Towing steering issues

**Hammerhead** · 2nd October 2016, 10:28 PM

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
My 1985 isuzu 110 county has increasing uncontrolled steering and very vague steering when towing my camper trailer or boat. The weight on the tow ball doesn't exceed the safe weights as specified in the owners manual.
I have recently Replaced all the seals in the 3 bolt power steering box and noticed a massive diffence in normal driving and towing but the vague floaty feeling still remains towing.
I have suspected suspension wearing out.
Suspected worn bushes, suspected wheel alignment, and my latest suspect is since replacing my drivers side cv after breaking it! Was when these issues towing started.
What am I missing? Where is this vague floaty feeling coming from?

**justinc** · 3rd October 2016, 06:28 AM

Do you have a suspension lift of any description? Have you inspected the rear suspension bushes for wear? And is there any movement in the panhard rod, steering drop arm splines to steering box sector shaft? checked the steering lower coupling universal joints for siezing and the swivel pin preloads/ railco bushes for wear.

Jc

**steveG** · 3rd October 2016, 07:47 AM

Also check the steering input shaft to steering box joint/splines.
Do you get any torque steer when going on/off throttle?
If it drives ok when not towing my pick would be panhard rod bushes.
If you are near a Pedders shop, drop it into them for their "safety check". Was only about $15 last time I went with my falcon. They will likely find that most of the bushes etc need replacing and give you a huge $$$ price to do so, but you can ask them for a priority order of which are worst. Don't let them do the work.

Steve

DiscoMick · 3rd October 2016, 08:06 AM

Is the steering OK when not towing?

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**Hammerhead** · 3rd October 2016, 11:38 AM

When not towing it's not bad still a little floaty and vague but controllable. The vehicle isn't lifted and the bushes look a little worse for wear. I was wondering if the rear self leveller would have any thing to do with it too?
So now I got a start point with bushes as I haven't done them. The steering is all good having just rebuilt the steering box and new ball joints on all. So I'm thinking preload and swivel pressure then bushes and then suspension?

**steveG** · 3rd October 2016, 11:43 AM

Jack up front wheels and give them a wriggle top/bottom. If no noticeable movement start with the front suspension bushes.

Steve

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