Thread: vague steering

Although you checked the bushes, I'll bet the panhard rod bushes are in need of replacement.

Easy job, and use the real deal rubber bushes.

HTH

Pete

Is yours standard height? They can tend to get a bit twitchy with a lift.
If you're not sure if its got a lift or not, the caster value from the wheel alignment should give a good indication.

Was it like this BEFORE the wheel alignment?
IIRC incorrect toe in/out setting can make them twitchy too..

Steve

I've a RRC and learned after much mucking around (checking/replacing everything) that the toe angle was being set as 0 deg by the tyre place - despite their own machines database indicating a small amount of toe in (as does the workshop manual).

My understanding is that toe-out will cause a vehicle to be twitchy at speed but nice and light at low speed. A little toe in will improve dynamic stability of the steering.

So, I insisted they set a little bit of toe in according to the database and problem solved.

cheers

As suggested, your steering problems could be related to incorrect toe-in. However, it is more likely to be related to free play in the steering.

This can be either in the actual steering linkage or in the suspension links that keep the wheels (front and back) pointing in the right direction.

To check the steering, get somone to rock the steering wheel back and forth through the free play on the wheel (and this should be less than 20mm on the wheel's rim). Things to look for are lost motion on any of the tie rod end ball joints, pitman arm loose on the shaft, pitman shaft moving up and down. In addition to this, look for the chassis moving sideways relative to the front axle - this indicates loose panhard rod bushes. There will be a small amount of lost motion in the box itself, but make sure there is none in the U-joints on the steering shaft or the splines they are on.

Jack up each front wheel, and check for free play on the wheel bearings and swivels (separate these by rocking the wheel up and down with and without a foot on the brakes). Should be no perceptible play.

Check all suspension bushes front and rear by trying to move them with a lever or large screwdriver. Should only be the slightest perceptible spring. Look for signs of movement. Ones to look at in particular are the panhard rod bushes and the rear bushes on the lower link at the back.

If no problems are found, I suggest checking the swivel preload.

Hope this helps,

John

Firstly thanks to all for any and all suggestions.

Regarding whether the Disco is lifted, yes it is and has been for three years and a couple of tyre rotations and alignments without this problem presenting.

Good point on the Panhard rod. Will order a set of these on Monday. Incidentally I have also found out that the garage didn't replace the radius arm bushes as the ones supplied (by me) looked the wrong size.
Perhaps the worn bushes are causing a bit of play in the axle, causing the twitchy steering?
Local Land Rover dealer (Suttons Motors.......brilliant guys!) brought in the correct ones which looked exactly the same as the ones I had originally. Does anyone know if the Defender radius arm bushes were ever fitted to Discoveries?

Freeplay and slack in the steering column connections have all been checked with nothing glaringly obvious.

So, for those of you playing at home, my next cause of action is:

1, Remove radius arm bushes, measure them and find out exactly what is required and get them in.
2, Replace panhard ros bushes.
3, Hang on all the ball joints with a tyre iron to check for play while I'm under there
3, Get the truck into another alignment place for a tweak making sure they adhere to the toe in spec.

Not planning any big trips over Xmas so have booked WedWon in for the garage to correct the omission of the radius arm bushes for early January.

Will keep you all posted of what fixes what.

Thanks again, have a great Xmas and check back here for my updates in January

Cheers
Jason