Tim4x4
Well-Known Member
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Has anyone experienced the same feel to the otherwise precise steering as I have when?
My Defender 110 TD5 CSW handled just as I would expect this being my first defender, no previous experience to draw from.
My steering damper looked like it had seen better days so I looked at feedback from others on this site to see what effect the Terrafirma return to centre steering damper has, good or bad and from what I read it appeared to be a benefit so purchased one and fitted it. Taking time to set the position of the spring and clamp to ensure it did not have any bias to one side or the other. The one I removed was very rusty probably the original and I believed the RTC damper would be an aid to the handling particularly when moving slowly.
What I found was, on first drive I did notice more effort was required to turn the steering only a little more but none the less it was ore effort required. OK I can live with that, how is it in general?
Did it aid the return to centre for the steering? No, not fully returning to centre from either direction.
So driving around side streets, parking in the road and car parks generally driving at 30 and 40 MPH no real difference except the extra effort required to turn the steering wheel. For a couple of weeks my driving conditions did not change mainly reasonable roads with the standard issue potholes on 30 and 40 MPH limit roads. I did in that time change all five tyres to new and that of a different manufacturer that are standard size tyres 750 X 16 Avon Rangemasters from Michelin 750 X 16 XCT. Directly after the change and continuing on the feel of the steering was just the same as when I fitted the RTC damper.
Now on a longer journey where I will be covering roads which have higher speed limits of 60 to 70 MPH, this where I noticed the difference. It was a little un-nerving the first time but I was traveling at around 60 MPH two people and the vehicle not loaded (I was going to pick something up), the road has a number of sweeping bends left, right left no need to slow down good view dry road some undulation in the road. I had every confidence in the Defender having travelled this road previously many times. It was on the change from the first left to right I thought the steering had failed just no feeling at all nothing, I had put some input into the wheel but at the neutral point where the wheels are straight ahead it felt so light again my thoughts were that I had no steering but turning the steering wheel it did turn. OK panic over but then it happened again on the next right just the same feeling. I stopped looked at all the steering components checking and double checking but all was OK, continued the journey.
Whilst driving I am thinking what has caused this feeling and trying to recreate it at differing speeds but it was really only at the higher speeds when I would notice it. I came to the conclusion that the RTC damper could be the cause because the spring would be in the neutral position when the wheels are in the straight ahead position so the added effort required to turn the steering wheel either left or right would not be required giving this feeling.
Over the next couple of days I drove with the RTC damper, original damper and the RTC damper with spring removed and each time the RTC damper with spring was fitted it gave leave to the no steering feel. The setup I now have is the RTC damper with the spring aid removed I am more than happy with the handling and the precise surefooted feeling when I first purchased it.
My Defender 110 TD5 CSW handled just as I would expect this being my first defender, no previous experience to draw from.
My steering damper looked like it had seen better days so I looked at feedback from others on this site to see what effect the Terrafirma return to centre steering damper has, good or bad and from what I read it appeared to be a benefit so purchased one and fitted it. Taking time to set the position of the spring and clamp to ensure it did not have any bias to one side or the other. The one I removed was very rusty probably the original and I believed the RTC damper would be an aid to the handling particularly when moving slowly.
What I found was, on first drive I did notice more effort was required to turn the steering only a little more but none the less it was ore effort required. OK I can live with that, how is it in general?
Did it aid the return to centre for the steering? No, not fully returning to centre from either direction.
So driving around side streets, parking in the road and car parks generally driving at 30 and 40 MPH no real difference except the extra effort required to turn the steering wheel. For a couple of weeks my driving conditions did not change mainly reasonable roads with the standard issue potholes on 30 and 40 MPH limit roads. I did in that time change all five tyres to new and that of a different manufacturer that are standard size tyres 750 X 16 Avon Rangemasters from Michelin 750 X 16 XCT. Directly after the change and continuing on the feel of the steering was just the same as when I fitted the RTC damper.
Now on a longer journey where I will be covering roads which have higher speed limits of 60 to 70 MPH, this where I noticed the difference. It was a little un-nerving the first time but I was traveling at around 60 MPH two people and the vehicle not loaded (I was going to pick something up), the road has a number of sweeping bends left, right left no need to slow down good view dry road some undulation in the road. I had every confidence in the Defender having travelled this road previously many times. It was on the change from the first left to right I thought the steering had failed just no feeling at all nothing, I had put some input into the wheel but at the neutral point where the wheels are straight ahead it felt so light again my thoughts were that I had no steering but turning the steering wheel it did turn. OK panic over but then it happened again on the next right just the same feeling. I stopped looked at all the steering components checking and double checking but all was OK, continued the journey.
Whilst driving I am thinking what has caused this feeling and trying to recreate it at differing speeds but it was really only at the higher speeds when I would notice it. I came to the conclusion that the RTC damper could be the cause because the spring would be in the neutral position when the wheels are in the straight ahead position so the added effort required to turn the steering wheel either left or right would not be required giving this feeling.
Over the next couple of days I drove with the RTC damper, original damper and the RTC damper with spring removed and each time the RTC damper with spring was fitted it gave leave to the no steering feel. The setup I now have is the RTC damper with the spring aid removed I am more than happy with the handling and the precise surefooted feeling when I first purchased it.
