Wandering steering

1990 110 2.5TD

I swapped my steering box a few weeks ago.

I replaced all the parts related to it and ensured that everything was
done up as tight as required.

I had commented that the steering was feeling light and the car had an
increased tendency to wander, but I was told that wasn't unusual.

I have now had fitted two new tyres on the front "Security 7.50x16" and
it has got worse.

So, is the steering getting worse, is there a problem and is it being
exacerbated by the tyres?

In particular, where should I look?

Cheers

Peter

puffernutter wrote:
> 1990 110 2.5TD
>
> I swapped my steering box a few weeks ago.
>
> I replaced all the parts related to it and ensured that everything was
> done up as tight as required.
>
> I had commented that the steering was feeling light and the car had an
> increased tendency to wander, but I was told that wasn't unusual.
>
> I have now had fitted two new tyres on the front "Security 7.50x16" and
> it has got worse.
>
> So, is the steering getting worse, is there a problem and is it being
> exacerbated by the tyres?
>
> In particular, where should I look?

Steering box free play, track rod end wear, swivel preload, tyre
pressure, tracking, ride height, worn bushes... the list is somewhat long.

Are the tyres you have fitted radials? And are the rear tyres of the
same construction?


--
EMB

In message <[email protected]>
puffernutter <[email protected]> wrote:

> 1990 110 2.5TD
>
> I swapped my steering box a few weeks ago.
>
> I replaced all the parts related to it and ensured that everything was
> done up as tight as required.
>
> I had commented that the steering was feeling light and the car had an
> increased tendency to wander, but I was told that wasn't unusual.
>
> I have now had fitted two new tyres on the front "Security 7.50x16" and
> it has got worse.
>
> So, is the steering getting worse, is there a problem and is it being
> exacerbated by the tyres?
>
> In particular, where should I look?
>
> Cheers
>
> Peter

Hi Peter,
are the tyres radial or crossply? What pressure do you have in them?


Cheers
Richard
--
www.beamends-lrspares.co.uk [email protected]
RISC-OS - Where have all the good guys gone?
Boycott the Yorkshire Dales - No Play, No Pay

Richard,

They are radials at the recommended pressure (which means that I can't
remember the value and can't be bothered to look it up!)

Anyway, problem solved. I finally got around to replacing the rubber
boot on the ball joint to the drop arm and whilst it was loose I thought
I would check the parts for play. The steering arms and joints were
fine, however there was a small amount of movement in the drop arm.
Initially I couldn't determine if it was due to the box or the arm, with
close inspection, it became obvious it was the drop arm moving on the shaft.

Now I know that I torqued that up to the requisite amount and there was
the tab washer, so whether there was a bit of grit stopping it moving
fully up the taper?

Anyway, it is tight now and it wanders no more.

If I couldn't find anything today I was going to whack it into my local
man ASAP for him to have a look.

I'll be after a rear crossmember (with extensions) for a 1990 110 TD
Defender next month. Plus any other parts you reckon I might need.

Cheers


Peter


beamendsltd wrote:
> In message <[email protected]>
> puffernutter <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>>1990 110 2.5TD
>>
>>I swapped my steering box a few weeks ago.
>>
>>I replaced all the parts related to it and ensured that everything was
>>done up as tight as required.
>>
>>I had commented that the steering was feeling light and the car had an
>>increased tendency to wander, but I was told that wasn't unusual.
>>
>>I have now had fitted two new tyres on the front "Security 7.50x16" and
>>it has got worse.
>>
>>So, is the steering getting worse, is there a problem and is it being
>>exacerbated by the tyres?
>>
>>In particular, where should I look?
>>
>>Cheers
>>
>>Peter
>
>
> Hi Peter,
> are the tyres radial or crossply? What pressure do you have in them?
>
>
> Cheers
> Richard

puffernutter wrote:
> Richard,
>
> They are radials at the recommended pressure (which means that I can't
> remember the value and can't be bothered to look it up!)
>
> Anyway, problem solved. I finally got around to replacing the rubber
> boot on the ball joint to the drop arm and whilst it was loose I
> thought I would check the parts for play. The steering arms and joints were
> fine, however there was a small amount of movement in the drop arm.
> Initially I couldn't determine if it was due to the box or the arm,
> with close inspection, it became obvious it was the drop arm moving
> on the shaft.
> Now I know that I torqued that up to the requisite amount and there
> was the tab washer, so whether there was a bit of grit stopping it moving
> fully up the taper?

I don't recall a taper on that particular bit, in fact the lack of same seems to
directly limit being able to tighten the drop arm sufficiently.
Am I talking from the wrong end, confused, out to lunch, all of the above?

>
> Anyway, it is tight now and it wanders no more.
>
> If I couldn't find anything today I was going to whack it into my
> local man ASAP for him to have a look.
>
> I'll be after a rear crossmember (with extensions) for a 1990 110 TD
> Defender next month. Plus any other parts you reckon I might need.
>
> Cheers
>
>
> Peter
>
>
> beamendsltd wrote:
>> In message <[email protected]>
>> puffernutter <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>
>>> 1990 110 2.5TD
>>>
>>> I swapped my steering box a few weeks ago.
>>>
>>> I replaced all the parts related to it and ensured that everything
>>> was done up as tight as required.
>>>
>>> I had commented that the steering was feeling light and the car had
>>> an increased tendency to wander, but I was told that wasn't unusual.
>>>
>>> I have now had fitted two new tyres on the front "Security 7.50x16"
>>> and it has got worse.
>>>
>>> So, is the steering getting worse, is there a problem and is it
>>> being exacerbated by the tyres?
>>>
>>> In particular, where should I look?
>>>
>>> Cheers
>>>
>>> Peter
>>
>>
>> Hi Peter,
>> are the tyres radial or crossply? What pressure do you have in them?
>>
>>
>> Cheers
>> Richard



--
"He who says it cannot be done would be well advised not to interrupt
her doing it."

The fiend of my fiend is my enema!

GbH wrote:


> I don't recall a taper on that particular bit, in fact the lack of same seems to
> directly limit being able to tighten the drop arm sufficiently.
> Am I talking from the wrong end, confused, out to lunch, all of the above?

All of the above, but not meant nastily!

The spline is tapered.

Also try viewing this string from recent history:
http://tinyurl.com/o5prp

puffernutter wrote:
> 1990 110 2.5TD
>
> I swapped my steering box a few weeks ago.
>
> I replaced all the parts related to it and ensured that everything was
> done up as tight as required.
>
> I had commented that the steering was feeling light and the car had an
> increased tendency to wander, but I was told that wasn't unusual.
>
> I have now had fitted two new tyres on the front "Security 7.50x16"
> and it has got worse.
>
> So, is the steering getting worse, is there a problem and is it being
> exacerbated by the tyres?
>
> In particular, where should I look?

Silly questions but;

Have you had the tracking / wheel alignment set recently?
Are the tyre pressures ok?
Are any brakes binding?
Any play in balljoints / bushes?


--
Pete M - The Corporate Penguin.
Range Rover Vogue EFI,
Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 *For Sale*
OMF#9

"This is not 'Nam, this is bowling. There are rules"