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DISCO3.CO.UK > Maintenance & Mods (D3)

Lots of play in steering - Leaking. Options?
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Harry365
 


Member Since: 25 Aug 2018
Location: Lincoln
Posts: 373

United Kingdom 2007 Discovery 3 TDV6 XS Auto Zermatt SilverDiscovery 3
Lots of play in steering - Leaking. Options?

Just failed MOT on steering play at column (major defect) and nearside rod ball joint (minor).

Was hoping ball joint would solve play as it was very bad (naughty me for ignoring so long).

Replacing rod got rid of lets say half of the play but its still pretty bad, bad enough to fail.

I removed the offside gaiter and was visited with a face-full of steering fluid... fun.

Clearly the the seal has failed, (props to the gaiter for holding it all in). Fluid levels are fine and haven't been touched for a long time. Looks a bit dirty, could even replacing the fluid solve a lot of issues here?

I'm thinking its time for a reconditioned rack however,

Can anything be done with the adjusting nut (opposite side to where the column enters the rack) to alleviate the play? Even if its only a temp fix. Just need to get through MOT at this point.

Note, the lower UJ is fine. It was replaced not that long ago and the play begins inside the rack itself with a banging.

Thanks!  
Post #222441313th Apr 2021 9:52 pm
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Nc1989
 


Member Since: 28 Apr 2015
Location: Doncaster
Posts: 203

United Kingdom 2005 Discovery 3 TDV6 S Manual Java BlackDiscovery 3

I adjusted some play out of my rack with the big nut you talk about. I only had a slight knock on big bumps and no leaks though, but worth a try for free. Go very careful as a tiny adjustment can go a long way. Very easy to over tighten and cause it not to self centre properly which causes some interesting handling effects at speed.

I got an assistant to rock the steering back and forth with engine off and adjusted the nut carefully just until the knocking stopped.  
Post #222462014th Apr 2021 9:12 pm
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Harry365
 


Member Since: 25 Aug 2018
Location: Lincoln
Posts: 373

United Kingdom 2007 Discovery 3 TDV6 XS Auto Zermatt SilverDiscovery 3

Thanks.

I had a go and I'd say reduced the knocking by 50% but it's still knocking. Play is down to less than 10mm so should pass my retest tomorrow. Regardless, gonna swap the rack out. They're not that badly prices considering.  
Post #222463514th Apr 2021 10:16 pm
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Admirable
 


Member Since: 19 Jul 2015
Location: Fife
Posts: 1011

Ukraine 2007 Discovery 3 TDV6 XS Auto Zermatt SilverDiscovery 3
Re: Lots of play in steering - Leaking. Options?

Harry365 wrote:


Note, the lower UJ is fine. It was replaced not that long ago and the play begins inside the rack itself with a banging.



Was this replaced with a genuine item? I'd be removing that and checking it before fitting a rack.  
Post #222465615th Apr 2021 7:05 am
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Scwede
 


Member Since: 31 Jul 2014
Location: Jönköping, Sweden
Posts: 301

Scotland 2012 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 HSE Auto Sumatra BlackDiscovery 4

As admirable says - worth checking your lower column again, a small amount of play is massively amplified at the steering wheel:

https://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/tale-afterm...93934.html

A much cheaper fix if it's this. 2012 Discovery 4 HSE Sumatra Black
2008 Discovery 3 HSE, Java Black
2010 Discovery 4 HSE, Stornoway Grey
2005 Discovery 3 HSE, Buckingham Blue
1987 Defender 90, some sort of grey
1983 Series 3 SWB, Ex Coastguard, Trafalgar Blue  
Post #222467415th Apr 2021 9:01 am
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Harry365
 


Member Since: 25 Aug 2018
Location: Lincoln
Posts: 373

United Kingdom 2007 Discovery 3 TDV6 XS Auto Zermatt SilverDiscovery 3

I'll pull the column and inspect it just to be sure but I'm fairly certain it's fine.

With the wheels on the ground, the pinion shaft moves with the slightest bit of movement from the steering wheel with the banging coming from the rack itself. With the wheels off the ground, rocking them produces banging within the rack. Basically "feels" like the pinion or rack have ruined teeth..  
Post #222472615th Apr 2021 12:01 pm
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Brookert
 


Member Since: 03 Apr 2020
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 52

United Kingdom 2007 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE Auto Santorini BlackDiscovery 3

I had a look at my steering rack last weekend. The preload adjustment had about 2 full turns clockwise of free movement, so the pinion was probably very loose.

It has really sorted out the play in the steering.  
Post #22288677th May 2021 8:39 pm
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