[TyziskBen]

I have an 89RRC with OME HD springs F and R, and bilstein shocks F and R. I had put on 265/75/16 BFG MT tires on the car and was getting some rub on the front radius arms, but otherwise, the steering itself was fine, no wander or anything else. Recently, I added 2" spacers F and R with a shock relocation plate in the front to get some more space in the wheel wells, which I achieved, but all of a sudden the steering has become a big problem. The wheel has become hard to turn both ways, and I am getting a rubbing sound from the leather on the steering wheel itself against the plastic piece that is behind the wheel which has the signals, lights, hazard button, etc. I was wondering if anyone could tell me whats going on here...Do I need to add something or move something around with the bigger tires and spacers now in place that I didn't do??? As always, any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Ben Ziskind

 

[road1will]

hello fellow rovering masshole

it sounds to me like your lift and steering problems are unrelated, if anything the wheel should have become easier to turn with more lift because of the change in caster.

look into the rubber bushing at the point where the steering shaft passes through the firewall.

 

[UPOVR]

Is the pump making any noise when you attempt to turn it (growning)? Have you run it low on fluid ? Maybe air got into the system. There's a bleeder screw on the box you can loosen to bleed the box/system. cover your ratchet/ wrench with a rag or you'll be covered with ATF. Also check the Metal U-Joint on the steering shaft. These can where out too. The only other thing I can think of besides the obvious ( Steering box/ PSPump) is the bearings located in the knuckles top/ bottom. I ahd a friend who had these go out from mud/ water seeping in. caused the truck to feel like it was oversteering and pretty scary on the highway. hopes this helps.

 

[TyziskBen]

I have a suspecting feeling it's the steering pump because I just replaced the box maybe 6 months ago, and the fluid level is always full, i make sure of that. When I turn the wheel, it feels like its hard to turn only some of the time, usually when it's cold out, and I drive it the next morning, which I think may be a sign that the pump is almost dead, or on its way out.

The other thing I was curious about was that I read somewhere that when you put bigger tires on the car, like the 265/75/16's I have on there now, you have to change something--bump stops, steering stops???
Anybody else heard this???

Thanks for the reply's,

Ben

p.s. Who else on this board is from Mass, and where in mass are you from, what rover do you drive???Post some pics please, I'm always interested in meetin up with people to go offroadin' with around here...I'm from marblehead, north shore....

 

[UPOVR]

you can adjust out the steering stops to keep the tires from rubbing the radius arms. there are bolts located on the knuckles and they contact the flange (steering stop) that holds the knuckle onto the axle housing. when at full lock this contact limits your turning radius/ tire rubbage (is that a word?).

 

[yellowrover]

I have a suspecting feeling it's the steering pump because I just replaced the box maybe 6 months ago, and the fluid level is always full, i make sure of that. When I turn the wheel, it feels like its hard to turn only some of the time, usually when it's cold out, and I drive it the next morning, which I think may be a sign that the pump is almost dead, or on its way out.

The other thing I was curious about was that I read somewhere that when you put bigger tires on the car, like the 265/75/16's I have on there now, you have to change something--bump stops, steering stops???
Anybody else heard this???

Thanks for the reply's,

Ben


Sounds like you need to bleed it again. Mine was the same after a box change and it took several bleedings to get it smooth.

 

[white130]

Ben, give a look to the u joints on the steering shaft as well. I had an 89 that got real sticky and tough to steer,went to replaced the box. In doing so I found the u-joints to be frozen causing the shaft to bind. So I didn't have to change the box after all.

David