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[Kevin Wood]

I'm down South again most of next week, so could meet up then.

Late shift next week sadly, but always up for a trip to bovington/curry house/pub or whatever if not working.

Could take a day off though. We're not busy atm.

Passed Mot btw. Sailed through. I asked bloke about this issue, said "thats normal for a steering box! Dont worry.... Or do you want me to fail it"    .... Not always a good idea to build a more friendly relationship with your mot tester.  :-/ 

 I explained about  a certain admins problems passing mot's. He went out to tell the rst of the lads, much laughter was heard as i left.  . 

11587

[Lazydocker]

I'm down South again most of next week, so could meet up then.

Late shift next week sadly, but always up for a trip to bovington/curry house/pub or whatever if not working.

Could take a day off though. We're not busy atm.

Passed Mot btw. Sailed through. I asked bloke about this issue, said "thats normal for a steering box! Dont worry.... Or do you want me to fail it"    .... Not always a good idea to build a more friendly relationship with your mot tester.  :-/ 

 I explained about  a certain admins problems passing mot's. He went out to tell the rst of the lads, much laughter was heard as i left.  . 

11587

Not any more

[feeutfo]

  WOOOOH HERUMPHITY 

[05omegav6]

Passed Mot btw

At least that gives you time to investigate. Clutching at straws, but could it be a bit of wear of the worm in the steering box being exaggerated by the drop arm? :-/

To explain: when there's play on the idler it allows the tie rod to lift.

ISTR that if the shaft that the drop arm bolts to has any movement, it will be in/out. more likely to move up as gravity will encourage everything to settle downwards. :-/
As you turn the off side wheel by hand, this would load that track rod, which in turn would push on the tie rod, and in turn push the drop arm up. The drop arm is more securely fixed to its shaft than the idler, (drop arm shaft is active, idler shaft is passive), so any leverage from the the track/tie rods will perhaps make itself known within the steering box given half a chance.

Couple of other questions:
1. Any sign of grease leaking from the steering box?
2. can the 'box be re greased without removal?
3. How much of the cars history do you know? 150 miles per week average could mean alot of trips to the shops/time spent manoeuvring in car parks leading to premature wear of the box?

HTH,

Al.

[feeutfo]

Tester agrees, there is no play at all in the steering linkages, ball joints, idler, wheel barings.

Very very slight flex in the idler up and down of being really fussy.

Its as if the box has lost damping, or some of its damping, when turning in one particular direction.

But as 2woody says, need to check the steering column etc before looking at the box.

There is some evidence of grease around the box damper(?) adjuster around the 17 mill nut, but nothing massive.

No sign of any leaks undernieth.

History and underside would sugest a sheltered life, nothing to sugest hard use.

Except for the slight knock fealt through the steering wheel when turning back the other way there's not alot wrong when driving, apart from the previous tyre ware of course.  Soon be time for the other wheels anyway.

[05omegav6]

The rubber disc that connects the column to the 'box is easy enough to get at to check;
you just need to drop the trim from above the pedals, and the column runs between the clutch and brake pedals. You can see it without dropping the trim, but obviously easier to check with the trim out of the way. Mine has a slight clonk from the steering column guessing the lower bush in the column, as no play (up/down/left/right-not turning) at the wheel.

Not sure that play in the column itself would cause your problem though, if it seems to be a damping issue. :-/

[feeutfo]

Didn't mention, there are occasions when the steering is stiffer turning one way, right I think. Strange.  :-/

[05omegav6]

Not sure exactly how the steering box works, never having dismantled one , but symptoms suggest  that it could be either a sticking valve in the power steering circuit, or internal wear. If you're getting a knock from it, that would suggest mechanical movement, possibly a bit too much float/play inside the 'box, which loosens one way and tightens the other. :-/

 Does it clonk when turning the same way as the tightening sensation? My thruppence ha'penny would say it clonks on way and tightens the other... :-/

If anyone can get to the bottom of it, 2woody's the chap.

[2woody]

just out of interest, does the steering wheel "lock" in the straight ahead position when you take the key out ?

you can experiment with the damper to make sure that it's all straight-ahead, best done with the steering arm to centre drag-link disconnected. When tightened, you can actually feel where the centre part is.

there's not much inside a steering box to wear out, normally a failure is due to one of the recirculating balls flatting, but that's pretty obvious.

[feeutfo]

No, key out it's off to the left. Centre of the lock play is about 3mins to 12 o'clock, ish.

[2woody]

looks like you might be into some column removal this weekend then !

[feeutfo]

I take it should central?  And there are no factory errors in the steering lock position on the column? And this all points to steering column set up?

Play at the road wheel felt the same regardless of steering wheel position. Just slightly more play the further away from straight ahead, which I would expect. The play itself does not greatly concern me, currently the shoulder ware on pas side is causing more  tramlining. What's anoying is the clonk on one side of the play.

It feels like the same clonk when moving the road wheel with steering lock on, but only in one direction. Except the steering lock is off, and the position of the steering makes no odds. Wiggle the road wheel throughout the steering range and it's the same bump clonk bump clonk from lock to lock.

I'll certainly look at the column, probably at Oxford meet. But just want to make sure I have explained the thing correctly mean time. Tis odd though.

Wonder if it's had a wack, one of the road wheels is slightly buckled. ? :-/

[feeutfo]

Not ad a chance to look at the column, not that I know what I'm doing with that anyway, but did check all the cars at the Oxford meet for steering wheel position with steering lock on. Only one was straight, two off to the right, mine and one other off to the left.

[2woody]

that's interesting - all of mine get a column-off steering box adjustment and reset on reassembly. Maybe they're variable   ?

have you checked the steering inner shaft to outer shaft fit in the column ?

points of variation, if you like, are :-

steering column pivot joint - the spider thing in the middle
steering outer column pivots (have seen these wear from time to time)
inner to outer column
rubber coupling
column joint loose
box misaligned
loose steering arm

[Matchless]

Chris,
had a similar problem with my steering box about a year ago, no play in the linkage and tightening the damper didnt help.
In the end I changed the 'box.
On dismantling the old box there was no play between the worm and nut or between nut and sector shaft. The only lost motion was between the input shaft and the worm.....the shaft isnt solid, it allows some movement which operates the hydraulic valves to provide assistance.
I guess one of the valves was stuck or leaky, I seem to remember there being more assistance in one direction than the other.

You could try a fluid change to see if new fluid can flush out any dirt or deposits in the valves.

What level of assistance is your 'box programmed for? Have you had the steering stiffened-up using Tech 2 at some point?