wandering, steering problem, crown road handling
Judging from other bulletin boards, this wandering issue is really big. It is also dangerous. Has anyone on this bulletin board definitively solved this problem?
Does anyone have any information on the steering column repair - on my p38 there is a large amount of rotational play between the steering wheel and the first u-joint at the fire wall. I attribute this to the tilt steering wheel joint, but am unsure how to resolve without replacing the steering shaft.
Is there a sensitivity adjustment on the steering box that would allow more or less assist response/feedback from the road to the steering column?
I have replaced the upper and lower ball joints, the tie rod ends, varied the tire pressure up and down from the factory setting, and am seeing cupping on both inner and outer edges of the tires [Cooper Zeon]. The following is a list of the steering components that I believed are involved in this issue.
1. Steering shaft - from steering wheel to firewall [ seems to be about 10-15 degrees of play -way too much]
2. Steering shaft from fire wall to steering box [checked rubber bushing - no cracks, seems tight]
3. Steering Box [adjusted play- seems tight when on center]
4. Steering box hydraulic fluid [checked level and clarity]
5. Pitman arm end joints [2] replaced
6. Track rod end joints [2] replaced
7. Upper and Lower ball joints [4] replaced
8. Panhard Rod Bushings - Front [2] replaced [critical to keeping axle aligned with chassis
9. Panhard Rod Bushings - Rear [2] replaced
10. Swaybar [front] rod end [2] replaced [these break and allow sudden body roll=steering shift.] replaced
11. Radius Rod End bushings - front [4-axle end, 2-body end]
12. Radius Rod End Bushings - rear [2-body end]
11. tire selection
12. tire pressure [I have varied from 25F-38R to 35F-45R] lower pressure seems to soften the tire wall and reduce the sudden wandering on crowned roads