Thread: Pulling to the right after new steering damper.. Fixes?

It should not have had this effect unless you have fitted a 'return to centre' damper (which should not be needed) and this needs adjustment, or is the wrong one.

John

Na it's not an rtc damper, just a normal Britpart Supergaz steering damper.... Probably should have gone for a good Bilstein unit or the likes in hindsight but I figured for something like a steering damper it wouldn't matter.
Anyways I'm not sure if I can just adjust the steering components to compensate for the extra pull or maybe I'll have to go for a different damper.......

A simple non gas charged steering damper should be more than adequate for a Defender unless it has an issue with front end?

Was there any particular reason you needed to replace it other than it was probably worn by now?

JC

Is this a gas charged damper forcing the steering to one side?

Or is there another issue?

This used to be a common complaint with Bilstein dampers.
Some people notice and some don't.
The gas pressure forces the damper open , as you may have noticed while fitting it.
A stock oil filled damper is IMHO the better option, as a damper is unlikely to need the high temp anti gassing of a shock.
Regards Philip A

Your on the money there Dougal, it's simply got to much opening force so is forcing the steering to the right..
The reason I replaced it was that it had the original (I presume) Land Rover stamped unit fitted and compared to other Defenders I've driven there were more jitters getting through from corrugations and the like so thought I would whack a new one on to smoothen it up a bit.

So you would definitely recommend a standard Landy unit Phillip A?

So you would definitely recommend a standard Landy unit Phillip A?

Well I have never had a problem with them.
If you had outrageously offset wheels , you may need something with stronger valving, but my RRC 245.75x16s never had a shimmy problem.
If you have a problem it is likely that you should look at the swivel hubs, or tie rod ends.

Good aftermarket oil ones are also OK , like Boge.

A lot of the reason they originally put them on was to stop breaking thumbs on manual steering. This went away with power steering. I personally have never experienced wheel kickback in 37 years of 4WD.
Regards Philip A