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RRUK
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Member Since: 31 Mar 2010
Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 2025

United Kingdom 
Steering bushes, UJs and ball joint checks
OK, hoping when I replace my springs and shocks assortment that it will improve the ride of the LR, but it seems to have a bit of play in the steering. I'm not talking about in the wheel, that comes as standard, more in terms of the way it wanders a bit and reacts to the road bumps etc. A bit unpredictable at times.

I've not crawled under a LR for years but I hope that you guys can offer basic advice on what to look for:

Track rod ends - they should rotate but not lift up and down yes? (easy DIY replacement)

UJs - when you grab the propshaft there shouldn't be ANY movement at all other than the rotation aspect - (Fairly easy DIY replacement)

Steering bushes - I'm not sure which ones to look at and how to observe improper movement in them - what am I looking for exactly? (Needs proper equipment such as presses etc yes?)

Thanks Chaps as always Thumbs Up 2016 D4 HSE

1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF

1982 Series 3 SWB Petrol
Post #123859 14th Feb 2012 1:19pm
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JSG



Member Since: 12 Jul 2007
Location: Berkshire
Posts: 2412

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey
Wandering is often the result of a lift altering the geometry - if you are going to sort the lift see if you still have a problem afterwards. John

http://www.hampshire4x4response.co.uk

2011 Tdci 110 CSW XS
Post #123875 14th Feb 2012 3:20pm
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RRUK
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Member Since: 31 Mar 2010
Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 2025

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Standard springs and shocks are waiting for a less than freezing cold weekend in which to fit them. 2016 D4 HSE

1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF

1982 Series 3 SWB Petrol
Post #123880 14th Feb 2012 3:58pm
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MartinK



Member Since: 02 Mar 2011
Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border)
Posts: 2665

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Orkney Grey
What about tyres & tyre pressures?

Whilst replacing my wheel/tyre combination a couple of years ago, I had new Grabber AT2 on the back and worn BFGAT on the front (interim whilst I was getting my rims refinished) - I could hardly keep the thing in a straight line! It was exhausting to drive, even on the motorway struggling to keep it in a lane... Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's)
Post #123882 14th Feb 2012 4:04pm
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RRUK
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Member Since: 31 Mar 2010
Location: Leicestershire
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It is one of those simple things to check, have not yet done it, so will tomorrow.

If you run non standard wheels and tyre sizes though you can't use the Std LR pressures as a guide can you? Or doesn't it matter? 2016 D4 HSE

1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF

1982 Series 3 SWB Petrol
Post #123898 14th Feb 2012 5:11pm
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Zinke



Member Since: 27 Jan 2009
Location: Scunthorpe
Posts: 670

United Kingdom 2003 Defender 90 Td5 HT Epsom Green
With yours being a 03 like mine i dare say all the bushes need replacing by now. I did all mine over the summer and it now says just where i tell it! lol. It really did make a massive difference even though all the bushes didnt look too bad you could always tell they had been done.

Pete.
Post #123914 14th Feb 2012 5:55pm
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RRUK
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Member Since: 31 Mar 2010
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Most of mine is polybushed too. 2016 D4 HSE

1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF

1982 Series 3 SWB Petrol
Post #123917 14th Feb 2012 6:09pm
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WarPig



Member Since: 04 Dec 2009
Location: Sheffield
Posts: 1748

England 1996 Defender 110 300 Tdi USW Bonatti Grey
Re: Steering bushes, UJs and ball joint checks
RRUK wrote:

UJs - when you grab the propshaft there shouldn't be ANY movement at all other than the rotation aspect - (Fairly easy DIY replacement)


Chock the wheels & handbrake off to check the props for any play. Grease the prop & UJ nipples (heres a guide for Discos)..

http://www.landroverclub.net/Club/HTML/Maintenance_greasing.htm
Post #123989 14th Feb 2012 9:52pm
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RRUK
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Member Since: 31 Mar 2010
Location: Leicestershire
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Shopping List: Grease gun Thumbs Up 2016 D4 HSE

1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF

1982 Series 3 SWB Petrol
Post #124002 14th Feb 2012 10:12pm
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WarPig



Member Since: 04 Dec 2009
Location: Sheffield
Posts: 1748

England 1996 Defender 110 300 Tdi USW Bonatti Grey
..and take it out of gear also Thumbs Up
Post #124011 14th Feb 2012 10:32pm
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Zinke



Member Since: 27 Jan 2009
Location: Scunthorpe
Posts: 670

United Kingdom 2003 Defender 90 Td5 HT Epsom Green
RRUK wrote:
Most of mine is polybushed too.


Personally im not a big fan of pollybushes, for me they normally make a defender ride like a bag of rusty spanners. I would personally get all the bushes changed to the same type though no matter which type of bush you use. I would bet the ones that arent pollybushed are totally knackered by now so worth while changing. Changing from genuine bushes to pollybushes is very easy to do without a press, where putting genuine ones back in is much easier with a press which is why i think most people go that route. If i ever did go down the polly bush route i would make sure i used the softest ones.

Pete.
Post #124083 15th Feb 2012 10:32am
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