Another Front End Question....

[flyboy]

Ok....another one....
I've got the front end up on jack stands to determine if I can do the CV joint replacement.
For a while now the steering has been wandering a bit so i'm also going to deal with that at the same time. I've checked the tie rod ends which seem fine and the suspension arms/ball joints all fine. If i grab a front wheel and push left/right i can feel a slight clunk/looseness which is coming from in the centre (steering box?) area. When i turn the ignition to on (all dash lights on) the clunk goes away and i can feel the dampening squirting oil in/out and all feels tight. If I turn the ignition off, looseness comes back...
Does anyone have any ideas on this one???
The front tyres are wearing on the insides which also suggests something wrong....or I just need a wheel alignment...
L322 TD6 2004.
Thanks again!
Marcus

[harlie]

Marcus – I don’t know about your clonk/looseness. Maybe tight with fluid pressure when engine running?

However, mine wondered quite a bit, got a wheel alignment done (it was out) and all was fixed. There is a process to go through for alignment which if not follow could make it worse.

For D3/4/RRS and MY06on L322 – you set the suspension to “tight tolerance mode” with testbook or other diagnostic equipment.

For early L322 there is no tight mode so do the following.

1 drive on to ramps.
2 leave engine running while driver gets out and closes all doors
3 let the car settle for at least 40sec-1min with no one in it.
4 open drivers door and turn engine off
5 keep driver door open during alignment process so the suspension doesn’t move. because it will. Place I go to - they leave a thick towel over the door catch so the door is closed but can’t close :)

When I put new tyres on the shop did an alignment without following the above and it wandered like a drunk. Not saying it will always go wrong but it apparently often does, to the point some shops won’t touch them.

[flyboy]

Thanks Harlie,
I didn't know about the alignment procedure, so will first make sure that gets done properly and see how it goes after that....there's definitely an issue there with the tyre wear I've got, so fingers crossed its as simple as a properly done alignment.
Once I get these issued sorted, then it's time for new tyres!

[justinc]

they really do require proper alignment. when set right they are simply beautiful to steer:)


jc