Unequal steering play

[Orthosports]

I have a 92 LHD defender 90 imported from Italy. I have replaced all the steering bushings, adjusted the steering box with the front wheels off the ground pointed straight, turned right, and turned left. I even over adjusted it too tight so while driving straight I could hardly turn it left or right. After reading multiple post about steering adjustments I'm not sure what it going on.

As of now there is minimal play going forward (less than an inch). With the wheels half way turning right there is about 3 inches of play and also there is about 4 inches of play when turning left if the wheels are half way turned to the left already.

The only thing I haven't changed out is the steering box.

Any ideas?
thank you

 

[rocky]

Manual box or powered?

 

[NPT90]

A few things:

First check to ensure the UV joints (3 and 2 in the lower diagram) are in good working order, also ensure the bolts ect are tight and check the orientation of the arm (mine was installed upside down at some point).

Also ensure the bolts for the panhard rod and bushings are good, sometimes play there will cause hard to diagnose steering problems.

Additionally the dampener bushings could be junk or not there:

Assembly 32. If that bolt has substantial play I could see it potentially moving the rack during turning or providing strange feedback.

The Steering drop arm bushing is a common point of failure:

Number 5 in that diagram, fits into the steering arm, can be rebuilt on the vehicle (probably the easiest way, wasn't hard on my truck.

I'd also check bracket 9 to ensure the bolt or the mounting arm hasn't backed off at all.

LRW is your best friend:
https://www.lrworkshop.com/diagrams

 

[Orthosports]

Manual box or powered?

powered steering.

 

[Orthosports]

A few things:

First check to ensure the UV joints (3 and 2 in the lower diagram) are in good working order, also ensure the bolts ect are tight and check the orientation of the arm (mine was installed upside down at some point).

Also ensure the bolts for the panhard rod and bushings are good, sometimes play there will cause hard to diagnose steering problems.

Additionally the dampener bushings could be junk or not there:

Assembly 32. If that bolt has substantial play I could see it potentially moving the rack during turning or providing strange feedback.

The Steering drop arm bushing is a common point of failure:

Number 5 in that diagram, fits into the steering arm, can be rebuilt on the vehicle (probably the easiest way, wasn't hard on my truck.

I'd also check bracket 9 to ensure the bolt or the mounting arm hasn't backed off at all.

LRW is your best friend:
https://www.lrworkshop.com/diagrams

Thank you. l will recheck these. The steering column parts are really tight. I will have to check the orientation and if anything is installed backwards.

 

[NPT90]

Thank you. l will recheck these. The steering column parts are really tight. I will have to check the orientation and if anything is installed backwards.

Really need to have someone move the rack left to right while you watch the parts.

It will probably be really obvious what is wrong as you turn the rack.

Be advised that the steering upper steering parts can feel tight if they are racked a certain way but will have play at different angles.

 

[abraded]

The Rover power steering box is a fairly poor design. Because of the internal worm and roller geometry there will be progressively more play in it as you steer away from center. That is why you always adjust the box with the road wheels pointed straight ahead--this is the orientation where the box will be it's tightest. Luckily when you're going around a corner the front axle caster will be trying to straighten the road wheels and that keeps the worm and roller in the steering box meshed and you don't feel the potential play that exits.