steering wanders

[kazzabell75]

My steering has a mind of its own, it wanders a lot and is a nightmare with a bit of wind. Steering arms all good, new steering idler pin, tyre pressures ok. Traditional amount of slop @ the steering wheel. Any ideas anyone?

 

[68oldskool]

hi..i have the same problem...been tracked and retracked..still wanders .but i put it down to being slammed...anyway was told it could be the rear tracking.....have you had the rear end set ?? just a thought

 

[sparkywig]

Should only be a maximum of 2" of play at the steering wheel.
Wear in the steering box, idler, trackrods, ball joints, wheel bearings, etc.
Running skinny low profile tyres without a reinforced sidewall doesn't help either.

 

[Tofufi]

Should only be a maximum of 2" of play at the steering wheel.
Wear in the steering box, idler, trackrods, ball joints, wheel bearings, etc.
Running skinny low profile tyres without a reinforced sidewall doesn't help either.

Let's be honest, if you've got 2" of play at the wheel then it's probably time to find the source of the play

I believe my van (with new centre/idler pin bushes and steering adjusted) has around 1/2" of play at the wheel (steering straight ahead).

 

[Stevec]

Mine has the normal play so your leaks jigging it slightly back nd fourth while your driving but just recently it suddenly goes to one side and I have to pull the wheel round a good inch then it's driving fright in tht position....any ideas? If its the pin etc is it an easy DIY job? Cheers

 

[sparkywig]

Sounds like the steering box peg is well worn and has a flat spot.

 

[kazzabell75]

The steering is also off centre, do I need to centre steering then adjust steering box?

 

[sparkywig]

No, you need to undo the steering coupler and sort the centre point out first, otherwise you won't have equal turns side to side.

 

[neilswheels]

Mine all looked good underneath, but wondered terribly. Turned out to be the balljoint on the drag link, the one you cant change. New drag link, all sorted. Have someone wiggle your steering wheel while your underneath, and check for play. Mine was obvious, the balljoint was literally sliding back and forwards when you wiggled the wheel!

 

[mattd1984]

Also some roads have worn groves from lorries etc. I find occasionally I will get pulled one way or the other as the left or right wheels get into the groove

 

[Bluesnailman]

I had real problems with being blown in the wind, ratwells has a section on shock absorbers and seems like the condition of the rears is a big issue for buffeting. From my own experience, changing the shocks all round has made a big difference. Still get blown, but not nearly so bad