 | Home > Technical > Excess play in steering |
 
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| Grenadier Member Since: 23 Jul 2014 Location: The foot of Mont Blanc... Posts: 5804   
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Back again.
My DCPU has always had what I consider to be (by Def standards) sharp and responsive steering, with very good feedback, despite running 18" wheels with some chunky BFGs. Always been more than happy. Earlier this week I took a long drive on the motorway and noticed a huge amount of play in the steering wheel. It's been a long while since a drive like this, but I swear I have never noticed it before. I'm talking a few degrees or a few centimetres of float before I feel anything back from the wheel. Constant need for micro adjustments rather than just holding the wheel and letting the steering/axle/wheels do their thing. But we're talking two digits worth in either direction before I would get any sense of my input actually causing the rack/wheels to turn. Hugely unnerving at 125kmh. Can someone please confirm if this is normal and I've forgotten (almost all motorway driving the past 12-18mths has been in my wife's Audi) or if even by Def standards this amount of play is unsual. Normal? Failing Pump? New steering fluid required? Etc? 
Ta Monsieur Le Grenadier
I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list..... 2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey |
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29th Jul 2023 3:16pm |
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| Grenadier Member Since: 23 Jul 2014 Location: The foot of Mont Blanc... Posts: 5804
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Ta. But would the steering wheel float to left or right by a cm or so before engaging, because the ball joints were bug*ered? I'dhave though engagement would be instant (relatively speaking in a Def) and then the feeling from the wheels would be soft/understeer. This is very much a sloppy steering wheel PRIOR to the wheel engaging with the pump/rack etc. It definitely feels it's at the steering wheel end, rather than the wheel wheel end, if you catch my drift? Monsieur Le Grenadier
I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list..... 2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey |
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29th Jul 2023 3:47pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17373  
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Check the UJs and collapsible joint in the column.
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29th Jul 2023 3:57pm |
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| landy andy Member Since: 15 Feb 2009 Location: Ware, Herts Posts: 5698 
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Once you’ve checked the other stuff, you can adjust the steering box if that is where you believe the play is.
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29th Jul 2023 4:04pm |
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| bodstruck Member Since: 09 May 2020 Location: Wiltshire Posts: 910
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I had this issue with mine a week or so ago. The steering arm was loose on the steering box
 . The lock washer had clearly not been set correctly. Tightened the nut, redid the lock washer ind it was OK again. |
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29th Jul 2023 4:15pm |
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| Oldowner Member Since: 26 Dec 2018 Location: South west Posts: 623 
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Adjusting the steering box as told to on forums I would suggest to be the no1 cause of mechanical failure of the steering box down the line (failed worm bearing surfaces or failed lower needle bearing races). It has to be set accurately preferably with the steering box off the vehicle.
Steering UJ’s are common point for play. LR in their wisdom in 1998 prevented replacement of both of them and now you have to buy a new lower column if upper UJ has failed. Loose drop arm often issue if box previously replaced. TRE’s and drop arm ball joint should be obvious. |
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30th Jul 2023 7:13am |
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| Grenadier Member Since: 23 Jul 2014 Location: The foot of Mont Blanc... Posts: 5804
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Thank you all, will have a look this weekend.
Monsieur Le Grenadier
I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list..... 2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey |
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30th Jul 2023 8:52am |
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| matchap801 Member Since: 05 Aug 2021 Location: Somerset Posts: 120 
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As mentioned. Steering UJs, track rod ends / ball joints. Steering box drop arm ball joint. There is a manual adjustment on the Steering box. Worn swivel seals can contribute to this as well. Also the swivel pin pre load. Little bits of wear and play will all add up to lots of movement at the Steering wheel. 2009 Defender 90 CSW 2.4 TDCI.
Ex Army Mechanic still living the dream. |
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30th Jul 2023 4:21pm |
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| Grenadier Member Since: 23 Jul 2014 Location: The foot of Mont Blanc... Posts: 5804
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Thanks Matchap Monsieur Le Grenadier
I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list..... 2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey |
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31st Jul 2023 5:24am |
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| Grenadier Member Since: 23 Jul 2014 Location: The foot of Mont Blanc... Posts: 5804
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Well,
I've done some testing, and I'm not sure it's the lower steering column or the UJs. Whilst it's rusty and clearly part of a 100k/12 year old car, it's reaction is immediate on turning the wheel. Further, when I grip the lower column and move it through the various planes, there's not give or play in the UJs. So I think, I THINK, there's nothing wrong there. May still replace it in the near future as it did look old. I tried to get to the steering box today, but when it started snow, and as I couldn't get the airbox out, I gave up. I'll try again this weekend, to see if it's merely a matter of tightening the steering box gearing. However, on heading down to the shops, I came to the conclusion that the best way to describe the feeling is that the front wheels are driving themselves, with very little feedback to the steering wheel. A gentle, yet very noticeable, weaving even on well maintained a-roads and at just 50-70kmh. Not the famous death wobble: neither the wheels, nor the steering are 'wobbling', as you might get from badly balanced tyres. But the whole truck is certainly swerving, almost like the sensation you get when tracking through an HGV lane on a well used motorway. So what can that be? Steering box failure? Steering cross rod problem? Steering Damper? Track rod? I have noticed that the drop arm ball assembly looks on its way out, so I shall most certainly replace that ASAP, wondering if I do the cross rod etc at the same time. Bit of Gwynn Lewis action? Any help as ever, much obliged.... Monsieur Le Grenadier
I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list..... 2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey |
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27th Nov 2023 5:46pm |
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| Rescue01 Member Since: 17 Jul 2015 Location: Aberdeen Posts: 98 
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I had this recently with mine as you described
The track rod end on the steering damper and on the steering drop arm were worn.New ones fitted and steering back to normal. |
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27th Nov 2023 6:05pm |
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| Grenadier Member Since: 23 Jul 2014 Location: The foot of Mont Blanc... Posts: 5804
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Thanks Rescue Monsieur Le Grenadier
I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list..... 2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey |
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28th Nov 2023 8:11am |
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| excossack Member Since: 22 Feb 2012 Location: North West Posts: 5843 
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For me it was the top UJ on the steering column that was completely knackered. Replaced this but still feel I have more play. 1999 Defender TD5 110
Regards John M0VAZ Econet Station 48 no clock |
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28th Nov 2023 8:26am |
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| Grenadier Member Since: 23 Jul 2014 Location: The foot of Mont Blanc... Posts: 5804
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First thing I checked after advice on this thread. But genuinely can't see any play in either UJ. As mentioned, the column is rusty (as are the UJs) so might remove, clean up and replace the UJs anyway.
But the weaving is something else. Unfortunately I was testing it solo. Think I need to get a steering-wheel-turner-assistant, Debbie McGee perhaps, so that I can watch the steering box, the drop arm and the steering rods/track rod ends. Figure out what is going on. Monsieur Le Grenadier
I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list..... 2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey |
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28th Nov 2023 8:56am |
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