Strange steering

[juddy]

Took the workshop out for a brake test, and found the steering very heavy, no flow in the steering.

Kind of a jud jud movement when going round corners, with no return , so you have to pull the wheel back in line, or you would end up in the gutter.

If this normal.

[Diana Alan]

Did you rebuild the swivels?

Did you centre the seal and check pre-load before final reassembly?

[juddy]

Yes rebuilt the swivels, with new seals etc.

No did not check pre load, should i have done? would this cause my problem?

[Diana Alan]

Yes it could, if the swivels are too tight the return to centre can be inhibited.  The instructions are in the workshop manual. 

Also but not well explained is the need to centre the swivel ball seal.  If the seal is not centred on the ball, when it is done up it may be tight on the top or bottom which will both inhibit the return to centre and will leak prematurely. 

What you do is: with the swivel in the straight ahead position, offer the seal lightly up to the chrome ball and housing, observing how it mates at top and bottom.  If you find that you have to put more pressure on one side (top or bottom) to get it to sit square in the housing, then you need to move shims from the other side into the tight side, then re-check the pre-load and seal for square until both are correct.

When everything is set correctly make sure you use a sealant like silicone gasket around the back side of the seal into the housing as this is often where the seal will leak first.

Diana

[DennisM]

I don't know what you have or have not replaced, but this is a common issue with steering. The lower bearing/s get hammered (especially the LHS) if n when the pre-load isn't correct, causing the bearing cone to be damaged like this

the one shown has scuff marks, if those marks/indentations get to just a few thou deep it will cause problems with steering not returning, also you would need to check the bearing as well, this is the bearing

I did have a cup n cone that had some horrendous damage, when they were together in your hand you could feel the Klunk Klunk as the rollers went from one indentation to the next, but I cannot find it to show you all, anyway if that's not your problem it might be a future reference for somebody else, cheers Dennis

[juddy]

Hi Dennis

Replaced that bit, with no signs of damage...

[mzungumagic]

Juddy,

This is the preload adjustment detail out of the Green Bible ...



That could be your problem as Diana says, if you've got too much preload.

The other two things that come to mind are the steering relay and whether or not you have a shock absorber on the tie rod ?

On a previous restoration, I found the shock absorber responsible for heavy steering and non centering of the wheel after coming out of a turn.  I removed the shockie.

[juddy]

Thanks for the drawing.  I have had the swivels checked and theres no wobble, we are going to try the adjustment bolt on the steering relay, this may be the problem...

I have a steering damper fitted...

[mzungumagic]

Thanks for the drawing.  I have had the swivels checked and theres no wobble, we are going to try the adjustment bolt on the steering relay, this may be the problem...

I have a steering damper fitted...

I don't know of any "adjustment bolt" on the relay.

Try removing the damper and see if that makes a difference.


Jack

[Phoenix]

i know that there is one on the series 3 steering box.  You access it under the cover in the driver side front wheel arch.

[DennisM]

All steering boxes S2,2A,3 have an adjustment nut on the steering shaft, but the steering relay does not cheers Dennis

[juddy]

I think this is the adjuster for it..

[DennisM]

Yes thats right, it's the adjustment on the steering box. Usually steering boxes will wear in the straight ahead position, and it is very easy to over tighten the adjustment in that spot, making the steering heavy. Basically what this means is that the steering shaft (inner column) is worn along with the main nut etc, anyway cheers n good luck Dennis