Too much play when steering

Hi,

I;ve just bought a '99 Disco V8 Auto as a play thing. Its done 80k and is fairly healthy, but I dont like the 'vagueness' in the steering. Basically, from a central position, you can move the steering wheel half an inch to the left or the right before the wheels actually start to turn. Its ok at slow speeds but is a bit disconcerting above 50mph. Any ideas on what needs doing? Is it 'DIY-able' for a novice??

Stevo

Sounds like it's just steering box wants tightening.
Put front end on axle stands, get somebody to turn the steering from lock to lock,as you slowly tighten the adjustment screw on top of the box. You just loosen the lock nut, and then you'll need an allen key to wind the screw in. put it back on the ground and check, repeat the process untill all the play has been taken out.

Thanks, really appreciate it. Also, I've also got a minor oil leak which I think originates from the left side tappit cover. The oil is running down close to the spark plugs and down to the sump below. Its only dripping about a teaspoon a day, but is it worth fixing? cheap/expensive/ easy to do?

Hello,
I assume that you have checked oll the balljoints on the steering linkage.
Before adjusting the steering box. Get someone to lay underneath and look at the drop arm where it fits onto the shaft of the steering box, as you rock the steering wheel. Even though it has a nut and locktab on the shaft. It is possible that the shaft turns slightly before the drop arm moves. If this is the case. Flatten the locktab and tighten the nut until the arm moves with the shaft (there is probably a torque setting for this). Remember to bend the locktab back into position. If the locktab is weakend, it should be replaced.
I had this problem with my discovery and the previous owner had tightened the steering box adjuster without checking anything else first. This only resulted in the slack remaining but the steering box was also stiff. Frightening to drive!
Best of luck. Paul

Zombie thread I know but thought I’d point out I had very vague steering until I checked this today on mine! I had tried adjusting the box to no avail, but it turned out the drop arm was loose! Tightened it up and bent locknut, now it’s like driving a different car.

So nice when things are easy to fix.

K2tnt said:

Zombie thread I know but thought I’d point out I had very vague steering until I checked this today on mine! I had tried adjusting the box to no avail, but it turned out the drop arm was loose! Tightened it up and bent locknut, now it’s like driving a different car.

So nice when things are easy to fix.

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Keep an eye on it as unless you have doen it mega tight it will come loose again!

Yes will do. I torqued it up to setting in Haynes (176NM I think) and bent 2 tabs of the lockwasher on to it, so that should help.