Vehicle & Technical > Range Rover

RRC excessive sterring play?

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Reggieroo:

--- Quote from: Range Rover Blues on March 03, 2008, 16:42:03 ---Stand alongside the car, start the engine and grab the wheel through the open window.  Wiggle it hard left to right.  If the car moves left and right then the panhard rod bushes are goosed, if the RHS wheel turns well in response to steering inputs then they are not bad.

Of course if you have a mate to help you then you'll be able to check all the joints in the steering quite quickly.  Feel each balljopint for slight knocking.

checklist
1) tyre pressures
2) steering box play, can you feel any clunking in the wheel or at the drop arm?
3) drop arm balljoint, you won't feel the clunk at the steering wheel but you will feel it or see it from the wheelarch if you turn the wheels right
4) check the balljoint at the front of the LHS knuckle, these 2 joint on the front drag link work hardest and are most prone to wear.
5) check the 2 balljoints on the rear track rod and also check the tightness of all the threaded joints

Any significant wear will show up when you are wiggling the steering wheel, you might notice that the road wheel doesn't respond to inputs on the steering or that is jerks when moving.

Have the tracking checked, excessive toe out will make the steering very dead, slow and unresponsive, it's a heavy handed cure for steering kickback.  Excessive toe in would make the steering twitchy

Unlikey but check the steering swivel bearings, jack up each front wheel and check for free play up and down, beyong the wheel bearings (which should have play).  Worn out swivel bearings also cause leaks in the swivel seal ;)

One other thing to check, the steering shaft has 2 UJs working at considerable angles.  if you are careful with lining them up you can sharpen the steering response to small inputs on the steering wheel, though at 90degrees input you get the reverse effect.  If the steering shaft has been installed carelessly it could be having an effect.

--- End quote ---

I was thinking it might be something to do with the steering shaft as its been clunking for quite a while now, when hitting bumpy roads. Also there is a knock when you turn the steering back straight again & also when going up inclines .

Range Rover Blues:
That could be the steering box.  I've seen a loose steering shaft but TBH it doesn't make the car wander, just that you get lots of rattles in the steering wheel.  The clunk on return to centre sounds ominous.  Ours had so much wear in the box that when it returned to centre it as like the steering was disconnected, I've never seen another that bad (ours might well have been a police car, mega high mileage).

But also worth a check (and I forgot to mention) is excessive play in the steering UJs, it would have to be bad to effect your control of the car bvut could be causing the clunk and a stiff Uj would effect the steering feel.  Try loads of plus gas on them, they should be oiled once in a while.

I can't think what is causing the clunk when going up inclines at all :-k  unless it's the steering box drop arm/balljoint as the angle changes due to the nose lifting :?

Reggieroo:
180,000 miles its got on it now, probably as high as a ex-police one.

Most parts have been changed over the miles/years buy the previous owner & me but not any steering parts as far as I know.

I've got the history & receipts as well from previous keepers, but nothing to do with steering so I'd imagine the steering parts are original.

Range Rover Blues:
In which case i'd expect to find a number of culprits then.

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