As some will have seen from my "Is it deid" thread, I recently took the body off and replaced the engine due to oil pump failure.
We took the opportunity to replace a few items when accessible and one was the lower steering column, which felt fine when driving but was very stiff and corroded so probably not long before it started to cause problems.
I added one to my shopping list and simply bought what was available when purchasing the service kit/ oils/ brake pipes etc. There was only one specific left hand drive version available from the vendor where I bought the other parts so I bought it without looking too deeply.
Once the car was up and running (and running beautifully) I noticed the steering was off centre so took it for wheel alignment. This "seemed" to fix it but something wasn't right.
As the weeks have gone past and the miles have increased the steering felt weird and was getting worse.
THEN - I started reading all the stuff on here about non-OEM lower steering columns, but hadn't beforehand. Looks like I have found the likely culprit. See the video for slack at rest - it's awful!
I've ordered an OEM one now at twice the price and will report back when fitted.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
2nd Mar 2021 9:10 pm
Brookert
Member Since: 03 Apr 2020
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 52
Yea that's not good.
I was considering a non-oem one. After your experience, I won't bother.
2nd Mar 2021 10:30 pm
M3DPO
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8112
I would check the bolts that clamp top and bottom shafts together are tight first. It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't.
It's difficult to detect the movement (slop) in the lower joint but it's there for sure.
Will fit the new one this weekend and compare.
Thanks2012 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
3rd Mar 2021 11:07 am
grzesiul
Member Since: 11 May 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 6266
I ordered non OEM one and upon replacement it had so much play while driving I was scared on drive back frrom Arundel castle on windy country roads as car was all over place
OEM did the job no issues since than
G
3rd Mar 2021 11:09 am
Admirable
Member Since: 19 Jul 2015
Location: Fife
Posts: 1012
You will notice a huge difference in the friction of the sliding part on the column. The OEM is very hard to pull and extend and the cheapo version will extend with very little resistance if any.
The reason for the steering wheel to be out of alignment is down to the alignment of the top and bottom parts of the lower column.
I did have a video showing both parts together but can't find it right now.
3rd Mar 2021 11:19 am
Disco_Mikey
Member Since: 29 May 2007
Location: Dundee, Scotland
Posts: 20732
The OEM ones suffer exactly the same issues, the sliding joint wears prematurely
Mikey - by "OEM" I mean genuine. Confusion of terms, but I have ordered a genuine Land Rover one.
Cheers2012 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
3rd Mar 2021 2:16 pm
rrhool
Member Since: 28 Aug 2014
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 4400
Here is a bit of fun I had with genuine LR lower steering columns.
The genuine column fixed the problem 100%, although now my steering wheel doesn't sit straight ahead, as I had the wheel alignment done after fitting the first one.
No play, nice and tight, feels a million times better.
Here is the aftermarket one in a vice so you can see the play, there is also a little slack in the UJ - bearing in mind I've had this fitted and in daily use for only a few weeks, it's obviously made of chocolate.
It doesn't look like much but this translates to around 25-30mm of play at the steering wheel.
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
6th Mar 2021 2:44 pm
M3DPO
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8112
Don't forget the 2 year warranty on all genuine spares regardless of who fitted them It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't.
6th Mar 2021 3:18 pm
Brookert
Member Since: 03 Apr 2020
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 52
Would this be the cause of the 'squidgy'ness of the initial steering movement?
I find that mine will wander enough to be annoying down the A roads. If you hold the steering wheel tight as you can dead ahead, you can actually see the nose of the car move left and right like there's slack in the steering system. All tie rods are new
It could be many things it that’s exactly what I was experiencing with the crappy shaft.
And it’s an easy (and reasonably cheap) thing to change before to test.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
8th Mar 2021 9:26 pm
Brookert
Member Since: 03 Apr 2020
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 52
If people hurry, there's 20% of parts from JLR classic. Just bought a genuine shaft with 40 quid off!
Member Since: 03 Apr 2020
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 52
Just had the genuine part turn up.
There is absolutely no play in the sliding section, the rubber joint or the universal joint. Everything is rock solid.
I suspect the play in the sliding section and the universal joint could be poor manufacturing. Wear and tear would take it's toll on the rubber part and the universal joint as well, creating that feeling of the steering being sloppy.
The rubber joint is commonly replaced on older cars, so I'm hoping this will have a big difference on the feel of the steering. Going from my wife's 5 year old car (which feels like new) to my 2007 205k disco 3 makes you realise just how much steering feel deteriorates. It's like it's connected by elastic bands!
I'll report back when I get my original shaft off just so anyone looking this up has a bit of info.
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on drive back frrom Arundel castle on windy country roads as car was all over place
