Thread: Steering - how much free play?

Steering Damper?

My experience with that point is the followed: when I bought the car, it was standard and the steering was absolutely perfect. Time after, I lifted the car +2" for 3 or 4 months, until the driveability of the car be unsafe, due to free play and vague steering on road. After that experience, I have returned the car near stock, with a standard lift, but with HD coils, and the free play or vague steering practically have disappeared, but not completely. Currently I have a play like 5 minutes if we consider the wheel like a watch.

I am sure the cause is the lift, although the lift is minimum.

I will follow this post.

Not so sure it's the lift thats the prob. It's been on 2 years this month and all has been honkey dorey since then.
The +2" springs and 235/85r16's went on at approx the same time.
Steering has been fine up til now, with very little extra play that I can remember. Admittedly it's a little more "wallow-ie" with the 85 tyres on, but that's to be expected.

No, this I'm sure is something to do with steering mechanism (bushes, damper, etc).

Pretty sure I've not had this much free movement at the steering wheel before now.

I also feel like I have a bit too much play in my steering, I was thinking it might be bushes or even power steer box, but it could be lift related. My disco has been lifted 2+" with bilsteins all around including steering dampener, as I only drive it weekends its hard to know when I started noticing play. I am looking at maybe replacing bushes on front anti roll bar, the ball joints seem to look ok. I will watch this post with interest.
Cheeers Matt

I replaced the bushes on my anti roll bar a while back & the difference in the steering was minimal. I read somewhere on here there's an adjustment nut on the steering box itself but can't find the thread again. If I remember correctly, & I probably don't!, it's a 1/4 turn at a time in a clockwise direction as small adjustments make a big difference. If anyone else knows of this can someone take a pic of the adjustment nut?
Apologies now as I could possibly be just talking out my "## but I believe someone said their truck "wandered" over the road when slowing down from speed.

hey Kieren.
How are your tyres? My disco was a real wonderer before I fitted my new rubber, still think I have to much play but it has stopped wondering.

I have gone from Goodyear wranglers to Conti's and they are great.

I have also read about the adjustment nut but haven't been able to work it out. I am running the stock and most likely dead steering damper soon to fit a centring Tough Dog.

Cheers

Matt

Originally Posted by mattg

hey Kieren.
How are your tyres? My disco was a real wonderer before I fitted my new rubber, still think I have to much play but it has stopped wondering.

Hi Matt.
Tyres are good. About 60% left I reckon, maybe a touch more. Wearing nice and evenly, even more so than I thought they would.
Running Hankook RT-03's and TBH, I'm so happy with them I'm now unlikely to change to anything else when they need replacing.

The vehicle doesn't really wander par se. But we noticed the s/wheel can be "wiggled" quite a bit from side to side on the open road with little impact on direction of travel. Hence I'm trying to find what the acceptable free play distance/measurement should be. I've seen it in a diagram somewhere, but can't find it! It MAY all be OK, but want to check that first before playing with bolts and nuts and doing more harm than good.

Cheers,

Originally Posted by AussieAub

The vehicle doesn't really wander par se. But we noticed the s/wheel can be "wiggled" quite a bit from side to side on the open road with little impact on direction of travel.

IMHO .... The beginnings of steering box play ...

Originally Posted by AussieAub

Hence I'm trying to find what the acceptable free play

.... If you can notice it .... then it is NOT acceptable


Is there a cold drink in your fridge?

Cheers
Mike