Steering Not Returning to center

Hi All,
Strange one, the steering on my 90 does not return to center after turning, i.e i have to take the amount of steering off after turning a corner.. Anything i can check before dropping her down at the garage?

cheers
Mark

You had a butchers underneath? Have you got power steering?
If so have you checked the simples stuff like fluid/leaks /power steering belt ?

Have you got a steering damper on.?!

yes i have power steering, no leaks or at least nothing on the floor, some misting around the top of the power steering top up pot/res..

Landyfox said:

Have you got a steering damper on.?!

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Maybe, please educate me in what it looks like, i bought it from a guy who has all the work done to serious offroad but never did, so its got a 2" lift, uprated shocks etc

Is the steering heavy ? Squealing ?
Steering damper looks like a shock absorber

muckmuck said:

Is the steering heavy ? Squealing ?
Steering damper looks like a shock absorber

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No squealing, steering has always been on the heavy side, there is what looks like a yellow shock absorber running at the front under the rad and fan...

That's your steering damper,
Have you checked to see if your belts are still there ?steering shudnt be too heavy with power steering working proper.

That's a steering damper. A suspension lift often affects the 'return to centre' function of the steering, hence specific 'return to centre' dampers for sale.

muckmuck said:

That's your steering damper,
Have you checked to see if your belts are still there ?steering shudnt be too heavy with power steering working proper.

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Yes belts are all there

Discokids said:

That's a steering damper. A suspension lift often affects the 'return to centre' function of the steering, hence specific 'return to centre' dampers for sale.

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So is this something I just need to live with, given the mods ?? Its fine just a little strange when jumping from our normal car

forever said:

its got a 2" lift, uprated shocks etc

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There's your problem.
The lift has fooked the castor angle.
Either correct the castor (and expect propshaft vibration problems) or remove the lift.

Trewey said:

There's your problem.
The lift has fooked the castor angle.
Either correct the castor (and expect propshaft vibration problems) or remove the lift.

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So you cannot have a lift, I.e. this is the expected compromise? I have an uprated prop fitted..

You can have a lift, it's just a case of give and take. You gain in one area you lose in another. You either get used to it or spend more money chasing its tail.

forever said:

So you cannot have a lift, I.e. this is the expected compromise? I have an uprated prop fitted..

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Yes, you can have a lift, but you will need to correct the castor if you want to keep steering self-centering, then you'll need a wide angle prop and an adjustable panhard rod (to put your axle back central). Then you'll need new bushes because it puts extra strain on them .......

and so on = ££££££

for what benefit?

You can have a lift, it's just a case of give and take. You gain in one area you lose in another. You either get used to it or spend more money chasing its tail.

Thanks all, learnt a lot in this thread, happy to know why its like it is, I can live with it....

Trewey said:

There's your problem.
The lift has fooked the castor angle.
Either correct the castor (and expect propshaft vibration problems) or remove the lift.

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What Trewey says.

+1

So to close this off, and in case it helps another. I gave the steering joints on the rack a good dose of wd40, and low and behold all is well again , steering lighter and return's to centre, happy days