Common Steering Faults on 300Tdi Defender - Page 368
STEERING
5
FAULT DIAGNOSIS
Symptom :-
Steering excessively light/sensitive. Excessive
freeplay at steering wheel.
1. Are steering box adjustments correct?
NO -
See Adjustment, Power Steering Box .
WARNING: Adjustments of steering box
should not be required while in warranty
period. If box is within warranty, it must be
returned to manufacturer. No attempt must be
made to introduce backlash.
YES - Suspect worn panhard rod or radius arm
bushes. Check condition of ball joints and the
lower steering column shaft universal joints for
wear
See Repair, Lower Steering Shaft and
Universal Joints .
Symptom :-
Steering vibration, road wheel shimmy - wobble.
Vibration through the steering linkage powerful
enough to induce high frequency oscillation of the
steering wheel, is generally caused by out of balance
road wheels. However there are a number of other
possible causes of this symptom which if severe, may
be described as shimmy or wobble. Regardless of the
terminology used by the owner/driver to describe the
symptoms, the following diagnostic checks should be
carried out in the order presented.
1. Check the tyres and balance of the road wheels
See INTRODUCTION, Information, Wheels
and Tyres , See WHEELS AND TYRES, Fault
diagnosis, Fault - Symptoms See WHEELS
AND TYRES, Repair, Wheel Balancing .
2. Check the steering hydraulic damper function
See Steering Damper .
3. Check steering column universal joints for wear
and correct alignment
See Repair, Lower
Steering Shaft and Universal Joints .
4. Check steering linkage ball joints for wear,
correct alignment and security, including steering
box and tie rod
See Steering Linkage Inspect
.
5. Check all front suspension rubbers for wear.
Check all fixing torques, including radius arm
bushes, panhard rod and anti-roll bar
See
FRONT SUSPENSION, Repair, Panhard Rod ,
See FRONT SUSPENSION, Repair, Radius
Arm , See FRONT SUSPENSION, Repair,
Anti-Roll Bar , See FRONT SUSPENSION,
Repair, Front Shock Absorber .
6. Fit new radius arm bushes using NTC 6781. Fit
new nuts, bolts and washers.
7. If problem persists fit damper kit STC 288 - 90,
STC 290 - 110/130 (2 off front) and STC 289 -
90, STC 291 - 110 levelled, STC 292 - 110
unlevelled, STC 293 - 130 (2 off rear). Road test
vehicle.
8. Check the power steering box adjustments and
operation
See Overhaul, Power Steering Box
.
9. Check the hub bearing end floats and determine
the condition of the hub bearings as applicable
See FRONT AXLE AND FINAL DRIVE, Repair,
Front Hub Assembly .
10. Check the resistance and condition of the
swivels
See FRONT AXLE AND FINAL DRIVE,
Description and operation, Description .
If problem is not diagnosed: Repeat checks
starting at 1.
11. Carry out a full steering geometry check
See
GENERAL SPECIFICATION DATA,
Information, Steering .