 | Home > Puma (Tdci) > Play in steering |
 
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| DSC-off Member Since: 16 Oct 2014 Location: North East Posts: 1429   
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There are a few things to rule out before assuming it's the steering box.
Is the play in any of the lower steering column joints or splines?  Click image to enlarge Is the play after the steering box? Ie, does the steering drop arm have play or any of the ball joints on the steering bars? If it is in the steering box, can it be resolved with adjustment? A last resort after checking all other possibilities. |
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28th Oct 2024 1:20pm |
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| BrickBox Member Since: 05 Oct 2021 Location: Wales Posts: 840  
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Start with the free basics and check your tyre pressures. 2008 2.4 110 Utility Station Wagon XS.
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28th Oct 2024 1:36pm |
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| TamarBlue11 Member Since: 25 Sep 2020 Location: England Posts: 226 
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Doesn't seem to any play in the joints or splines. I can just about see the movement/play being transfered on the shaft where it enters the steering box.
Can't see the movement the other side of the box. Where can you adjust? |
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28th Oct 2024 1:37pm |
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| Bluest Member Since: 23 Apr 2016 Location: Lancashire Posts: 4218 
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These types of boxes usually have some play in the straight ahead and is not necessarily a problem. I wouldn't be too concerned with 5 to 10 degrees as that really isn't very much. If it gets worse, then obviously that's cause for concern. If you move away from the straight ahead, does the play diminish as more lock is added? If you do decide to adjust the box, be careful as it can then become tight at full lock. 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS
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28th Oct 2024 2:08pm |
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| TamarBlue11 Member Since: 25 Sep 2020 Location: England Posts: 226
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Its strange as the play has only become noticeable over past few hundred miles.
Yeah play seems to go away once your away from straight ahead and into the turn. It's just that initial movement/play it seems almost before it engages. Maybe my test of turning the steering column manually is a red herring if that sounds normal. |
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28th Oct 2024 2:27pm |
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| DSC-off Member Since: 16 Oct 2014 Location: North East Posts: 1429
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Yeah play seems to go away once your away from straight ahead and into the turn. It's just that initial movement/play it seems almost before it engages.
Are the panhard rod bushes ok? If they're worn the axle will float from side to side until the steering is loaded up in a turn. |
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28th Oct 2024 2:35pm |
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| TamarBlue11 Member Since: 25 Sep 2020 Location: England Posts: 226
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I will double check thanks guys. Apart from a visual check is it a case of putting a bar in and trying to give it wiggle?
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28th Oct 2024 2:51pm |
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| Dinnu Member Since: 24 Dec 2019 Location: Lija Posts: 3430  
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I am quite sure that this is incorrect. The design is such that there will always be play when the steering is off center. While driving, due to the caster angle, the wheels want to return to center, so the free play will not be felt anymore. The best way to check for steering box play, again with the drop arm pointing straight ahead, disconnect the ball joint on the drop arm from the drag link, then see if you can move the drop arm side to side. You should not feel any free movement in that position. 1988 90 Hard Top, 19J Diesel Turbo, Shire Blue - Restoration ongoing 2012 90 CSW, 2.2TDCI, Santorini Black |
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28th Oct 2024 2:56pm |
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| andy63 Member Since: 30 Jun 2023 Location: north east Posts: 542
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What I've noticed with mine is occasionally when its parked up there is a bit of what you might describe as play at the steering wheel.. but not always.. with engine running the steering is fine..
I had a look at the diag of the steering box and there is a fairly coarse scroll with a follower on what is called the sector shaft..I think sometimes the bit play in that area manifests it's self as a bit slack ot the steering wheel when you shut down.. |
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28th Oct 2024 8:12pm |
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| revd Member Since: 20 Apr 2024 Location: England Posts: 136
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I had a JLR engineer adjust mine (I paid with beer) he set the wheel straight in relation to the steering box etc, was noticeably better after.
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28th Oct 2024 8:57pm |
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| Dinnu Member Since: 24 Dec 2019 Location: Lija Posts: 3430
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Just keep in mind this is a steering BOX not a steering RACK. 1988 90 Hard Top, 19J Diesel Turbo, Shire Blue - Restoration ongoing
2012 90 CSW, 2.2TDCI, Santorini Black |
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29th Oct 2024 5:44am |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17458 
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You'll always feel a small amount of lost movement with the engine stopped due to the small amount of movement needed to operate the hydraulic valves in the box. You don't notice this with the pump running since the hydraulic pressure causes the box internals to follow the wheel movement. |
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29th Oct 2024 9:22am |
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| revd Member Since: 20 Apr 2024 Location: England Posts: 136
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The play gets worse the more lock you apply, if the box is off centre this play will manifest itself in the straight ahead position- this was the problem I had until a Land Rover guru sorted it out. There is also an advantageous orientation of the column between steering wheel and box that improves matters even further- I hadn’t got the correct e-torx to hand when sorting the slack in the box so a job for another day
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29th Oct 2024 10:35am |
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| Johan_B Member Since: 20 Sep 2024 Location: Gothenburg Posts: 33  
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Be advised that the e-torx bolts in the steering column are stretch bolts and should not be re-tighten.
My splined joint between upper and lower steering column was badly worn when I bought the car. The dealer and previous owner had probably tried to solve the problem by re-tightening the bolt but it didn't last. In the end both parts had to be replaced. The symptoms was a lot of free movement and the car was all over the road when going straight, but as soon as I turned and put some torque on the joint you couldn't tell there was a problem. To diagnose I was able to hold my fingers on the two parts while moving the steering wheel, I could then feel the movement between them. |
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29th Oct 2024 1:17pm |
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