robert.

robert.

New Member


Hello everyone!
I was wondering if anyone could help me. I'm not happy with the steering on my Disco 300Tdi. The front wheels just seem to do their own thing. Whenever i have to brake its a battle to try and keep the Disco straight - it pulls from side to side. I get the impression as if the front wheels are loose and are about to fall off. There is quite a lot of free play in the steering wheel.
I replaced all the track rod ends/ ball joints and got wheel alignment done still no different!
Has anyone out there had problems of this kind?

Thanks, Robert
 
I would check steering damper, wheel bearings, swivel pins, steering box, and lower steering column u/j's
 
Thanks Gratch,

Steering damper is not that long new(de-carbon), the wheel bearings seem to be fine (jacked it up and tested for play) and they aren't noisy on the road. Swivel pins... well, i don't know because the 'ABS' light is constantly on (throws up a code for the air gap on the front wheel). Didn't cheque the steering box or the u/j's
 
robert. said:
Thanks Gratch,

Steering damper is not that long new(de-carbon), the wheel bearings seem to be fine (jacked it up and tested for play) and they aren't noisy on the road. Swivel pins... well, i don't know because the 'ABS' light is constantly on (throws up a code for the air gap on the front wheel). Didn't cheque the steering box or the u/j's
Click to expand...

Definately your start point then.
 
If its the steering box, can they be adjusted/tightened up (a heard of people doing this) or would i have to go for a recon or new one?
 
Been out this morning, bonnet up looked @ the PAS box sprayed a good helping of WD40 on the locking nut, key in ingintion took steering lock of and wiggled the steering rod no play in UJ's just alot of movement from the box roughly could turn the rod 40 degrees either way

Locking Nut is 19mm + extensions bars to get rachet clear, swung on it like mad man but nothing so i got jacking rod out and 'clink' it came undone.
if there is silicone in the hex key hole (size No 6 i think) hole make sure you get it all out.
i undid the locking nut a further 2 times, then moved the steering rod again nearly 180 degree movement now,
1 large adjustable resting on the locking nut gave the hex key 2 x turns clockwise, then tightened the hole thing up again, rechecked the steering rod much better, hardly any play, just going for test run will let you know
 
cause i did and the steering is much better, i didnt have the braking problems that robert had just the steering.
 
robert. said:


Hello everyone!
I was wondering if anyone could help me. I'm not happy with the steering on my Disco 300Tdi. The front wheels just seem to do their own thing. Whenever i have to brake its a battle to try and keep the Disco straight - it pulls from side to side. I get the impression as if the front wheels are loose and are about to fall off. There is quite a lot of free play in the steering wheel.
I replaced all the track rod ends/ ball joints and got wheel alignment done still no different!
Has anyone out there had problems of this kind?

Thanks, Robert
Click to expand...


Hi Robert, I always check the easy things first so front tyres - are they the same tread type and wear? The same pressure (28-30psi)?

Next for me would be the swivel bearings - jack up each front wheel in turn, grip at 6 and twelve o'clock is there any play? If there is, they need either re-shimming or replacing (I would go for replacing myself at this age).

Next, the front suspension bushes including the panhard rod bushes. Get underneath whilst an assistant rocks the steering wheel to and fro slowly so you can examine each bush in turn to find the worn ones (there will be some!!).

Report back after that lot and we'll see where we go from there.

Cheers
Dave
 
Thank's for ill the useful suggestions and advice!

Noticed the front tyre on the passengers side is unevenly worn - the inside. My first step is to get a set of tyres for the front. Keeping them the same as the back ones, so had to get them ordered in (pirelli scorpion str). They are arriving on Saturday and I'm expecting a change in the handling straight away - living in hope :)
My next step then is simply to go down the list that you have provided me with.

I shall keep you posted on my progress

Cheers, Robert
 
robert. said:
Thank's for ill the useful suggestions and advice!

Noticed the front tyre on the passengers side is unevenly worn - the inside. My first step is to get a set of tyres for the front. Keeping them the same as the back ones, so had to get them ordered in (pirelli scorpion str). They are arriving on Saturday and I'm expecting a change in the handling straight away - living in hope :)
My next step then is simply to go down the list that you have provided me with.

I shall keep you posted on my progress

Cheers, Robert
Click to expand...


Hi Robert, the wear on the tyres you mention is usually caused by badly adjusted tracking so when you have the new tyres fitted may I suggest you have the tracking done at the same time, or the tyres will wear incorrectly again.

Cheers
Dave
 
I shall get the tracking done at the same time Dave. Can't wait to see if something as simple as replacing bad tyres will help matters. I'll just keep my fingers crossed :D

Cheers, Robert
 
robert. said:
I shall get the tracking done at the same time Dave. Can't wait to see if something as simple as replacing bad tyres will help matters. I'll just keep my fingers crossed :D

Cheers, Robert
Click to expand...


Hi Robert all being well the tracking will sort the problem after the new tyres, but If it doesn't check the swivel bearing and suspension bushes.
 
Two Pirelli Scorpions and the steering problem is completely solved. The Disco drives like a dream now! I can't believe that something as basic as bad tires would affect the steering and the handling so much. Thanks to everyone that gave me advice on this one.
 
Two Pirelli Scorpions and the steering problem is completely solved. The Disco drives like a dream now! I can't believe that something as basic as bad tires would affect the steering and the handling so much. Thanks to everyone that gave me advice on this one.
 
Same happened to me with my first Disco - was awful to drive and I dreaded hitting a rut in the road as it would be jolting and shimmying all over. Replaced the wheels and tyres with a complete set from ebay and all was sorted. Like you say, amazing that bad tyres can cause so much bother! Dunno if it's just a Disco thing or across the range or a general 4x4 thing!
 
Must be just a Disco thing, never heard of anyone having problems of that kind in any other 4x4. Still wouldn't change it for anything in the world :D
 
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