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PCA42

Member Since: 15 Jun 2014
Location: Church Stretton
Posts: 468

2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Tonga Green

TDCi 110 DCPU Drifts Left

Hi all,

I bought my 110 a few weeks ago, and when I test drove the vehicle it had a slight tendency to drift to the left when you let go of the steering wheel. Not harshly, but enough to require holding the wheel straight. However this was on quite a badly cambered road, so I put it down to that and dismissed it.

After driving it for around 1000 miles now, it is still there. If I drive in the middle of the road, it still does it slightly, if I drive on the right (private road obviously), it goes straight or wanders to the right depending on road condition.

I have swapped the wheels over front-back left-right, and made sure the pressures are all correct - No difference. When I had the vehicle serviced at my local indie, they pointed out the tyres had a slightly uneven wear pattern. I had them check the tracking which was apparently all fine. They did say the R/N/S brake caliper was sticking slightly. Today I cleaned up and lubricated the pistons (in situ) as they were indeed rusted up a fair bit. However I am not convinced this is the cause now as I have felt the heat of both rear brakes and they are pretty equal.

I did measure the wheelbase on both sides, and on the N/S it is roughly 10mm less than than the O/S of the vehicle... To me, that isn't right! But we are talking Defenders here, and I have come across 'Naks' thread on his drifting issues which considers many potential problems that causes the issue.
From steering wheel in the central position, to right lock takes just over 1 1/2 turns, whereas left lock is 1 3/4 turns... plus the left hand indicator doesn't cancel unless the steering is taken 90 degrees over centre.

Geometry stuff is a little bit beyond me, so can anyone point me in the right direction (pardon the pun!) to take in regards to making the truck drive straight? Cheers

Click image to enlarge Pete

2010 Discovery 4 GS TDV6
1972 Series III 88" 2.25P

29th Jun 2014 9:30pm

munch90

Member Since: 26 Oct 2013
Location: guildford
Posts: 3558

sounds like the rod between steering box and nearside front wheel is adjusted wrong

sorting that should done the lock to lock difference

is the steering wheel on straight when driving straight , as the steering wheel has the bit on it to cancel indicators along with the plastic collar in the switches

29th Jun 2014 9:47pm

PCA42

Member Since: 15 Jun 2014
Location: Church Stretton
Posts: 468

Ah yeah, I shall have to have a look at adjusting that then. Yep, the wheel is straight when driving straight... possibly the PO/dodgy mechanic could have removed the wheel and put it on straight? Pete

2010 Discovery 4 GS TDV6
1972 Series III 88" 2.25P

29th Jun 2014 9:55pm

blackwolf

Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17382

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey

Jack up the front end, fit the centering bolt to the steering box, check if the steering wheel is central and adjust if not. Check as well as you can that the front wheels are straight ahead and if not, adjust the drag link until they are.

Remove centering bolt and take a test run, if possible get the tracking checked. Adjust the drag link until the vehicle runs straight with the wheel straight.

If it still pulls left look elsewhere than the steering!

29th Jun 2014 10:53pm

roel

Member Since: 08 Aug 2009
Location: Lelystad
Posts: 2039

Wheelbase: I would look deeper into that 1 cm sounds a lot to me even in Land Rover terms. I would compare measurements between left and right chassis mounting points etc.
Are your axles in the middle under the 110? i.e. Same distance between the wing and the outside off the tyres?

Steering lock left and right: could be as simple as the steering stop bolts.

Is your 110 fitted with longer springs? That could cause some steeringwheel offcentre and it is possible that it is corrected by reinstalling the steeringwheel. Roel

1984 90 2.5 na Diesel - RR V8 (1994-2001)
1997 Camel Trophy Discovery 300TDI (2001-2009)
2005 G4 Discovery III 4.4 V8 (2008-2018) It's gone but it still hurts.
2003 90 Td5 (2009-now)

30th Jun 2014 6:49am

Naks

Member Since: 27 Jan 2009
Location: Stellenbosch, ZA
Posts: 2638

2010 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 SW Alpine White

Re: TDCi 110 DCPU Drifts Left

PCA42 wrote:
From steering wheel in the central position, to right lock takes just over 1 1/2 turns, whereas left lock is 1 3/4 turns... plus the left hand indicator doesn't cancel unless the steering is taken 90 degrees over centre.

That does not sound right, like the others said, check the steering box first and then proceed. --
2010 Defender Puma 90 + BAS remap + Alive IC + Slickshift + Ashcroft ATB rear
2015 Range Rover Sport V8 Supercharged

Defender Puma Workshop Manual: https://bit.ly/2zZ1en9
Discovery 4 Workshop Manual: https://bit.ly/2zXrtKO
Range Rover/Sport L320/L322/L494 Workshop Manual: https://bit.ly/2zc58JQ

30th Jun 2014 7:33am

PCA42

Member Since: 15 Jun 2014
Location: Church Stretton
Posts: 468

blackwolf: If I am correct, the centering bolt goes in the little slotted hole at the end of the Pitman arm, and into the hole on the back of the steering box? I should have taken a photo... But when that is lined up, the steering wheel is central. So does this mean the drag link might need adjusting to take the steering over to the right a touch, as the wheels could be pointing left a tad when the wheel is straight?

roel: Yeah, I need to do some more accurate measurements when I get the opportunity.

I think you might be right about the stop bolts, looked at those today and one of them is slightly longer than the other by a mm or two so shall have to set those up right.

The springs are all standard 110. If anything, it's sat a little low at the front from sagging, but I'm used to looking at my 90 on HDs so it's probably fine. So would highly doubt they're a problem.

Thanks for the help so far chaps, much appreciated.

Pete

2010 Discovery 4 GS TDV6
1972 Series III 88" 2.25P

30th Jun 2014 9:59pm

blackwolf

Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17382

Correct.

30th Jun 2014 10:58pm

Marky Boy

Member Since: 25 Oct 2013
Location: Maidenhead
Posts: 96

Hi, been watching this thread with interest as my steering wheel hasn't been straight in my 8 months of ownership. So 2 weeks ago took it to a tyre place and got the tracking done - more of that in a minute - and the steering wheel sits straighter but the truck still drifts slightly left.
Having now read this thread I jacked it up tonight and while I haven't got a bolt the right size to screw into the threaded bit of the steering box, a 6mm bar inserted in the hole has show the steering wheel sits about 30 to 40 degrees out ! And closer inspection of the drag link shows they used that to "adjust" the tracking (large shiny mole grip teeth marks on the bar)

Arse !

Before I take it back and explain the error of their ways, does anyone know the size of the centering bolt so I can get one please ?

Thanks for all the information.

1st Jul 2014 8:03pm

rustandoil

Member Since: 08 Sep 2012
Location: Cotswolds
Posts: 738

2005 Defender 110 Td5 XS DCPU Bonatti Grey

A picture of this "centring hole" on the steering box would be much appreciated

1st Jul 2014 8:37pm

PCA42

Member Since: 15 Jun 2014
Location: Church Stretton
Posts: 468

Interesting one that

I shall get one for you if I remember to eddie. Pete

2010 Discovery 4 GS TDV6
1972 Series III 88" 2.25P

1st Jul 2014 9:01pm

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