 | Home > Technical > Steering play - acceptable limit on rack backlash/dead-band |
 
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17612   
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The design of the Adwest power steering box as used on Defender and Discovery vehicles relies upon a flexible shaft at the input of the box to actuate the control valves for the hydraulic assistance, ie it is designed so that this input shaft twists, and the twist opens the valves.
The inevitable result of this is that if you rock the steering wheel from side to side with the engine stopped it will feel as though there is a frightening amount of play in the steering, however this is entirely normal and not a fault! It is not something I tend to do now (it's too worrying) but IIRC about an inch of movement at the wheel is common. Unless your steering is vague and the vehicle wanders when running, I wouldn't have thought that you had a problem. |
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22nd Mar 2011 11:53pm |
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| o4dn Member Since: 08 Jan 2010 Location: South West Posts: 555  
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Mine has a lot of play as well, and just like you the mechanic told me it's perfectly normal. There should be no play when the wheels are in straight ahead position. As you said, when the wheels are turned, there is some play. At most, it's about 2 or 3 inches on full lock on mine. It's worth noting that the steering box should not be adjusted during the warranty period, as mentioned in the workshop manual (but that didn't stop the mechanic from adjusting mine...  and of course that didn't make any difference!...) |
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23rd Mar 2011 8:03am |
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| SteveS Member Since: 05 Oct 2010 Location: Devon & Berkshire Posts: 388  
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Thanks for the replies and technical description......I think I'll persist with the technician having a look to see if things can be improved at least
Ofourdan - why would the workshop manual say that the steering should not be adjusted in warranty? I need to go have a look now Question - is there a recognised independent specialist in steering boxes that I could consult or who could get the system working really well? |
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23rd Mar 2011 8:45pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17612
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For info, I have known Adwest boxes that have done more than 250k miles without any need for adjustment.
(I have also known Adwest boxes that have lasted less than a month before developing catastrophic fluid leaks, but the one thing that all these had in common was that they were supplied as replacement units via the LR Genuine Parts supply chain and had been 'reconditioned'. I will never, ever, buy a steering box from LR again unless there is absolutely no alternative. But that's another story!) If you have to have a new box under warranty, try to insist that it is a new one not a reconditioned one. You probably won't have any choice, but try. Unless things have improved in the last three years, the recon boxes seem generally to be very unsatisfactory. |
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24th Mar 2011 9:37am |
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| SteveS Member Since: 05 Oct 2010 Location: Devon & Berkshire Posts: 388
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I'm planning on adjusting rather than replacement so hopefully will avoid the recon problem - thanks for the advice
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24th Mar 2011 9:08pm |
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| Setok Member Since: 16 Jan 2009 Location: Helsinki Posts: 422 
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Probably worth checking that none of the joints are loose along the chain of rods. This can apparently multiply any slack. I think most of them have some play, but I know of at least one where the steering was very limp with a lot of play in the middle. Made motorway driving a bit interesting... The dealer had apparently told the owner it was a case of TADTS, which it definitely wasn't.
Got it all tightened up in the end. |
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27th Mar 2011 7:46pm |
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