both ball joints are very stiff even though they don't seem that old, but the new HD greasable ones I purchased should improve things.
That's the good news! The big issue I have now is the thread on the bottom of the steering box, it looks like the previous nut has damaged the first few threads, thus I cannot get the new or old nut started.
Would I need an external die big enough to re-tap them? Or am I screwed and its box out to a shop?
Any help much appreciated.
Lasher

Click to expand...

Junior hacksaw blade takes the edge off so you can get nut back on. Do this with drop arm off.

Would that work on this Hicap?

The swivels you can't really measure by hand, it's the amount of effort it takes to turn from one lock to another.

Yes, your right Anaconda it's something I need to check correctly, I just need to get the ball joints updated then at least I know it ain't them that's contributing to things.
Watched a couple of videos on the swivel set-ups etc, next job after this current one.
Lasher

As above you have to do the swivel preload as the book, with the swivel housing disconnected from all rod's.
A hacksaw blade around damaged threads, start where threads are good and work round and down. Just seen your last post. good luck.

Day off tomorrow tottot so will be back on it in the morning, thanks for the help.

Update, steering all sorted, ended up swapping my 6 bolt Gemmer for a 4 bolt refurbed steering box, that was of course after I figured out that the Disco 1 drop arm does not fit on a 6 bolt box ( need to read the description better in future ) .
Anywho she drives lovely now, well happy, I even think the missus will now get behind the wheel, totally different truck.
Just need to give the drag-link and track rod ends a lick of paint and the jobs done.
Hand brake refurb next, always something to keep ya busy with a Land Rover.