Def swerves on left braking - HELP ME PLEASE

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Steering box adjustment, backlash, drag link 's... - Defender Source

Regards,
Mike.

Hi guys. I had time to study the steering. First of all I put front of the car on two stands to easily turn the steering wheel.

I then went under the car and I told a friend to turn the steering wheel until from the fork on the steering box's arm I could see the hole on the steering box. I then put a screw that fits perfectly.

With the steering arm perfectly in the center I noticed that the steering wheel in the car was not at all in the center, indeed practically turned by 45 °.

I then removed the steering column and put the steering wheel straight and then turning the steering tie rod I made the car go straight.

Finally I tried to move the screw to adjust the steering box play. It's a 19 that is located in the middle of the steering box with a Torx 25 in the center. The 19 I unscrewed the but I could not move the torx. Perhaps also because it is in a really awkward position.

However the steering seems to me much more precise, on the brakes the problem is still present. Unfortunately.

Have you owned the vehicle from new? Have you or someone else replaced the steering box? The drop arm and steering box are splined to align. Has someone ignored the alignment splines and forced the drop arm onto the box? If this were the case then I would guess the steering box is not centred internally as you drive. If the steering wheel position was OK from factory then to get 45 degrees means something badly worn, something has taken a big bump or someone has assembled something wrong when doing a repair. Just my guess. Good luck.

45degrees on the wheel ain't that much is it- only one eight of a turn? I've had mine out that far just from giving the drag link a nudge on something I didn't even notice while out wheeling.

I'm guessing you drove your vehicle with the steering wheel misaligned, as I have also done.

But it sounds like the vehicle in question has been driven with the steering wheel in the correct position, with the wheel alignment tuned to that steering wheel position (from what I can gather from the thread, unless I missed something). If the 45 degree error has the box off centre, to the left for example, then the steering box would be under constant hydraulic pressure assist to 'turn left'. If this is the case, then the assist to left may not be noticeable at speed because of the leverage you can easily apply on the steering wheel, until braking.

We are now told the steering wheel and steering box have been aligned, so in theory the tyres are no longer aligned, scrubbing. Is it possible the pull is still evident because the problem has been transferred from the power steering unit to the tyres - hence no apparent significant improvement? Although I am guessing the pull would now be in the opposite direction now, ie right?

Again, just my theory.

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Originally Posted by workingonit

I'm guessing you drove your vehicle with the steering wheel misaligned, as I have also done.

But it sounds like the vehicle in question has been driven with the steering wheel in the correct position, with the wheel alignment tuned to that steering wheel position (from what I can gather from the thread, unless I missed something). If the 45 degree error has the box off centre, to the left for example, then the steering box would be under constant hydraulic pressure assist to 'turn left'. If this is the case, then the assist to left may not be noticeable at speed because of the leverage you can easily apply on the steering wheel, until braking.

We are now told the steering wheel and steering box have been aligned, so in theory the tyres are no longer aligned, scrubbing. Is it possible the pull is still evident because the problem has been transferred from the power steering unit to the tyres - hence no apparent significant improvement? Although I am guessing the pull would now be in the opposite direction now, ie right?

Again, just my theory.

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Yeah, could be. I read what's been done a little differently to you ( but that's humans for ya'). Either way I would have thought that if it's i the steering it would now be apparent when driving not just braking?

Same as you though - I'm just speculating :)

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Originally Posted by workingonit

Have you owned the vehicle from new?

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Yes

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Originally Posted by workingonit

Have you or someone else replaced the steering box?

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No, never

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Originally Posted by workingonit

The drop arm and steering box are splined to align. Has someone ignored the alignment splines and forced the drop arm onto the box?

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How can I know?

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Originally Posted by workingonit

something has taken a big bump or someone has assembled something wrong when doing a repair. Just my guess. Good luck.

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No bump, but once I had the steering box vibrating at 100km/h and the mechanic changed the joint of the stiring rod

Quote:

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Originally Posted by workingonit

We are now told the steering wheel and steering box have been aligned, so in theory the tyres are no longer aligned, scrubbing. Is it possible the pull is still evident because the problem has been transferred from the power steering unit to the tyres - hence no apparent significant improvement? Although I am guessing the pull would now be in the opposite direction now, ie right?

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I did all the procedure but the problem when I brake is still present always identical. :censored: Sure that I moved the position where the stiring box stay when I go straight, now I think is correct as from the fork behind the steering arm I can see the hole in the steering box and this is the centre right?

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Originally Posted by n plus one

Yeah, could be. I read what's been done a little differently to you ( but that's humans for ya'). Either way I would have thought that if it's i the steering it would now be apparent when driving not just braking?

Same as you though - I'm just speculating :)

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Now the steering seems more... direct? I have much less play in the straight position. the steering is improved.

Is it possible that everything I've done has never had a minimum of improvement?

up :(