Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[kcl]

Have you done anything about the UJ yet?
Alan

P.S. I have had exactly this problem on 2 Reliant Scimitars and 2 Jaguar XJ-S's and in all four cases it was a semi seized UJ due to dried out grease (and rust in one case)

Somehow I managed to forget that 

[omega3000]

Is there a UJ in the column, I cannot remember.  If there is, this fault is typical of a dry and partially seized UJ.  Try spraying the UJ with penetrating fluid followed by spray grease.
Alan

Any pictures of this UJ , is it easy enough to get to ...wouldnt mind checking mine also 

[Marks DTM Calib]

Struggling to see it being the Uj to be honest, could see it being a top mount bearing failure

[hotel21]

Slightly off topic but related enough to perhaps be of interest.

Steering on sons 300 tdi disco got a bit 'interesting' recently.  Failed to self centre after corners, slightly heavy, bit notchy when steering.  Replaced old tired steering damper with a De Carbon gas jobbie but fault still present.

Further short term remedy was knocking seven bells out the UJ's on the column assembly and some spray lube, pending replacement of the lower joint that was out in the muck and spray of a few thousand miles of on and off road use.
 

[omega3000]

Further short term remedy was knocking seven bells out the UJ's on the column assembly and some spray lube

 

[Marks DTM Calib]

The Omega coupling is nicely in the dry.

[feeutfo]

Struggling to see it being the Uj to be honest, could see it being a top mount bearing failure

I believe the op has another thread re failed bushes, and intends fitting new wb's. So that's the wb ball joint sorted as well. Presumably turning the shock with wishbone removed would be a good time to check top shock mount?(although unloaded)
 Or even remove the shock then top mount to inspect the internal baring for pits etc.
Leave the stub axle to shock bolts connected to preserve camber, for what its worth?

[feeutfo]

Struggling to see it being the Uj to be honest, could see it being a top mount bearing failure

I believe the op has another thread re failed bushes, and intends fitting new wb's. So that's the wb ball joint sorted as well. Presumably turning the shock with wishbone removed would be a good time to check top shock mount?(although unloaded)
 Or even remove the shock then top mount to inspect the internal baring for pits etc.
Leave the stub axle to shock bolts connected to preserve camber, for what its worth?

Also if removing stub axle while attached to the shock there will be need to remove the steering ball joint (tap from the top with a hammer) can check track rod ball joints are free then.

[kcl]

Struggling to see it being the Uj to be honest, could see it being a top mount bearing failure

I believe the op has another thread re failed bushes, and intends fitting new wb's. So that's the wb ball joint sorted as well. Presumably turning the shock with wishbone removed would be a good time to check top shock mount?(although unloaded)
 Or even remove the shock then top mount to inspect the internal baring for pits etc.
Leave the stub axle to shock bolts connected to preserve camber, for what its worth?

Also if removing stub axle while attached to the shock there will be need to remove the steering ball joint (tap from the top with a hammer) can check track rod ball joints are free then.

Thanks for the hints. Will fetch some wishbones and fit them during the weekend if SWMBO let's me  After reading what has been written here I think there are now only two options left: wb ball joint or top strut bearing.

[feeutfo]

Struggling to see it being the Uj to be honest, could see it being a top mount bearing failure

I believe the op has another thread re failed bushes, and intends fitting new wb's. So that's the wb ball joint sorted as well. Presumably turning the shock with wishbone removed would be a good time to check top shock mount?(although unloaded)
 Or even remove the shock then top mount to inspect the internal baring for pits etc.
Leave the stub axle to shock bolts connected to preserve camber, for what its worth?

Also if removing stub axle while attached to the shock there will be need to remove the steering ball joint (tap from the top with a hammer) can check track rod ball joints are free then.

Thanks for the hints. Will fetch some wishbones and fit them during the weekend if SWMBO let's me  After reading what has been written here I think there are now only two options left: wb ball joint or top strut bearing.

Let's hope so, and that the work that needs doing anyway will help solve the problem. With the above parts disconnected hopefully it should be possible to rule those out if nothing else. Best of luck.

[kcl]

Struggling to see it being the Uj to be honest, could see it being a top mount bearing failure

I believe the op has another thread re failed bushes, and intends fitting new wb's. So that's the wb ball joint sorted as well. Presumably turning the shock with wishbone removed would be a good time to check top shock mount?(although unloaded)
 Or even remove the shock then top mount to inspect the internal baring for pits etc.
Leave the stub axle to shock bolts connected to preserve camber, for what its worth?

Also if removing stub axle while attached to the shock there will be need to remove the steering ball joint (tap from the top with a hammer) can check track rod ball joints are free then.

Thanks for the hints. Will fetch some wishbones and fit them during the weekend if SWMBO let's me  After reading what has been written here I think there are now only two options left: wb ball joint or top strut bearing.

Let's hope so, and that the work that needs doing anyway will help solve the problem. With the above parts disconnected hopefully it should be possible to rule those out if nothing else. Best of luck.

Thanks 

[kcl]

Some updates: wishbones changed and they really needed to; right hand one had rear bush comletely loose, all other bushes were well shot. Had the struts off the car (yes, I dismantled the whole front end, camber was re-set by spirit level and feeler gauge, close enough for winter), replaced strut top bearings, put it all together and guess what: stilll the stiff point!!! However, when driving it yesterday it was not present, nor last night when I thought to slightly adjust the steering box... So, I'm off to MOT this week, let's see what they can find and I really can not imagine anything else related than the steering box itself but it's very hard to believe it would be the reason....

[feeutfo]

If stiff point is straight ahead, or near to, could the steering box be over tight..?

Jyst a thought. Will re read more thoroughly thus evening if poss.

[kcl]

If stiff point is straight ahead, or near to, could the steering box be over tight..?

Jyst a thought. Will re read more thoroughly thus evening if poss.

It's about one quarter turn or slightly less so thats also what I thought box being too tight... Am I wrong thinking that 1/8 turns could be enough when adjusting the box...?

[feeutfo]

Its a case of very small adjustments until your happy, yes. Only affects straight ahead IF/PROVIDED the steering column is at 12 oclock and lines up with 12oclock on the steering box. If the track rods are set correctly then the tight point will then take out slight play at straight ahead position.
But iirc the pitman arm was described as straight ahead, so cant see it being intermitantly stiff at 3/9oclock position due to the designed tight spot tbh.