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DeeJay
29th January 2018, 04:38 PM
I've just fitted a new(ish) power steering box - said to be less than 30 K'S old- to the Defender & find it takes twice the effort to turn right as against left !!!
It turns left almost effortlessly.
There is no highway wander, tyres are both correct pressures & the problem didn't exist with the old steering box which developed a fault - after me hammering the crap out of it trying to replace the drop arm !!
It might be a bit too "tightened up" with the adjustment screw, any thoughts/experiences with this problem with anyone?
Thanks, David
JDNSW
30th January 2018, 06:28 AM
Only thing I can think of is the adjustment too tight. Make sure there is nothing interfering with it though - last time this happened to me (on the 2a) it turned out to be a screwdriver that had been missing for a few months. Even with the leverage of the steering box it still needed a fair effort to bend the screwdriver and crush the handle! A previous experience involved the wire reinforced air hose to the aircleaner on the County wrapped round the top universal joint.

Check for spare tools, bits of rag etc.
PhilipA
30th January 2018, 08:03 AM
One area not mentioned is the steering column.
Did you replace it in the same orientation as it came off?
It may have a stiff UJ , so it is worth checking.

Regards Philip A
JDNSW
30th January 2018, 04:33 PM
Yes - seized U-joint is a possibility, although I can't see how this would be different left to right. Another possibility is a dragging brake, but very unlikely with discs.
bee utey
30th January 2018, 04:42 PM
The control valve spool sounds like it's misaligned. Not a lot you can do except take it off and give it to a specialist to look over. Power steering control valves are delicate little beggars, had a few P76 ones apart back in the day.
clive22
30th January 2018, 08:22 PM
I had this steering box from new and ran it for a while never noticed this. Was running Simex tyres so this can hide things. Are the CVs not in the column but worn in one of the hubs.? Clive
bee utey
30th January 2018, 08:28 PM
Did anyone hit the input shaft during removal or fitting? The control spool sits on a thin torsion bar and something may be distorted.
DeeJay
1st February 2018, 05:28 PM
Did anyone hit the input shaft during removal or fitting? The control spool sits on a thin torsion bar and something may be distorted.

For once I never dropped something heavy when installing it.[smilebigeye], I'll find out tomorrow what it might cost to get checked over. Simply put, the old one that wandered a bit came out & this one went in- with new fluid & immediately this problem. The Landie is hemmed in the garage as usual, so I'll give her another test run tomorrow. Maybe an air block??
David
DeeJay
1st February 2018, 05:33 PM
I had this steering box from new and ran it for a while never noticed this. Was running Simex tyres so this can hide things. Are the CVs not in the column but worn in one of the hubs.? Clive

Clive,
Bit of a mystery here but I would think this would have been noticeable, maybe even more so with larger tyres. I'll check it out further & maybe PM you. Its quite OK on highway but I think really annoying otherwise.

David