What have i done wrong here? Swivel preload

owas said:

Yep, steering box is centralised.
All nuts ect were done up to the correct torque, and it felt fine when i first installed it.

I think the 'looseness' has been gradually been getting worse but I didn't really notice it till i put the roof rack on and now worse since i adjusted the swivel preload.

When it was still manual steering, i can remember it being quite precise and controlled so i do doubt it is anything else really, ive only done about 2500miles on road since the swap.

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how did you centralise box and are both swivels the same preload , have you checked rear axle bushes, have you tried someone rocking steering wheel whilst you feel various components

I would also check the universal joints on the steering column.
I've had one of mine work loose in the past.
Is there any backlash in the steering box (rock the steering while the wheels are pointed straight ahead and check that the wheels move when the steering wheel is rocked)
Rich

jamesmartin said:

how did you centralise box and are both swivels the same preload , have you checked rear axle bushes, have you tried someone rocking steering wheel whilst you feel various components

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Its central if wheels are straight, steering wheel is straight and the hole on the back of the box aligns right?

Rear axle bushes all look fine and cant find any play there either, they all litteraly still look new.
Yeah had someone out with me the last few hours trying to find something to no avail
Im going to take the pin out again tomorow and check the preload again just to make sure, but the loosness was there before touching them.

With the steering box, even if theres no play from turning the steering wheel and the tyres moving, can there still be something else worn?

Im changing it anyway now as its started leaking a bit.

The steering box condition was unknown as it was off a a scrap disco for the engine,
The adjustment screw was backed all the way out so i adjusted it until there was no freeplay then backed it off just slightly so it wasnt too tight, but could it have just been too worn to begin with?

Ive changed the steering box, pump with a bosch unit (atleast it was in a bosch box)
Lower steering uj , they didnt have an upper so i will be picking that up tomorrow.
Redid the swivel preload with new shimms as my first scale was completly off.

I feel like its now about 90% there, and i dont have to fight to keep it going straight but still feels a little 'off'.

The steering uj's didnt have any play but does feel a little stiffer than the new one, not by much though.

Wouldve just given it to my local land rover garage but theyre fully booked till next year now.