Most odd. Now before I start on the steering box I need to stress, there is no play in the track rod ends and ball joints in the steering linkage. There is no detectable play anywhere. I checked for all these things first because, when holding the road wheel at 9/3 o'clock position on the drivers side there is play that feels for all the world like track rod ball joint play... Except there is non! At all!

I checked. And a mate checked, we both agree, the play appears to be in the steering box itself.it's only reall noticeable on the drivers side wheel, pass side is better but only in a more distant diluted sense. The amount of movement is similar but the knock felt is less harsh.

Hold drivers side wheel at 3/9 o'clock and wiggle for play reveals about 5 mill of play, but the movement feels damped when pushing the wheel inboard with the left side near drivers door, push the wheel inboard from the right side of the wheel near bumper and it feels harsh like a knock. So wiggle gives thump knock thump knock, if you see what I mean.

Doesn't seem to matter if engine running or not, or if the box is adjusted tight or not, the play is the same. Driving with box pre adjustment feels like there's track rod play, slight wonder, slight knock over some bumps with some right hand lock on, except when turning the wheels violently left to right while driving at 10mph or so only gives a knock turning right, left is fine, right knocks and so on.
I have tightened the box adjustment to the point it's a fraction too tight. Makes no odds to the play.

If track rod I would expect any knock to be there turning both ways, if at all. I would much prefer a failed track rod than this, but all ball joints seem fine to both of us. Car has done 62k.

I wouldn't mind too much but Mot is due tomorrow. Arse ! 

Also, what are the top strut bearings like?

I wish i had let 2 woody adjust the box at the meet now, as he did offer, bless him.

fancy a trip down to Bovington - I'm stuck in the workshop watching a vehicle run for 24 hours. Mind you, I've managed to fix the driver's seat heater and pedal adjustments.

have you tried the column bearings ?

And/or the rubber column joint ?

p.s. how you getting on with the 4.1 diff ?

2woody wrote on 07. Mar 2011 at 20:52:

Only examined externally so far, dif is exactly the same 

chrisgixer wrote on 07. Mar 2011 at 21:23:


we're finishing at 14.00, after which I'm intending to sleep for a long time !

I'm down South again most of next week, so could meet up then.

chrisgixer wrote on 08. Mar 2011 at 17:29: