steering Play

[Ridgeback]

I have a 90 (1988) It has a new Steering box, new drop arm, all the steerings links are new and no play that i can find in any ball joints
(ball joints are only a year old with 1000 miles on them) But it still has at least 25mm of play in each direction. My friends TD5 has no play!
I know his has only done 30K and is a year old but all the bits on mine are new. How much play should an old 90 have.

Could the ball swivels give this problem !
any ideas

Matt
(ridgeback)

[TechnoTurkey]

I'd settle for 25mm of play myself!

[Litch]

When all is ok there should be very little play so you are right to still be looking for a reason.

I would say the steering column UJ's are showing wear, you don't say you have checked/replaced them so I think they will be the culprits. Quite often people only realise they are there because they have siezed up and are causing the steering to be stiff or knotchy but going the other way,  even slight wear will show itself as significant movement at the steering wheel.
Early models have replacable UJ's which are both cheap & easy to replace, later models have a non-rebuildable column which also incorporates a rubber bush. I fitted a later column to my 1986 90 a few years ago for no other reason than I got one at a reasonable price and I wanted to see if it made any difference to the feel of the steering. The difference wasn't immense (if even noticable) but it steers very nicely and there was no reason to replace it with a standard column again.

[ChrisV8]

Just had a similar issue on my recently purchased Rangie, after lots of false starts with the help of granddaughter found it was the drop arm that was loose, the lock washer had not been staked up the back of the steering box and it was woefully not tightened enough. This needs to be mega tight using a good quality torque wrench. Might be wrong but worth a look.

[clbarclay]

The nature of the PAS box is that there will always be some plan in it. From memory its adjustable by a nut from the outside, though you don't want to do it up too much or it will bind.

[martha focker]

25mm got thats nout :lol:

[L90OOK]

I would think it's slack in your PAS box.  Can be adjusted by Allen head screw on top of the box.  However only adjust it 1/4 turn at a time, with the wheel turned to one side, not straight ahead.
Having said all that 25mm of play is very little.

[zulublue]

Hi All,

I have the same issue, I know the ball joint on the drop arm is no good I have a replacement for that, but the steering also feels heavy, compared to my mates 90, my steering box has 6 bolts on the top of it, its a 1992 model, I have a nearly new 4 bolt steering box on my RRC, can I swap these over? Im scraping the RRC.

[Porny]

Hi All,

I have the same issue, I know the ball joint on the drop arm is no good I have a replacement for that, but the steering also feels heavy, compared to my mates 90, my steering box has 6 bolts on the top of it, its a 1992 model, I have a nearly new 4 bolt steering box on my RRC, can I swap these over? Im scraping the RRC.

Yep.... 6 and 4 bolt are both metric threads (PAS pipe fittings) it is only the 3 bolt that is different.


Ian

[zulublue]

Cheer Ian,

Did you get the message about the Winch Bumper?

[Ridgeback]

Thanks for all you help,

But i have changed the UJ's and the PAS box is new and has only been on a week. The drop arm ball joint is new to.

I dont want to adjust the box because i dont think its that giving the problem, the old one was just the same. I only fitted a new one because it was dripping oil all over the drive.

when i say 25mm of play i mean in each direction so 50mm in total.
It will drive in a straight line but you have to move the wheel 25mm in each direction for it do do anything.

[L90OOK]

Is the PAS box a recon one?
Often these need the slack taken out of them :roll:
Have you bleed it properly?
Before you adjust the PAS box contact your supplier & get the ok with warranty etc...(best to get confirmation in writting).

[Ridgeback]

Yes It's a recon one.
The box has been painted with yellow paint on the nuts. there was a note saying that if the paint seal is broken warranty is void.

I have removed all the air.