Steering - now I'm worried!

[clover]

Hi

I have a 300TDi Disco. Its got a 2"body lift. I'm running 33/12.50/R15 tires. Its got H/D sumo bars and a Defender relocated steering damper.

When I fitted the Sumos I got it tracked up properly and the steering wheel was straight.

When out laning I hit the edge of a rut and I thought I had dislodged the tracking as the steering was a bit off center when going straight. I could not see anything bent or loose so I ignored it.

Anyway an another trip when going over rocky ground it did it again. It was now about half a turn out. I was a bit worried but once again could see anything obvious wrong

Anyway I drove a lane yesterday and hit submerged rock.

Its now a full turn the other way when going straight! Something is not right. Could it be the steering rod mechanism that has lost its splines and is turning on the end of the steering box under extreme load?

Has anyone else had this with the aluminum steering rods on a 300?

If its not that what could it be?

I've checked it all over underneath and its A Ok as far as I can tell.

Cheers

PS

[bogie]

Have you checked the track rod ends are done up tight,because the average person that works in these tyre/exhaust garage places are not the brightest people around.It happened to me,they did tracking but didnt tighten the nut!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mattyme]

Have you checked the track rod ends are done up tight,because the average person that works in these tyre/exhaust garage places are not the brightest people around.It happened to me,they did tracking but didnt tighten the nut!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

oi bogie!!  :-$ :-$ :-$ :-$ :-$

i work in such a place and i wouldnt class my self as not the brightest around.... if you dont mind!!! lol  

but in answer to the post, the splines are quite big splines on the steering box and drop arm and if they had spun round the steering would be seriously affected.

you may want to look at the 2 UV joints in the streering column under the bonnet, but they would have only slipped if you were holding the steering wheel tightly when you hit the rocks....

hope that helps!!

[clover]

you may want to look at the 2 UV joints in the streering column under the bonnet, but they would have only slipped if you were holding the steering wheel tightly when you hit the rocks....

hope that helps!!

That was what I thought! I was holding steering quite tightly as if you don't the wheels have a habit of climbing out of the ruts and getting you in a whole heap of trouble. Ask me how I know! I used to have BFG mt 7.50R16 and those you could just let go of the steering and they would happily follow the ruts.

I may swap the 300 one for a 200 one I have spare as the 200 one has metal UV joints rather than Aluminum.

[BigA]

you may want to look at the 2 UV joints in the streering column under the bonnet, but they would have only slipped if you were holding the steering wheel tightly when you hit the rocks....

hope that helps!!

I had a similar problem on my old 90, the bolt in the joint had worked itself completely loose, and it had jumped a couple of notches.

[Lyndsey731]

I too have a 300tdi with a 2" lift, 2" body lift and 35's. When the body lift was done by myself and a qualified mechanic/MOT tester he was very, very unhappy with the amount of the shaft that was pulled out of the bottom clamp. I would imagine you are right with your assumption about the splines. On mine we took the shaft out and broke the joint and bolted it back together with nylock nuts with some spacers in between. I know that doesn't sound great but he (and I) were far happier with this solution.

Gav

[clover]

Right I've taken the steering rod off and there is no obvious sign that its slipping on the splines. The nuts on the ball joints are all tight. I'm at a loss now... anybody else got any ideas?

[Range Rover Blues]

On a 300 series you should find a notch cut in the back of the steering box drop arm that matches up to .a hole drilled in the bottom face of the steerring box.  You use these to align the steering box to centre before doing the tracking, you can use them to check how far (or if) the steering has slipped

[trecfive]

Has this problem been fixed yet?

[clover]

Hi

I have adjusted the play in the steering box and checked its all centered. I will have to wait and see. Fingers crossed...

Cheers

John