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Llamakarma

Member Since: 28 Dec 2013
Location: North Bucks
Posts: 3

Light Steering?

Hi All,
Just stumbled on this site. Achieved a long-standing ambition about 6 months ago and bought a TD5 Defender 90. Never been able to justify it before, but once you reach 60, who needs a reason!
Anyway, I'm very happy with it so far and am discovering some of the idiosyncrasies of Landie ownership (eg passenger door not closing in the cold!). However, over the last couple of months I have had the sensation of the steering being very light when I go round corners. It is perfectly fine in a straight line and there is no undue play at the steering wheel. I've played around with the tyre pressures (currently running 22 Psi in the front) but it makes no difference. It may be that I've just got used to driving it now and am trying to take it round corners like a modern car. So my question is what is "normal" handling for a Land Rover?
Many thanks.

28th Dec 2013 6:58pm

Leenorthants

Member Since: 08 Sep 2013
Location: Silverstone(ish)
Posts: 856

Depends on tyres and road conditions, also suspension set up.

28th Dec 2013 8:01pm

Lou Sparts

Member Since: 15 Apr 2012
Location: Kent
Posts: 1501

2005 Defender 90 Td5 XS CSW Zambezi Silver

Hi LLamakarma,There,s a thread on here somewhere regarding "door bounce back" i followed the instuctions in it and my passenger door has never done it since.
Basically the grease in the door latch hardens and stops it working correctly when cold spray the mechanism with WD40 liberally and it flushes out the old grease and normal service is resumed.
Try a seach for the thread,Hope this helps. 2005 Td5 90 XS

Steve

28th Dec 2013 8:14pm

bm52

Member Since: 04 Apr 2010
Location: Kent
Posts: 2189

2014 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Havana

at 22psi I would think the tyre is rolling over onto the side wall. If you are running standard 235 85 16 tyres I would suggest you set the pressures to Handbook recommendations or at least 28F 35R and see how it feels.

What tyres are you on, tread depth and age of the tyres?

Also are your springs and shock absorbers [dampers] in good condition? BM52

28th Dec 2013 8:50pm

Llamakarma

Member Since: 28 Dec 2013
Location: North Bucks
Posts: 3

Thanks guys for the advice.
I've adjusted the tyre pressures today - handling is about the same so think it is probably just me! Interestingly, my original pressure gauge registers about 4 Psi more than the two I've just been given, hence the pressures were running lower than I thought.

Tyres are General Grabber, probably about a third to half worn. I'm not aware that the shockers are particularly worn. Defender is a 52 plate, 79k miles and it appears to have been well looked after.

I'll look out the thread about the bouncing passenger door!

Thanks again.

29th Dec 2013 5:00pm

bob neville

Member Since: 30 Apr 2009
Location: Marbella
Posts: 3248

Couple of things come to mind.

Does your vehicle have front and rear anti roll bars ?

I have just changed all the front and rear radius arm bushes on my 51 plate TD5 for Superpro bushes and they have certainly removed any light feeling when cornering (I do have ARB's on mine). Maybe your bushes are on their way out, if they are the originals they are probably a bit tried after 11 years.

Bob 2015 Jaguar XE240 R Sport - goes like ....... !!
2013 Defender 90 CSW - sold
2009 Defender 110 Double Cab - sold
2001 TD5 90 CSW - offroad project - sold to a forum member
2011 Porsche Boxster - for the sunny days !

29th Dec 2013 6:20pm

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