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Enid_Puceflange

Member Since: 25 Oct 2014
Location: edinburgh
Posts: 1179

steering dampers??

Are these really worth while?

My Defender has bigger than standard tyres and a 2" lift, after getting things fixed and replaced for its MOT, it still feels a little bit nervous to say the least.
Do these dampers just assist with getting the wheels back to centre or do they also
assist with those low frequency wobbles and vibrations that make my Defender a bloody nightmare on the road? I'm not expecting a miracle cure, but even a 10% improvement would be a huge benefit!!

http://www.johncraddockltd.co.uk/land-rove...amper.html

Cheers

G

7th Dec 2014 8:52pm

Chris86

Member Since: 15 Jul 2014
Location: South Yorks
Posts: 794

Steering dampers

Hi,

When you lifted your truck have you fitted castor corrected radius arms and renewed your bushes?

Having fitted/driven a few of trucks with lifts, some seem to be 'ok' at 2", one discovery we had where I used to work in particular became very twitchy around steering centre and was awful to drive once lifted. New bushes went some of the way to fixing.

Chris

9th Dec 2014 8:52pm

Enid_Puceflange

Member Since: 25 Oct 2014
Location: edinburgh
Posts: 1179

I honestly don't know mate,
I bought the defender the way it sits now, the technician at work seems to think that everything is sound and I have no reason to doubt him,
Possibly I'm just expecting my '89 Defender to drive like a 2014!! Lol
But I know the lift isn't helping matters

9th Dec 2014 9:14pm

Chris86

Member Since: 15 Jul 2014
Location: South Yorks
Posts: 794

Hi,

It would be worth having a nose on the search function- return to centre steering dampers have been debated at some length previously! They seem to be a bit of a marmite fitting!

I recently fitted a new non- rtc steering damper as my old one was banana shaped- biggest difference was that it felt a bit more positive around weighty round centre- I suspect that the biggest difference was that the bushes on the old one were ruined!

Start with the cheap things too- when my 110 got the shakes it turned out that I had lost a weight off one of my wheels- it felt terrible but a quick re-balance sorted a lot of it.

Sorry I can't be much more help

Chris

Last edited by Chris86 on 9th Dec 2014 9:44pm. Edited 1 time in total

9th Dec 2014 9:40pm

NickH

Member Since: 01 Nov 2014
Location: Halifax
Posts: 204

A lot of people fit super duper steering dampers to hide steering problems....treating the symptoms rather than the cause

A proper set up land rover even with 3-4"lift and big tyres should run straight without a damper at all.

The damper is only supposed to reduce kickbacks from the steering, not make it all drive lovely.

I would check the caster is set at the right angle and also depending on the lift "bump steer" can be quite bad.

If its an older landy make sure the steering box is adjusted correctly, over adjustment gives a twitchy feeling, if needed the friction pad can be adjusted on the side of the box too.

I would suspect bushes or ball joints first then castor correction, if it is only a 2" lift then it shouldnt need castor correcting.

Bushes can pass an mot but still be worn .

Good luck

2003 Td5 90
2013 sport hse
2012 700 raptor quad
2012 siromer 4x4 tractor

9th Dec 2014 9:42pm

Enid_Puceflange

Member Since: 25 Oct 2014
Location: edinburgh
Posts: 1179

Thanks for the replies. I will keep you updated

9th Dec 2014 10:29pm

roel

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

I run 7cm lift and 35" Simexes on rims that are sitting a bit more to the outside.
I have no problems with steering and no other corrections done.

Check your swivel pin bearings and preload as that is a mayor cause of steering problems. 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)

10th Dec 2014 7:57am

blackwolf

Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17600

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey

Wider tyres (and altered offfset) will often cause "tramlining" on rutted roads or where there are surface imperfections or white lines, a very common problem now that we have regular 44-tonne lorries wearing twin grooves up the road and virtually no road maintenance. Could this be contributing to your steering woes?

10th Dec 2014 9:19am

Enid_Puceflange

Member Since: 25 Oct 2014
Location: edinburgh
Posts: 1179

Thanks for the replies lads,
The tech at work who has helped me out by getting things fixed & replaced is going to have a look at
these other bits soon (I'm surprised they weren't picked up on the MOT test?)
But I have been impatient and just been bursting to bet out for a play in it!!

10th Dec 2014 8:11pm

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