Member Since: 28 May 2014
Location: Belfast
Posts: 496
Wandering steering
Last Wednesday I fitted a new steering rack as part of my hunt for a problem with play in the steering i.e. 50mm slack at the steering wheel, leading to wandering while driving.
This problem has been there for some time and gradually I've worked through the system to eliminate it, new track rod ends and lower shaft (seized UJ) early last year, inner steering rack ball joints around Halloween. and still no joy. So new rack last week, noticeably stiffer, but still 50mm at wheel, not helped by a failed track rod end (possibly damaged in a small accident a wee while ago, but renewed on Friday), still slack present.
Finally resolved to work though the whole system today, section by section, from the wheel down. Airbag off, checked the steering wheel nut, nothing there, upper steering shaft check, lower steering shaft (had to use borescope to see joints while moving wheel back and forth). Top joint OK, but notices something in the lower UJ, just not quite moving in unison with wheel. So down on the ground and shaft off.
First thing I noticed was a lot of grease just below the silver foil covered (collapsable) section, because I got it all over my hands and trousers, but didn't think much of it. Couldn't see any movement while first manipulating it in my hands so put lower clamp in vice. Flexing of the rubber damper was notable, then I saw it, there was differential movement between the two collapsable sections, maybe 5º of rotation, with some contribution from the damper, the UJ itself was fine.
Hope that fitting a new one, tomorrow, will sort everything out, as everything from rack to wheels is good.
Also hope shaft 's under guarantee as it's not yet a year old.
22nd Mar 2020 5:09 pm
knwatkins
Member Since: 19 Sep 2018
Location: Poole, Dorset
Posts: 716
Was it a genuine shaft you used or an aftermarket one?Kev
MY2014 L405 RR Vogue SE 4.4 SDV8 in Corris Grey
MY2010 L320 RRS HSE 3.0 TDV6 in Stornoway Grey
22nd Mar 2020 7:20 pm
Alphamale
Member Since: 28 May 2014
Location: Belfast
Posts: 496
Can't remember, will be checking with my indi' when I see them in the morning, but at £225 I think it was genuine.
22nd Mar 2020 7:29 pm
Alphamale
Member Since: 28 May 2014
Location: Belfast
Posts: 496
"NAILED IT" Wandering steering
As per the updated title, everything sorted and steering now as tight as a drum.
Visited my Indi' and got a replacement lower steering shaft. Initially I was given a direct replacement for the defective one, but when I manipulated it in my hands I could see that there was free play in the collapsable section (not a good start). Turns out that this shaft was not genuine so I asked if they had a genuine one in stock to compare it with.
Genuine £60 dearer, but rock solid and in my opinion worth the extra. So back home, got it fitted and out for a test drive. Perfect, not so much as a hairs breadth of slack, just like new.
It turns out that maybe I didn't need the rack, but hey ho, it's done now.
So to anyone else who's in the same boat, especially if you've just fitted a new lower shaft because the UJ's seized, don't start fitting suspension arms, bushes, struts or anything else before you've removed the shaft and checked for free play in the collapsable section. And to anyone else who's chasing the same problem with free play and wondering steering, the same advice stands.
Forget about trying to see the fault just by shaking the steering wheel, it's so hard to see as to be almost imperceptible. You have to check it in your hands.
One final note, you'll know if you have a genuine one or another because the genuine ones are stamped (post manufacture) with a code on the UJ clamp (it's not painted over)
Last edited by Alphamale on 23rd Mar 2020 8:42 pm. Edited 1 time in total
23rd Mar 2020 2:17 pm
knwatkins
Member Since: 19 Sep 2018
Location: Poole, Dorset
Posts: 716
Thanks for updating.
It seems that a few people have had issues with non-genuine lower steering coloumn shafts.
Glad it's all sorted for you
Do you have a video of the play by any chance?Kev
MY2014 L405 RR Vogue SE 4.4 SDV8 in Corris Grey
MY2010 L320 RRS HSE 3.0 TDV6 in Stornoway Grey
23rd Mar 2020 6:12 pm
Alphamale
Member Since: 28 May 2014
Location: Belfast
Posts: 496
No, sorry didn't record it.
23rd Mar 2020 8:40 pm
Discoed
Member Since: 16 Jun 2010
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 1020
Re: "NAILED IT" Wandering steering
Alphamale wrote:
A
It turns out that maybe I didn't need the rack, but hey ho, it's done now.
I too had a wander at the wheel with the same play in my wheel, I had my indy initially replace the lower steering column for a clonk which turned out to be the suspension bushes (now have Superpro fitted and they are great) it was only after he'd fitted the new non-genuine steering column that I noticed the wanter which he diagnosed as being caused by the steering rack, so a recon rack was fitted and I still have the wander so genuine LSC now purchased and will be fitted which I'm confident will sort the play and wander!D4 2014
1965 Land Rover series 2A (200Tdi)
5th Aug 2020 7:59 pm
Discoed
Member Since: 16 Jun 2010
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 1020
Well my indy has just dropped off my D4 with the genuine lower steering column fitted and sure enough the 5 degrees of slack has gone and the steering is now perfect.
No matter how similar a non genuine seems to be it seems that only the [expensive] genuine LSC delivers.
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