Printable Version | Subscribe | Add to Favourites
New Topic New Poll New Reply
Author: Subject: "Sticky" steering?
Xtreme Kermit

posted on 7/5/13 at 08:08 PM Reply With Quote
"Sticky" steering?

So any ideas where to look for a fault on my steering?

The steering feels heavier than usual in the straight ahead position and for instance turning slightly left. Then pulling back straight is quite light until the centre position is reached.

I can't feel any slop in the steering, as soon as you move the wheel, the road wheels turn and centering the steering always straights the wheels dead ahead.

It also manifests in a distinct lack of self centring.

Confused...

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
madteg

posted on 7/5/13 at 08:18 PM Reply With Quote
Remove both track rod ends and check the rack and uprights separately.
Could be the rack or a ball joint seizing up

[Edited on 7/5/13 by madteg]

View User's Profile E-Mail User View All Posts By User U2U Member
Oddified

posted on 7/5/13 at 08:28 PM Reply With Quote
Can also be a uj on the steering column.

Ian

View User's Profile Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
rusty nuts

posted on 7/5/13 at 08:32 PM Reply With Quote
Sierra column bush can cause similar symptoms, a self aligning bearing works a treat
View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
Xtreme Kermit

posted on 7/5/13 at 08:38 PM Reply With Quote
Cheers guys, looks like I've got a bit of dismantling to do to see what's up...

Ta for the pointers.

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
edsco

posted on 7/5/13 at 09:42 PM Reply With Quote
Could it be your castor is different on either side? Or are your UJ joints trying to work at too acute angle? I had the angle issue before which manifested itself in the steering going light heavy light.......





edsco

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
britishtrident

posted on 7/5/13 at 10:08 PM Reply With Quote
An easy one if you have a lumpy steering that feels like a 50p piece is somewhere in the mechanism then it is defo a steering UJ --- this is a very common problem.

A rack problem has quite different symptoms.
For it to be the rack you either have to have hit a kerb or adjusted the rack damper pad too tightly. Steering racks always wear most around the centre position so if the rack damper is adjusted too tight the steering binds as you turn to full lock. A bent rack as similar symptoms but usually only gets tight on one lock.





[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
Xtreme Kermit

posted on 8/5/13 at 06:38 AM Reply With Quote
Thanks, it's odd. It's heavy to start a turn and light to return to almost centre and then heavy again...

I'll start with the UJ I think, then pop the joints if it doesn't look like that.

Cheers!

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
MakeEverything

posted on 8/5/13 at 06:41 AM Reply With Quote






Kindest Regards,
Richard.

...You can make it foolProof, but youll never make it Idiot Proof!...

View User's Profile E-Mail User View All Posts By User U2U Member
britishtrident

posted on 8/5/13 at 07:47 AM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Xtreme Kermit
Thanks, it's odd. It's heavy to start a turn and light to return to almost centre and then heavy again...

I'll start with the UJ I think, then pop the joints if it doesn't look like that.

Cheers!


Often if a UJ has seized if you jack the car up with both wheels clear of the deck and get an assistant to turn the steering lock to lock you can see the steering shaft jump at particular angular positions.

Another sign can be rust stains on the spider of the UJ ------ water ingress to the steering UJ is often due to pressure washing.





[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
Xtreme Kermit

posted on 8/5/13 at 04:01 PM Reply With Quote
Bar-steward...

quote:
Originally posted by MakeEverything


View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
Xtreme Kermit

posted on 18/8/13 at 03:30 PM Reply With Quote
An update from Kermit towers:

After suffering a wheel bearing failure and getting a really good excuse to get the front of the car in the air, the cause of the "lumpy steering" is a partially seized steering UJ. I have started with penetrating oil and a bit of persuasion and it has loosened up a bit.

I'll keep lubricating and exercising (ooh err missus) and see if I can getaway without replacing it.

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
navyseamonkey2011

posted on 19/8/13 at 01:48 PM Reply With Quote
UJ seizing

I would look into replacing it, I have attempted to unseize them in the past and its always been a short term fix.
Theyre only a couple of bucks I personaly wouldnt bother trying to service it.

View User's Profile E-Mail User View All Posts By User U2U Member
britishtrident

posted on 19/8/13 at 02:03 PM Reply With Quote
Replace it lubing it won't work for long, there is a gap in the market for rubber protective gaiters for these to prevent water ingress due to pressure washing.





[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
adithorp

posted on 19/8/13 at 02:14 PM Reply With Quote
I'd go for replacing it. They're only tiny needle rollers in the bearings and if you do get it freed off, the wear in the needles will result soon after as a load of play in it





"A witty saying proves nothing" Voltaire

http://jpsc.org.uk/forum/

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
ChrisL

posted on 19/8/13 at 02:35 PM Reply With Quote
I had a similar problem, where the steering would stick, just greased the UJs and rose joint bearing (if that makes sense) and been fine ever since
View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
Xtreme Kermit

posted on 19/8/13 at 05:52 PM Reply With Quote
Well, it freed up nicely after a couple of hours of penetrating oil and sporadic wiggling.

But reading the comments above, I will put a new bottom shaft including uj on the shopping list.

Does anyone know if the joint comes off the splined shaft?

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member

New Topic New Poll New Reply


go to top






Website design and SEO by Studio Montage

All content © 2001-16 LocostBuilders. Reproduction prohibited
Opinions expressed in public posts are those of the author and do not necessarily represent
the views of other users or any member of the LocostBuilders team.
Running XMB 1.8 Partagium [© 2002 XMB Group] on Apache under CentOS Linux
Founded, built and operated by ChrisW.