What tool for doing steering pre-loading?

Need to do the hub on my 300tdi (disco) and theres talk of pre-loading.

Did one years ago (or rather was the go-fer, rather than the brains, for my friend when he helped!) and dont remember any special tool, but i assume it was just done by experience?

I dont have that experience, so i guess i need a tool, but im not sure what.

Preferably a cheapish mail order one (will get used once in a blue moon) but no point in buying one that does not work!

Do you mean the steering swivel preload? If so with no connections to steering rods etc but all tightened up, it should move with a bit of a push, smoothly but with a bit of resistance!

Can't remember the actual figures but 'they' usually quote lbs (probably newtons nowadays) of force using a spring balance (fishermans type) weighing scale connected to the steering arm and pulled horizontally.

Is it an essential tool? Ive not watched youtube etc. yet, but ive not done the job before, so i have no "feel" for it, but will i be able to sensibly do it without?

Spring balance is dirt cheap.
You do it with the wiper seal removed iirc.

And the track rods etc disconnected. You are measuring the resistance of the ball against movement only, again, iirc.
Just had a quick look on eBay, even cheaper than I remember.

and use correct resistance top bush type is much higher than top bearing type

julianf said:

Need to do the hub on my 300tdi (disco) and theres talk of pre-loading.

Did one years ago (or rather was the go-fer, rather than the brains, for my friend when he helped!) and dont remember any special tool, but i assume it was just done by experience?

I dont have that experience, so i guess i need a tool, but im not sure what.

Preferably a cheapish mail order one (will get used once in a blue moon) but no point in buying one that does not work!

Click to expand...

Just done one of my swivel pins before I went on holiday. Left the one because the brake caliper bolt is starting to round , but will get done soon. Mines a 1996 300 and has bearing top and bottom. After overcoming the initial inertia the bearings should create a resistance of 1.16kg to 1.46kg (2.5lbs to 3.2lbs) I used my fishing spring scale to pull the steering arm. You alter the pressure on the bearings, and so the resistance/preload on the bearings, by changing the shims under the pin. So you need a selection of different thickness shims before you start the job.

Got the shims in the kit.

Once id taken the wheel off, i spotted all the pitting on the ball, and roughness, so i guess that is whats done for the seal. So that was as far as i got today, as now i need to get the new ball also : (

Am i right in thinking you dont need to mess with the wheel bearing at all to do this job?

I cant really work out what stops the diff oil from migrating down the axel at present, if you can just pull the whole half shaft out?

julianf said:

Got the shims in the kit.

Once id taken the wheel off, i spotted all the pitting on the ball, and roughness, so i guess that is whats done for the seal. So that was as far as i got today, as now i need to get the new ball also : (

Am i right in thinking you dont need to mess with the wheel bearing at all to do this job?

I cant really work out what stops the diff oil from migrating down the axel at present, if you can just pull the whole half shaft out?

Click to expand...

theres a seal in the chrome ball flange,if your changing the chrome ball id strip it back including pulling off hub and stub axle