Can't drive in a straight line

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ARCoombes

New Member
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7
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My son has a 1995 Defender 90 300 TDi, 164k miles. He has replaced the suspension (springs and shocks) all round and made a good job of it. It has two new tyres on the back, and two with about 5mm tread on the front.
Driving it to work this morning (wet) I found it hard to keep in a straight line, it would keep slewing off to one side or the other, and going round corners it would sudddenly seem to grip and turn more sharply.
There is some play in the transmission somewhere - front diff or transfer box I think.
Is this common (the straight line bit, I'm sure worn transmission is!).
Hoping someone can offer some advice, please.
Andrew
 
First off, not a good idea to keep driving that....
Second at that age and mileage I'd be checking the steering drop arm, tie rod ball joints and drag link bushes....? Not safe as it stands for certain.

Other brighter bods will be along soon I hope. Cheers A

(Oh, and several others will be ranting on about not introducing yourself in that section and submitting references from your bank and a letter from your mum....... ;-). )
 
Have you checked that diff lock is disengaged (physical check as bub could be blown). Steering damper and swivel pre-load could also be at fault if agew's suggestions don't find anything.
 
Thanks for the tips guys. Inevitably it is turning into something bigger. An MoT check has turned up the need for a new exhaust, new disks and pads to rear axle, bit of work to front wheel bearings - and a new rear quarter chassis due to galloping rust! Time to call in some professional help I think. I'll explore your suggestions above along the way :)
 
ARCoombes said:
My son has a 1995 Defender 90 300 TDi, 164k miles. He has replaced the suspension (springs and shocks) all round and made a good job of it. It has two new tyres on the back, and two with about 5mm tread on the front.
Driving it to work this morning (wet) I found it hard to keep in a straight line, it would keep slewing off to one side or the other, and going round corners it would sudddenly seem to grip and turn more sharply.
There is some play in the transmission somewhere - front diff or transfer box I think.
Is this common (the straight line bit, I'm sure worn transmission is!).
Hoping someone can offer some advice, please.
Andrew
Click to expand...
Right lots to check here, although most easy.

Check the bushes and ball joints on everything. For the steering, with the engine off, get someone to turn the wheel back and forth, 1/4 turn each way. Listen for clonks, there really shouldn't be any. You'll also be able to visually check the ball joints to see if there is play in them.

This goes for bushes like the panhard rod bushes, do the same as above.

Radius arm bushes are harder to check, but you can visually inspect them. Suspect for the cost (and a days worth of faffing) it would be wise to replace them.

Last up, steering boxes to wear and create a lot of play. If you find you are steering one way and it goes the other, then this is likely the cause.

You also want front and rear tyres to be the same size. Amount of wear doesn't really matter much, but the general height should be similar. Although this shouldn't have any real affect on the symptoms you are describing. I too would also want to check that diff lock really was not engaged.

Also, you said the suspension has been replaced. Has it been lifted? If so, this can affect castor. And will highlight any worn parts. Lifting is fine, but a lifted one will never steer quite as well on the road (well not without other work). But what happens most often is it'll highlight all the bits that are worn.
 
300bhp/ton said:
Also, you said the suspension has been replaced. Has it been lifted? If so, this can affect castor. And will highlight any worn parts. Lifting is fine, but a lifted one will never steer quite as well on the road (well not without other work). But what happens most often is it'll highlight all the bits that are worn.
Click to expand...

I have this, I have a 2" Terrafirma lift kit and it pulls to the left, not a hard pull mind you, would a adjustable panhard arm fix this though? My dad has followed behind me and he said it was crabbing, you could see the front left corner, but not the front right corner?
 
What tire pressures are you running on?. The garage pumped mine up to about 3.2 bars all round. I was wandering all over the road. I reduced the front to 1.9 as per the hand book and now its fine.
 
tottot said:
Seems very much like rear axle steering and is most noticeable when taking foot on and off throttle.Cause is worn bushes
Click to expand...
Had some of this - discovered when the new rear quarter chassis was put on. Replaced the bushes but, whilst better, the problem still remains. Will start looking at some of the other suggestions later in the week.
 
I recently had a pair of new tyres on the back and a pair of well worn ones on the front. It was scary to drive especially with any weight in it. New tyres on the front and it drives like new. I wouldn't have believed that the tyres could make so much difference but they did.
 
martys0uth said:
I have this, I have a 2" Terrafirma lift kit and it pulls to the left, not a hard pull mind you, would a adjustable panhard arm fix this though? My dad has followed behind me and he said it was crabbing, you could see the front left corner, but not the front right corner?
Click to expand...
A lift causes the panhard rod to pull the axle to one side, this will make it steer to one side also.

An adjustable panhard rod is available to centralise the axle.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions guys. Bushes on the rear have brought it back to as good as a LR gets I think. I suspect I'm just getting used to the difference between a 20 year old 90 and a new Audi. Had so much fun in it though that I have now acquired it from my son. It's all downhill from here.
 
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