Thread: badly wandering steering help

Originally Posted by Epic_Dragon

howdy folks, apart from the trans issue (which i think my transmission is infact immortal because everytime i think it has died, it seems to come good again haha)
but i have a really badly wandering disco. it is getting to the point that i cannot drive my car. it has had a wheel alignment, we have checked all bushes etc and cannot seem to find any play, shockers seem to be ok. i dont believe it to be the tyres. may or may not have 1 worn wheel bearing on the front left. not been able to confirm yet. steering feels extremely sloppy. so i am thinking its somethign to do with the actual steering and not suspension or bush related.
next port of call is to tighten the steering. power steering pump and the steering box are weeping fluid. return to centre has vanished. are signs of a not so good steering dampener a wandering vehicle? i know the dampeners help with return to centre so think there is at least some issue there. is there just one nut with the torx head screw thing to tighten the steering or is there another? if we cannot locate the issue ill have to book the beast in with the professionals as my car is not really safe for a normal person to drive let alone a disabled driver. its down right scary :O it was pretty ok until about 6 weeks ago and it was just suddenly everywhere!
so if anyone has recommendations of a place in south australia to take the disco to to maybe get to the bottom of this if cant find it at home, please share. otherwise will be trusty PCB as they are awesome!

Some ideas that come to mind...
Backlash in steering box
Steering damper failure
Steering shaft knuckle loose or worn
Wheel alignment

... or combinations of any or all of the above.

.... also the oil leak on the steering drag link connection to the steering box looks ominous

My steering box is not healthy I do not think. My engine oil is full so the oil leaks have to be from elsewhere I found a really nice local mechanics today though who happily work on ladies so wil likely end up just taking it there toall be investigated. I have a complete spare set of everything steering related though here too, its just the getting to parts all on it. With dads flight to England now cancelled, he will maybe have more time now to look into replacing steering stuff. Or at least pulling out of wreck to send to mechanics with it I'll upload the pics I took yesterday after giving it best clean I could under there.

I know my cleaning effort isn't the best but I am in a wheelchair for most part with hand/arm troubles too so did my best

remove the steering damper and see what happens.

2 reasons.

1. It may be working and masking an issue but out of ability to do so.
2. I've seen one fail in such a manner that as it was oscilated back and forth it would "pump up" one side and start to act like a light duty hydraulic ram causing the steering to pull, lean the car the other way and it would then pull to the other side.

the visuals of your steering gear looks ok but its only pictures.

worst case scenario is the bias spring in the DCV in the steering box has let go and the power side of the steering box is hunting.

your squeaking noise could be your rubber donut.

It may be just the effect of the wide angle photo but to me the lower ball joint on the RHS does not look to be perfectly in line, whereas the LH one looks normal.

A failed lower ball joint would not do the steering feel any good.
Regards PhilipA