D3/RRS Steering

[101RRS]

On researching issues that I can expect to come across as my RRS ages (now at 46,000km) I see that steering issues (ball joints/tie rods/steering box/rack) can come to light before 100,000km.

Yesterday I was up in the Brindabellas on the usual tracks and I noticed that there seems to be some slack and rattling through the steering (a bit like my 101 which does have a worn steering box). I am not talking about shock from driving over rocks etc but where the wheels try to steer the steering wheel and you can feel slack in the system and a slight knocking - you can feel it not hear it. In fact the steering does not feel as tight as my FL1 with 270,000km on the clock.

So when steering problems do show up on the RRS is it the failure of tie rods/ball joints that happen first and if not dealt with then the steering rack goes or do both fail at the same rate.

Steering is fine on the highway so the issue I have encountered may just mean the rack being adjusted up a bit more at the next service.

Garry

[Scouse]

The steering column shafts also develop freeplay so check those too.

[ADMIRAL]

More likely to be the rack ends, but I certainly would not have expected a issue like that after 40000 odd klms, unless the vehicle has done a lot of corrugated gravel work. Generally poor economics to replace rack ends these days. Better to go for a new or remanufactured rack. If the rackends are worn, so will be the seals and other internal components.

One method of checking for rackend or tierod wear, is to have a friend ( trusted ) wriggle the steering ( a sawing motion ) with the motor running.( where the trust comes in ) If you can access the tie rod ends and the tierods, you should be able to feel any movement in both. Do the test on flat ground, all wheels on the ground under load.

If that is inconclusive, I would be off to a suspension specialist, or LR dealer.