A

Agroman

New Member
I think I might need to replace the steering damper. The steering doesn't return to centre without a degree of help and the steering wanders a bit, esp. in straight ahead. Looks an easy enough job.
Question is what brand / type do I go for. It has standard wheels with GG AT2. I am not looking for it to be a big off roader - Use the new freelander for that - :p
But just want the steering to feel as good as possible. I see you can get return to centre dampers which look as though they use a big spring. Not sure if this will be overkill. There appears to be some big price differences between types / brands. I would like to keep it looking as standard as poss within reason, so do I just put a new oem type on? Given that the one on there could be original so 115K and 11 years old.
 
If you wish to keep 'as standard' then get a genuine or an OEM replacement, is your existing one leaking or rusting away then?
My Discos damper is 17years old and the one on my old RR with 110,000 miles and was still ok when I sold the vehicle.
 
I replaced mine with a terrafirma damper,about £35 from lr trade parts,you pays yer money and takes yer choice.:)
 
Visually it looks ok, a little surface rust but nothing to worry about. No obvious leaks. With the steering characteristics I have I assumed that the damper was tired. Or do they last a long time with no trouble and I have just got to get used to a different steering set up to my Freelander.
 
Take you damper off, you will see the difference I take the rest of you steering and suspension is stranded, the primary purpose is to control excessive feedback into the steering wheel go example, when you hit a large pothole, some vehicles would feed back that energy into the steering shaft causing the steering wheel to jump left or right suddenly which could cause the driver to loose control of the vehicle.

So if you don't have any of the above why change.
 
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But, would a new or improved damper improve the return to centre of the steering after turning, which is a bit 'lazy' at present.
 
it's possible that the steering box was overadjusted due to wear then...cos that could be a reason why it doesnt return well
 
Nope there nothing in a standard damper to assist that, there's a damper for Defenders with the spring to do that as u have mentioned which would be helpful if fitted large tyres ie muds.

Remember your steering is hydrolic so still needs a bit of driver input to turn in any direction, removing your hands from the wheel the steering should start to return just a bit and if it don't start looking elsewhere a stiff joint maybe.
The other cars I drive its an electric system how that works don't know I'm not that interest, although do feel the steering tighten at around 25-30mph it still Palm on the steering wheel steering so to speak, perhaps your Freelander is similar
.
 
Agroman said:
But, would a new or improved damper improve the return to centre of the steering after turning, which is a bit 'lazy' at present.
Click to expand...

I had the same problem you have,i fitted a new damper but it remained the same,so it was taken off and the original refitted,it turned out to be the off side bottom ball joint had partially seized,had top and bottom ball joints replaced and now it is great.
 
If it's not returning to basic centre line would it not be that the tracking is out? Have you checked for excessive wear on your tyres.
Damper is a damper not to return the wheels back to straight

Let us know

Heggars
 
Thanks for info guys. I think tracking is not too far out - tyre ware looks even. I will spend a bit more time looking at the rest of the steering components before spending any money. 1st job is to get the chassis waxoyled.
 
as i said, easy things, wd 40 on the steering UJ(red arrow) and loosen just a bit the steering box adjuster screw...if no joy you can tighten it back where it was;)
 

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Thanks again I will look at this adjustment when I next get the front wheels off the ground. Will also check hubs for any stiffness.
 
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