defender power steering

[munkymush]

hi to everyone, i have a 1986 l/r 90 . when im on a motorway or bypass i have a lot of trouble holding it on a straight line i seem to be correcting the steering all the time ..particularly when towing my boat .. at times it wanders left +right fairly badly..
the swivels are fine everythings been polybushed, a frame ball joint replaced .
no play in any joints.. i m suspecting the steering box ? ive taken any backlash out of it .. still the same problem.. do i just go for it +swop the steering box ? any ideas on how to tell for sure .. also how good is the defender steering on long motorway trips are they normally hard work to drive or is it mines so bad .. thanks glenn

[KevinNY]

Have you checked your aligment?

[munkymush]

i had it tracked a a while ago..and was told it was ok .. it doesnt pull one way it just seems to drift both ways ..?

[TerryS]

Is your trailer particularly tongue heavy? This will cause oversteer. Are your front tires properly inflated? Do you have sufficient swivel ball resistance?

[Geobloke]

Ok know this feeling, annoying ain't it!?!

Things to check, starting from the steering wheel;

2 UJs on the steering column
Drop arm nut - they can come loose
Drop arm ball joint to tie rod
Tie rod ball joint to swivel
Track rod ball joints (behind the axle)
Panhard rod bushes - holds axle to chassis, the bushes wear.
Radius arm bushes - 3 per arm

Providing that all of these are A-OK then check the PAS box, even with the engine off if you turn the steering wheel you should feel/see the wheels turn.

You'll need quietness for this - If you turn the steering wheel listen for clunks and knocks, you might be able to feel them too.

Last night I did all of this on a mates defender and it ended up being the panhard rod bushes.

Good luck.

[munkymush]

thanks to every one for the help.. terry the trailer is ok.. ive towed it with a 4trak +no problems at all .. one thing i forgot to mention was the steering vagueness seems to get worse at about 60mph at 65 its quite scary at times ... looks like im gonna have to go through it all again ..grrrr ive checked everything in the past.. can any one tell me what the handling on motorways is like in a good defender are they normally hard work on long motorway trips? and thanks again to everyone much appreciated glenn

[Geobloke]

Originally Posted by munkymush

thanks to every one for the help.. terry the trailer is ok.. ive towed it with a 4trak +no problems at all .. one thing i forgot to mention was the steering vagueness seems to get worse at about 60mph at 65 its quite scary at times ... looks like im gonna have to go through it all again ..grrrr ive checked everything in the past.. can any one tell me what the handling on motorways is like in a good defender are they normally hard work on long motorway trips? and thanks again to everyone much appreciated glenn

Handling is usually ace, certainly in the 2 defenders I have (1992 and a 2001), they both cruise effortlessly at 70mph all day. If the road has grooves in it made by countless lorries driving over it you may find that your defender will tram track in them, even crab along with one front in one groove and the opposite rear in the other. Tyres have a big effect on this. Otherwise I have towed boats and trailers up and down this fair isle with no problems.

The only time the steering has been "interesting" was when things like bushes, ball joints are worn.

[TerryS]

I suppose a 90 might be a little bit more tiring over an extended period than a 110, but I have to say, steering is the least of the concern after 6 1/2 hrs on the highway, going between our place in CT and Maine. I have Corbeau seats, and they are fantastic, so my butt is no more numb than normal. What is hell is the baking my legs and feet take.

[Geobloke]

Originally Posted by TerryS

I suppose a 90 might be a little bit more tiring over an extended period than a 110, but I have to say, steering is the least of the concern after 6 1/2 hrs on the highway, going between our place in CT and Maine. I have Corbeau seats, and they are fantastic, so my butt is no more numb than normal. What is hell is the baking my legs and feet take.

Yeah some people don't like the standard seats, me I find them just fine, have the cloth ones. Drove the length of France and the UK this summer without any numb bums! The baking legs and feet sound painful, whats that about!!??!

Our 110 does tow better, but not much really.

[onslow]

Originally Posted by munkymush

hi to everyone, i have a 1986 l/r 90 . when im on a motorway or bypass i have a lot of trouble holding it on a straight line i seem to be correcting the steering all the time ..particularly when towing my boat .. at times it wanders left +right fairly badly..
the swivels are fine everythings been polybushed, a frame ball joint replaced .
no play in any joints.. i m suspecting the steering box ? ive taken any backlash out of it .. still the same problem.. do i just go for it +swop the steering box ? any ideas on how to tell for sure .. also how good is the defender steering on long motorway trips are they normally hard work to drive or is it mines so bad .. thanks glenn

Have you increased your tyre pressures sound to me the are too soft I run 45 psi in the rears on my disco when towing solid as a rock no wandering,I know someone who claimed my trailer was at fault then he thought it was his vehicle so spent 400 quid on new bushes and shockers etc to find he only had 28 psi in the rears