Steering problem update

[11redrex]

For anyone else experiencing the same problems :

It was pulling to the left.

Checked and tightened front wheel bearings. They were loooo-ooose.

Checked the front brake calipers at the same time, no dragging on the discs.

Checked all the linkages, found track rod ends and drag link joints to be loose/worn/kernackered. Changed all that.

Had the tracking done, which I should have had done before anything.

It still pulls to the left, especially under hard braking. Nearly ended up on the grass verge today !

Steering Idler bushes next (courtesy of makeitfit)

Back brakes, suspension, torsion bars, diff oil, gearbox oil, and front brakes (again) are all on the list too :nenau.

 

[leafy1]

Can you clarify this....Is it pulling to the left under braking and or when going in a straight line without even touching the brake pedal

 

[zippy656]

http://www.devon4x4.com/products_a/p1742c214/0/tyre-balancing-beads-200g-bag.html

may help. not tryed myslelf but been told they are good..

 

[11redrex]

It wanders to the left a bit under normal driving. It's not so bad now the tracking's been done, but under braking it does pull off to the left quite badly.

 

[cncfabs]

It wanders to the left a bit under normal driving. It's not so bad now the tracking's been done, but under braking it does pull off to the left quite badly.

If it pulls under braking then its your brakes wandering to the left slightly is normal

 

[11redrex]

Fingers crossed - brakes I can do !

 

[11redrex]

Right, had the passenger side front wheel off today. Loosedned the wheel bearings slightly, just one hole on the tightening ring, got a little wobble now but nothing like it was before.
Also freed the brake caliper off, it was stuck solid - had to use a crow bar and the power steering to free it off !
Brakes are a little bit poop now but the pull to the left is noticeably less. It still lurches over to the left under braking though. So.....
I reckon the calipers need stripping and cleaning, as the left one was clearly jammed shut, and that I will find the right hand side is jammed open.

 

[11redrex]

finally got round to rebuilding the front caliper on the left hand front wheel. It was pretty solid, one piston didn't want to move at all but I managed to convince it out with the compressor.
Still pulls to the left when driving, now dives to the right under hard braking.:banghead

 

[11redrex]

I got the truck on level ground today and fiddled with the torsion bars.
It was about 20mm high on the drivers side so I wound the bolt out until the centres of the wheel arches were exactly the same distance from the ground. It still doesn't look level and the torsion bar bolts are nothing like the same measurement, but it's a start.
Brakes seem to have sorted themselves out, no diving anywhere now, and the pull to the left has eased off a bit. So, that's another step in the right direction.

Next !

 

[extreme-4x4]

did you lift the passenger side to suit the drivers or lower the drivers side

 

[11redrex]

I'd already lifted the drivers side last week by making both torsion bar bolts even lengths, so I lowered it today. Bottom of wheel arch, not including the plastic bit, is 850mm from the ground. Don't think there's a standard measurement for this, the manual just says make them the same ?

 

[11redrex]

just read the manual again. Oops. Not supposed to adjust by loosening

 

[extreme-4x4]

...:thumbs

 

[11redrex]

Right, tried it with the Michelins on, and the pull is back Also I'd put the spare on the back to match the other side but it was badly out of balance. Swapped it for another very good tyre and it got rid of the wobbles, but not the pulling.
Just got in from fitting a new cv boot so I'll see if that makes any difference tomorrow.
Sheared two of the top ball joint bolts off so it's only got two holding it on now, it'll be ok for a day or two won't it ? The rubber was split so I'll get a new one rather than f about trying to drill the old bolts out.

 

[extreme-4x4]

Right, tried it with the Michelins on, and the pull is back Also I'd put the spare on the back to match the other side but it was badly out of balance. Swapped it for another very good tyre and it got rid of the wobbles, but not the pulling.
Just got in from fitting a new cv boot so I'll see if that makes any difference tomorrow.
Sheared two of the top ball joint bolts off so it's only got two holding it on now, it'll be ok for a day or two won't it ? The rubber was split so I'll get a new one rather than f about trying to drill the old bolts out.

are you mad ???

if the pulling is happening with one tyre and not another . its your tyre either got a flat spot or worse the metal ply is hanging out.

carefully run your hand around the tyre and feel for bumps , bits not smooth or pin like bits poking through the rubber. mind your hands though

have you had these balanced

 

[11redrex]

The michelins on the front are new, the ones on the rear aren't a pair now but that hasn't made any difference to the pull to the left.
The one I put on this morning is probably shagged, it went flat a few weeks ago and I had to drive about 200metres with it like that to get to hard ground and change it. It pumped up fine and stayed up, but it's obviously knocked itself out of balance or knackered itself completely as the car shook like a bastard with it on. Put a new Nankang on at work today and the wobbles have gone.

Anyway , looks like a late start tomorrow and fingers crossed the local motor factors has a ball joint in stock..

In answer to your question, yes I am.

 

[extreme-4x4]

i have had new tyres that were damaged from new and pulled to one side . id say def the tyre.

are they directional

 

[11redrex]

no mate not directional. Gonna have to get the tracking done again so I'll get them both balanced again.

It's been pulling to the left since I got it.

So far I've changed the drag link, track rods and front tyres, tightened the wheel bearings, adjusted the torsion bars, fitted a new cv boot, and rebuilt the calipers.
Now I've got to fit a new top ball joint which £35 from the local motor factors (£15 on ebay, or £53 for all four !)
This bloody thing is costing me too much, I might have to bite the bullet soon and get shot or break it. Last night I promised my lovely and understanding girlfriend I wouldn't spend any more money on it before Christmas, so it was a bit awkward explaining to her why I'm not at work this morning

 

[extreme-4x4]

no mate not directional. Gonna have to get the tracking done again so I'll get them both balanced again.

It's been pulling to the left since I got it.

So far I've changed the drag link, track rods and front tyres, tightened the wheel bearings, adjusted the torsion bars, fitted a new cv boot, and rebuilt the calipers.
Now I've got to fit a new top ball joint which £35 from the local motor factors (£15 on ebay, or £53 for all four !)
This bloody thing is costing me too much, I might have to bite the bullet soon and get shot or break it. Last night I promised my lovely and understanding girlfriend I wouldn't spend any more money on it before Christmas, so it was a bit awkward explaining to her why I'm not at work this morning

if you do nothing else today ..... do not buy ebay ball joints.... we have tried them and the threads fail before they are even fitted. very poor quality

 

[11redrex]

Can't buy anything at the moment ! Drilled the old bolts out, retapped the holes and fitted new bolts, put it all back together. Seems fine apart from this :
When I put the auto hub back on last night I couldn't get the snap ring on, so I left the flat washer out. Tried puling the shaft through while pushing on the hub, but it just won't come through far enough. Only thing I can think is I might have put the bearing spacer on the wrong way round behind the knuckle. It says make sure it goes on the right way in the manual, and I did notice one side of was chamfered - would this make any difference ?