Could be anything. Bent steering/track bar would be a place to start. Also check the hub flange bolts are done up. Have seen them come loose before.Apparently the steering wheel has gone off centre during the course of the day. This was on road driving only so he hasn't hit anything and still drives fine.
Any usual suspects or shall I just start at one end and work round the complete steering?
1989 Ninety.
By straight I assume you mean the steering wheel is straight. As these have a steering arm on the box the steering is centred on the box not at the wheel and then the wheel is centred to the box by removing it and refitting it straight. If you centre the steering arm (there is a slot a pin goes into) is the wheel straight? If it is not and it was before then I would suggest the steering Column has slipped in either the wheel (less likely), or one of the uj's. I had this happen to me about a month ago, one of the UJ clamp bolts had worked its way loose and the joint slipped a couple of notches on the shaft.After trying to get blood out of a stone the info I have been given is as follows:
Let go of the wheel and it pulls to the left, you need to hold wheel slightly right to go straight.
Previously you could let go of the wheel, on a motorway, and it would drive straight and wheel was centre.
Will check it all out when I have time, thanks for suggestions.
This was on road driving only so he hasn't hit anything and still drives fine.
<snip>
Let go of the wheel and it pulls to the left, you need to hold wheel slightly right to go straight.
Previously you could let go of the wheel, on a motorway, and it would drive straight and wheel was centre.
<snip>
Did I mention about getting blood out of a stone?If it still 'drives fine' in the original post ..
Followed by 'it pulls to the left' ... there is a bit of missinformation going on i'd say.
Sounds like the rear steering/ie rod has been bent or track rod ends have has come loose.
Thats an interesting idea about the ujs, these were change many years ago.By straight I assume you mean the steering wheel is straight. As these have a steering arm on the box the steering is centred on the box not at the wheel and then the wheel is centred to the box by removing it and refitting it straight. If you centre the steering arm (there is a slot a pin goes into) is the wheel straight? If it is not and it was before then I would suggest the steering Column has slipped in either the wheel (less likely), or one of the uj's. I had this happen to me about a month ago, one of the UJ clamp bolts had worked its way loose and the joint slipped a couple of notches on the shaft.
Everything else that has been suggested is also worth looking at along with if the vehicle will drive straight when you let go of the wheel even if the wheel is not straight. If the vehicle continues to turn it is more likely to be bent rods, but if it happily drives straight (just not with the wheel straight) I come back to the column having slipped.
<snip> I really should encourage him to do a bit more of his own maintenance
Who ever it is must make good tea & bacon sarnies.Whos is this 'him' you speak of ?
Sorry, my son owns the Ninety and D2.Whos is this 'him' you speak of ?
Thats an interesting idea about the ujs, these were change many years ago.
they were always my rules and if it was admitted that it was beyond their capabilities they were made to be the apprentice and learn for next time along with allowing access for a proper diagnosis rather than just a guessing game based on parts of misinformation!I always thought rules were… you bend it, you mend it?
Had a look and can't find anything untoward with the steering or associated parts.
Very slight movement where the hockey stick attaches to the axle on passenger side, needs a bit of effort with a lever bar to get any movement.
Will have to drive it sometime and see what happens.
I have been wondering that, tyres should be fine as they were checked Friday. Will take it out on the motorway sometime.He could have been on a bad cambered road and got spooked ...
Although true surely if it is his vehicle he should be used to a defender and how it handles and reacts to different road surfaces. I hadn’t even considered driver error or expecting it to handle like a modern hatchback.He could have been on a bad cambered road and got spooked ...
Land Rovers are all he has had so is used to them and to be fair he is very good at noticing a difference in his vehicles. All the same a test drive is next on the list.Although true surely if it is his vehicle he should be used to a defender and how it handles and reacts to different road surfaces. I hadn’t even considered driver error or expecting it to handle like a modern hatchback.