Thread: Tightening the Steering - where to start ?

Where to start? Here.

I tightened the nut on the steering box a while back

Tightening the nut does nothing unless you've loosened it first and adjusted the grub screw in the middle of the nut. Get an assistant to sit in the drivers seat and get them to rock the steering wheel side to side in a moderate fashion. Observe each component of the steering linkage for looseness. There should be no slop between any two items that are connected together. Once you're sure that the steering box needs adjustment (and it's not some critical component about to drop off) place the front axle on a pair of axle stands. Loosen the lock nut on the steering box adjuster and gently tighten the grub screw until the box has the least slop while still turning from lock to lock without harshness. Then retighten the aforesaid nut. Once you've done that check the rest of the front end, one joint at a time.

The steering box is unlikely to need adjustment. As in the above post, look for free play in tie rod ends, but also in all suspension bushes, front and rear. The most likely areas of wear are the panhard rod bushes and tie rod ends.

The Panhard rod is the link that stops the axle from moving sideways - if the bushes at the end of it have free play it will show up as steering free play.

A lot of vagueness comes from tyres that are usually old.
Obviously that's not the only contributing factor, but it is usually a major contributor.

When I was a courier, I used to need a new set of tyres every year, sometimes just less, sometimes just a tad more.
And always without fail, a new set of tyres would always make the cars steering feel much better.
Could also have been the wheel alignment too tho, but I'm sure it was more related to the new set of tyres.

I just got a new set of cheapie tyres for my D1, got rid of a little steering kickback over road joints.
I run them about 4psi lower than the last set, and they ride a little better over larger bumps, but a little worse over smaller ripple like bumps.
D1 does now feel slightly less vague, or loose on a smooth highway .. but on a choppy road, it still has a small amount of bump steer twitchiness .. so maybe it's time to remove the diabolical shocks my D1 had when I got it.

So, shocks could also contribute to some handling vagueness too.

Originally Posted by surfingooner

I tightened the nut on the steering box a while back, but was a bit nervous about tightening too much for fear of wearing the box out,

You can't over tighten it if you follow the correct torque setting...

Checked the ball joints of the rod ends at the end of the track rod and drag link?

Is your vehicle lifted? If so, castor correction bushes or plates would assist in correcting the geometry.

Main ball joints condition?

Steering damper - a few different types and options which change the effects and feel.

Worn bushes such as the radius arm or more particularly, the panhard rod, might be causing sloppiness.

People over look the steering shaft unis as some have found they wear also and cause sloppiness in feel, D2's are getting long in the tooth now, just another component that can wear.

Originally Posted by Roverlord off road spares

People over look the steering shaft unis as some have found they wear also and cause sloppiness in feel, D2's are getting long in the tooth now, just another component that can wear.

Are the uni's replaceable in the lower steering shaft? Microcat only shows replacement shafts.

Originally Posted by twr7cx

Are the uni's replaceable in the lower steering shaft? Microcat only shows replacement shafts.

Complete, not avail on their own

Having a play tomorrow, so will see how we go, thanks for the feedback. Matt.