Making a steering correction

[Rosie]

I have 5" of play in my steering wheel.
Want to tighten it up.
I have the manual, have followed Moose's perfect directions for making the correction, but still finding lots of play. Just put on new tires, but don't think that has anything to do with it.
When I sit in the vehicle which is turned off, the steering wheel turns 5" before the wheel makes any turn at all.
Also, driving down the road, the Rover is all over the place. This is a Series IIa 67 88
If anyone has pics of all the places I should check, that would be great!!!
Thanks!!!!

[Eric W S]

Fault diagnosis from the Workshop Manual:

1. Worn or badly adjusted rocker shaft
2. Worn or badly adjusted linkage
3. Worn or Loose hub bearings
4. Steering box loose on chassis
5. Worn or badly adjusted Swivel balls.

First thing I would do is check all the lug nuts. Seriously, every time some big box store did my tires the lugs were never tightened properly.

Are there any issues with the tires? Have you noticed anything odd? I would check that they were properly balanced. You should see new lead weights on the rims.

Here's what I would do for the above faults:
1. Grab Steering wheel and pull towards you. Any movement could indicate loose bearings in the steering column or play in the rocker shaft (assuming your wheel is properly installed).
2. Clean and Check Tie Rods. If any of them have cracked rubber boots they need to be replaced. If all the rubber is sound, check for upward and downward play. Any play whatsoever, replace. Check that all links are straight and not bent.
3. Jack DS/PS of truck up in a secure location with wheels chocked. Grab wheel. Pull and push on it. You shouldn't have any play in any direction. COULD indicate bad wheel bearings. It will also indicate any play in the linkage or swivels.
4. Grab steering components (relay and box) and check for any movement.
5. Visually inspect your swivel balls for leaks.

Have you had the truck professionally aligned? Is the toe in correct per the factory manual?

EDIT: Also check: Grab a partner. Start car and slowly turn wheel until the person observing the front tires indicate that they are straight forward. If the steering wheel isn't straight along with the wheels, then the steering may not be centered on the rocker shaft where it should be.

EDIT: The swivel pre-load should be set to factory. I want to say around 13-16 ft/lbs but don't have the manual in front of me. Best to have a mechanic check this if you don't have a scale and TRE remover and a new TRE. I would leave the Factory manual with them for reference.

[greenmeanie]

Steering check list:
1. Check wheel nuts are tight. It useually shows up as a rythmic clunk if they are not.
2. Wheel bearings. Jack the front of the tuckup and grab the wheel top and bottom and tug any real movement is worn bearings.
3. Look at the tyres and check for abnormal wear which indicates it has an alignment problem.
The above do not really fit your syptoms but are worth checking anyway.

4. Check the axle clamp bolts are tight both front and rear.
5. Swivel free play or worn king pins. This usuallymanifests itself as a shimmy after hitting a bump.
6. Ball joints in all the tie bars. There are six of them and these are your most likely culprit. Remember to check the bar from the steering box to the steering relay.
7. The steering relay. This is the most often neglected part of the steering. Check for free play in the shaft. WHile you are there add some oil. Also check that the bolts clamping both the realy in place and the pitman arms in place are tight.
8. Steering box. Check the lever arm on the end is tight and the mounting screws to the upright are also tight. 101s at least are notorious for loose mountings.
9. In the cab check the steering column mount and the splines on the steering wheel to column are not very badly worn.

Adjust the lash nut. I set mine using a 10mm spanner or imperial equivalent. I tighten it gently but do not torque on it. THere is a sweet spot where lash is minimal without causing damage.

Finally, it could be wear in the bearings in the column itself or it has been poorly shimmed if it has been rebuilt. Try pulling the steering wheel axially towards you. There should be no free play.

That's about it really. It's not a complex system but has lots of parts that can all add up to vagueness.

Edit/ Damn my clumsy slow fingers. Beaten to the draw again.

Cheers
Gregor

[Rosie]

I will try these things.
Is alignment an issue here at all?
Just got new tires, but have not done an alignment.
How critical is an alignment if I am not going to be driving very much?

[Eric W S]

I will try these things.
Is alignment an issue here at all?
Just got new tires, but have not done an alignment.
How critical is an alignment if I am not going to be driving very much?

It will impact your tire wear and how the truck tracks. You should always get an alignment with new tires. Why spend the money just to have them wear prematurely? And you'll find out if your TRE need replacement.

Safety, not drive time should be your primary concern.

I would methodically trace your faults and correct them. Then and only then will you have any confidence that the steering SYSTEM is up to your standards.

[Rosie]

Eric, what is TRE?
Ok, so the problem appears to be in the steering assembly box, or in the inner column.
I have taken off the steering wheel and when I turn the splines in the column back and forth, it appears that the problem is within the column, and down in or near the box.
Have any suggestions? I have looked at everything else you mention and nothing else seems to have problems.
Thanks!

[zayante]

Tie Rod End / Track Rod End.

If you can turn the steering column some ways before the arm coming out of the steering box moves, it's probably the steering box backlash adjustment. Problem is that the gears in the box wear in the center, so if you tighten it so all the play is gone on-center, it will be too tight at the extremes of steering, and the steering won't want to self-center.

There are so many parts in the steering linkage that there is the potential for a lot of lost motion.

[Rosie]

Chris,
If this is the case, what then?
New steering box?
Thanks!

[Eric W S]

Steering boxes for 2 and 2a's are no longer available.

Sounds like you need a rocker shaft adjustment. Might have some balls out of the races in the shaft or the shaft in the wrong position.

[Leslie]

Rosie,

Just so you know, if you end up talking with an alignment shop....

On a Series Rover, the castor and camber are fixed, all you can adjust is the toe of the front wheels. It should have just a bit of toe-in.


Best o' luck.....

[Rosie]

Steering boxes for 2 and 2a's are no longer available.

Sounds like you need a rocker shaft adjustment. Might have some balls out of the races in the shaft or the shaft in the wrong position.

Eric, is this something I can myself or how could this be done?
Leslie, thanks for the alignment info!!!

[Eric W S]

Eric, is this something I can myself or how could this be done?
Leslie, thanks for the alignment info!!!

The factory repair manual covers the overhaul. I don't know how mechanically inclined you are.

[SafeAirOne]

To Simplify Things a Bit...

Rosie, There are many good suggestions about WHAT to troubleshoot, just nothing on HOW to troubleshoot it. As others have mentioned, I'd go straight to the slop in the system. Here's HOW:

...Just to simplify things, check this picture out...

http://www.roversnorth.com/store/pc-206-276-page-30-land-rover-series-ii-iia-iii-steering-column-assembly-steering-box.aspx

1) When a helper rocks the steering wheel back and forth, is there a lot of movement before the arm on the steering box (the arm right in front of the front bumper of the rover in the picture) begins to move?

YES: Your steering box is in need of attention. Adjust then continue below. ("how do you adjust" will be another post if necessary)

NO: Then check this picture out:

http://www.roversnorth.com/store/pc-207-276-page-31-land-rover-series-ii-iia-iii-steering-tie-rods-track-rod-drag-link.aspx

The steering relay unit pictured goes through the vehicle chassis near the front ot the rover. You'll only be able to see the very top and the very bottom sticking through the chassis.

There is a rod connecting the arm on the steering box to the arm on the steering relay (not pictured in either photo). This rod has a flexible "tie rod end" on each end--See item #17 in photo 2. These tie rod ends get worn out over time and develop play in them.

2) Put a hand/leg/foot against one of the front wheels and have the helper rock the steering wheel back and forth until you feel the front wheel move. Observe both tie rod ends on the rod between the steering box and relay. Is there slack/slop in either tie rod end before you feel the front wheel move?


YES: replace the tie rod ends. Continue to step 3

NO: Continue to step 3

3) Look under the truck and do the same for the steering track rod and drag link. Is there slack/slop in any tie rod end?

YES: Replace those tie rod ends as necessary.

No: You're done!

The way you describe it, I'd suspect nothing but "yes" answers.

Other than the steering relay itself, I'm confident that there are really no other components in the steering system that could cause the steering wheel to have so much play in in before the front wheels turn.

Only after I checked/(repaired and test drove) all this would I move on to the more complex items like King Pins and wheel bearings.

Good Luck!

[Rosie]

Mark, just to be clear,
when you say rock the steering wheel back and forth, do you mean as I do to experience the play in the wheel, which is a left to right turning of the steering wheel, or do you mean taking the steering wheel in my hand and actually pulling forward and back with left hand and right hand.
"rocking" is throwing me off...
I think you mean just turning the wheel to the left and to the right, as is done to experience the play in the wheel.
Thanks!

[SafeAirOne]

Mark, just to be clear,
when you say rock the steering wheel back and forth, do you mean as I do to experience the play in the wheel, which is a left to right turning of the steering wheel, or do you mean taking the steering wheel in my hand and actually pulling forward and back with left hand and right hand.
"rocking" is throwing me off...
I think you mean just turning the wheel to the left and to the right, as is done to experience the play in the wheel.
Thanks!

Like you are trying to steer, rotating the wheel clockwise/counterclockwise. End play (pulling the wheel toward your chest is a different matter.