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This is not as uncommon as one likes to hope.
There have been several Billie SDs cause this.. They are gas filled and some get a bit mroe gas than others...
Also depends on the rest of your steering system (tension in swivels etc)... As to how bad the effect is.
Personally - from experience the BEST SD for earlier LRs running Oversized tyres is the Rancho version. D2s etc cannot get this unit to suit, an RTC Toughdog is the go!
This is what I have fitted to my disco bazQuote:
Originally Posted by Redback
funny this thread popped back up ,as i am experiecing same issues with my bilstien on my D2 am about to put a tough dog one in
Sorry Tank, have to disagree with this statement. If the length of the dampner straight out of the box is longer than the space to fit it to the vehicle, then the vehicle will no longer be able to track straight ahead.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tank
I think all of the cases mentioned in this thread, the vehicle has veered to the right. If however there was less gas in the dampner causing the dampner to be shorter than the fixing points then the vehicle would veer to the left (assuming that the dampner is fitted between the track rod and the diff like on classic rangies).
What ??Quote:
Originally Posted by GuyG
re-read my post from 11/4/09.
Bilstein, Koni and de-Carbon are all mono tube steering dampers, so, regardless of how low or high the gas pressure is (even if only 1psi) they will continue to extend until they top out.
This isn't a problem unless something in the system (either too high gas pressure, too low swivel pre-load, etc) is out of balance.
Think of it this way, if the extending force (which is the area of the piston rod multiplied by the gas pressure) exceeds the drag of the swivel preload and the tyre/road interface friction, it will self steer the car (as some have recounted)
If the swivel pre-load is OK or they haven't overdone it with the sherry at the shock factory and over pressurised the damper, the vehicle drives straight, as many of us with Bilstein steering dampers can attest.
I can take my hands of the wheel on a straight road (no camber) and the car drives straight (which I wish our Patrol did......well, it sort of does)
I've read your reply, but it makes no difference to my answer or my experience with the unit. When I spoke to the supplier they said that they could have some of the gas removed, it was easier to just fit another dampner (different brand) - problem solved.Quote:
Originally Posted by rick130
I was able to have the bilstein dampner refitted when we installed a maxi drive heavy duty track rod because where the dampner mounts to the track rod is adjustable to take into account the extra length of the bilstein dampner over what was previously used - again problem solved
I think you've hit the nail on the head, clearly it would seem that there are batches of bilsteins steering dampners that have been over pressurised at the factory which are causing the problems which people are experiencing. This is confirmed by the supplier saying they could have some gas removed from the one I purchased.
I find it interesting that many people have found exactly the same issue after fitting the bilstein dampner, then the issue has gone when a different one is fitted, yet there are those who continue to not believe that it could in fact just be an issue with the dampner itself.
Anyway, its no longer an issue for me as the bilstein dampner was damaged when 4wding and is on its way to scrap metal. I won't be getting another one.
Guy, I have had Bilstien dampers on 3 Disco's with no problem whatsoever, fitted one to my next door neighbours 93 Disco, also no problem, it took me (106kgs) and my son (120kgs) to compress and fit these dampers, they all run straight as a die, as do the majority of bilstien fitted Disco's, if your's or anyone elses steers itself, then there is something wrong with your front end, not the damper, Regards Frank.
Your longer and shorter examples threw me, as regardless of the gas pressure the unit will continue to extend, it can never be 'shorter' as you put.Quote:
Originally Posted by GuyG
This has definitely happened with Delphi de Carbon's in the past, there was a spate reported on LR4x4 a few years back (or it might have been the old LRE forum that pre-dated it) where people were literally running in circles the gas pressure was that high, the dampers were forcing the steering onto full lock.Quote:
Originally Posted by GuyG
Funnily enough a few went to Bilstein without issue.
Frank there are a few cases where Heasmans have reduced the pressure in a steering damper because it was too high factory and was forcing the unit to extend with more force than normal.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tank
Nothing to do with the front ends...
A good steering damper is neutral - doesnt move at all.. The Delphi and Bilstein ones are gassed and are not neutral.. They extend... Too much gas and they extend with more force, often pushing a vehicle to turn.
And mate - you need to eat your Wheeties! Compressing a Billy isnt that hard :cool: