Sloppy steering

[Monkeymantulp]

Got my first defender yesterday and it's great, but....

The steering is very slack through the power steering box, all links before the box are good and after the box is good. Gives a very nervey ride with the movement in the slack!

Is it a case of swapping the box or can it be salvaged?

If not then has anyone got one going spare locally?

Cheers

Nick

[tack43]

Have you got a steering damper fitted? If not, get one, if you have maybe it needs replacing. The steering damper reduces/takes out the "slack".
Hope this helps.

Rich

[hairyasswelder]

Boxes can be adjusted with an allen key and a spanner to remove the slack  ;) If it still scary check the tyre pressures etc

[Monkeymantulp]

Cheers for your replies, I'll give the adjustment a go as soon as i can and report back....

[trickydicky]

the ball joint on the drop arm can seem solid becouse there is a spring underneath but if you get somebody to wiggle the steering you can see it moves loads. the top half of the balljoint shim is hard to remove so it gets left in place mine had about 15mm play but felt solid.

[Monkeymantulp]

Finally got a break in the weather and schedule to give it a bash and the threads are stuck  :( and no WD, roll on the weekend

[L90OOK]

 Before you adjust the PAS box:

Inspect Chassis & radius arm bushes
Check Swivel housing & wheel bearings for excessive play
If you adjust the box do it by 1/8 - 1/4 turn of the allen screw at a time & check.
Enjoy  :roll: :P

[Range Rover Blues]

I agree with trickydicky, the balljoints can seem fine but when two of you check them between you you might find there is paly there (ie one inside, engine running, swinging the wheel and one underneath, hands a safe distance form moving parts).

It is possible for the PAS box to wear badly at the straight ahead position, I had one and the only true fix is another box.  If you adjust it yourisk it going tigt in anothe rplace ie the ends of travel, this can be as hair rasing when you swing out of a junction and it won't straighten up :shock:

If the PAS boxs were found to be faulty whilst still under warranty LR dealers were instructed not to adjust them but return them to Adwest, apparently adjusting them is not as straightforward as it seems.

But I've done it in the past ;)




P.S. cadidates also include panhard rod bushes, swivle pins/Railko bushes, tracking, even a loose swivle housing (yeap, seen that too :-.).

[Monkeymantulp]

Thanks for narrowing it down you guys!!  :shock:

I'm sorting it tomorrow, so now i have plenty of candidates to check and the final solution, if none work, is to get onto a new box!

Cheers for the help tho, if none of the above work then i guess i have to starve for a week!

[zulublue]

Agree with the above those Panhard bushes can make a big difference.

another thing to look at if the motor feels un easy is the A-Frame ball joint and the A-Frame bushes, one way to feel if these have gone is when you drive on the road and you ride across the ruts in the tarmac the lorry's leave, if it feels unsteady have a look at the back as well as the front.

[Monkeymantulp]

After having a good look and a play, there seems no solution other than to get a new box....

Is it best to go for a new, recon or 2nd hand box? (Price is an issue)

[L90OOK]

After having a good look and a play, there seems no solution other than to get a new box....

Is it best to go for a new, recon or 2nd hand box? (Price is an issue)

Don't get a recon one  [-X ...you'll fit 3 & end up buying one from Adwest Engineering 

[Monkeymantulp]

Cheers for the instant reply......

Any idea on a price before i ring them up tomorrow?

Also, i have a 6 bolt box, does it need changing for a six or can it be swapped for a 4?