Is my steering damper stuffed?

[gibbs]

Hi all. I have a 97 disco tdi.

I have a heavy steering wheel and get bad steering wheel wobble at 70k's and when braking.
Fluid is at correct level and tyre pressure good. The part that the steering arm connects to down by the radiator looks like it is leaking grease or fluid of some type. I degreased about a month ago and now there is alot of black gunk around this part. What is this part even called and what does it do??
Steven

[Scouse]

Remove the steering damper & see if it's seized. If it's had a hit, it can bind in one spot or for the full travel.

Steering wobble might be related to the damper but it might also be warped brake discs.

The leak sounds like the steering box. It runs on automatic transmission fluid which is normally red in colour - does that sound like it?

[gibbs]

Yes that is exactly right the fluid is red. What would you do to fix these problems.

I want to look at the damper to see if that is stuffed before i start looking at suspension and bearings etc

[Scouse]

If the steering box is in good condition but just leaking, then a seal kit will fix it.
However, if there is movement in the bottom shaft, then you'll need a reco box as the movement will soon destroy the new seal.

[350RRC]

Good article on PAS box seal removal and replacement here:

rangie.com (http://rangie.com/articles/103/1675)

To check the damper undo one end and push / pull it. There should be no 'slop' before you feel the resistance of the damping fluid inside.

Got enough fluid in the PAS reservoir? Heavy steering could also be the uni joints between the steering column and the box. Try some Inox or WD 40 on them.

cheers, DL

[PhilipA]

I degreased about a month ago and now there is alot of black gunk around this part. What is this part even called and what does it do??
Steven

Steven,you should take your car to a reputable Land Rover specialist for diagnosis and repair. To do any work on steering you should have a good knowledge of the components and their role, which your post indicates you do not have.

The problems that you have a likely to be a combination of several things eg if your steering box is leaking it is likely that the Panhard rod bushes are stuffed by oil. It is not likely to be cheap.
Regards Philip A

[Hoges]

The steering damper is there to minimise the impact of sudden "violent" changes of direction by the front wheels in rough conditions which when transmitted back through the steering wheel can lead to injury... like broken thumbs :o ...army drivers used be taught to hold the wheel with thumbs aligned on inside of steering wheel rim, not wrapped around it for that reason...:eek:

you shouldn't need a damper on normally paved roads. The heavy steering could be a mix of issues with the power assistance and /or wheel alignment ...I'd check esp. the castor settings.

As Scouse pointed out, wobble under brakes is most likely warped discs. A well organised local garage can check the run-out on the discs with a dial gauge.

Good luck

[350RRC]

Very sensible advice from the erudite PhilipA. Getting the pitman arm off the box to change the seal can be 'interesting' even if you have the right gear.


I'd check esp. the castor settings.

Caster is pre-set at the factory and can't be changed unless you slot the swivel balls, etc.

cheers, DL

[dullbird]

Remove the steering damper & see if it's seized. If it's had a hit, it can bind in one spot or for the full travel.

Steering wobble might be related to the damper
but it might also be warped brake discs.

The leak sounds like the steering box. It runs on automatic transmission fluid which is normally red in colour - does that sound like it?

I actually had a warped disc brake on my disco when I bought it...wasn't evident at high speed but you could feel it underbraking it was like a pulse to the pedal

[Bushie]

Is the steering heavy but then releases and gets lighter again ??

If so check for seized steering column universals.


Martyn

[discowhite]

Is the steering heavy but then releases and gets lighter again ??

If so check for seized steering column universals.


Martyn

thanks martyn! ive been chasing heavy notchy steering in my d2a for the last 2 months....i was at the replace the box and pump stage!! till you mentioned the words uni and seized:eek:

guess what?? the bottom steering uni seized:mad: another one for the memory bank.

cheers phil

[dullbird]

thanks martyn! ive been chasing heavy notchy steering in my d2a for the last 2 months....i was at the replace the box and pump stage!! till you mentioned the words uni and seized:eek:

guess what?? the bottom steering uni seized:mad: another one for the memory bank.

cheers phil

Ian said the steering joints the other day when you were at our house talking about needing to sort it for shero:eek:

[Scouse]

the bottom steering uni seized:mad: another one Pretty common from what I've seen. I soaked mine in oil for a few days, working it back & forward each night, & it was fine for a few more years.

[discowhite]

Ian said the steering joints the other day when you were at our house talking about needing to sort it for shero:eek:

i remember talking about ball joints not uni joints.



Pretty common from what I've seen. I soaked mine in oil for a few days, working it back & forward each night, & it was fine for a few more years.


i drove out to bundalenes at 830pm and got one:cool:

either way the steering is back to luxo barge smooth:angel:

cheers phil

[dullbird]

i remember talking about ball joints not uni joints.

i drove out to bundalenes at 830pm and got one:cool:

either way the steering is back to luxo barge smooth:angel:

cheers phil


no he definatly was on about the steering as well happened to him on the 90, perhaps lost in translation.....good to see you got it sorted now though:)

[gibbs]

Well what a dick i am. I had no fluid in the black res the ATF is stored in, oops :twisted:. So anyway i topped it up and bam all good, no more steering wobble and brake wobble is almost non existant but still slight at 100km's.

I have to fix the leaking ATF from were ever it is coming from. Ill give it a squirt of degreaser and trail the leak, hopefully it is just a hose rather then a seal