Steering play

[PANOS]

The play in my steering wheel has steadyly got worse and now it is at a point that has me seriously worried... It is not your usual play, as when I turn the wheel left and right I can definately feel a step / nodge, before the wheels start to turn... weird. And I feel the play is getting worse by the day... :confused:
Mine is a Transformer with the Triumph Herald rack... Any ideas guys, before I dismantle the whole steering system looking for the cause... Please save me some time and grief... :(

CIAO PANOS :cool:

[strat6v]

Try the track rod ends first. The slightest wear in the ball joint will feel horrendous.

[kolynos]

Have you checked the steering column intermediate shaft for wear in the universal joints. Excessive wear could cause the symptoms you describe, but they would have to be very worn to do that :eek:

[chris.richard]

I had a little play which was removed by pulling on the shaft to straighten it out as much as possible before tightening the mounting bolts.

[guy mayers]

I'll bet it's the Triumph Herald universal joint between the rack and the intemediate shaft. There are three main parts to it, two splined clamps that are bolted to a central plate. The weakness in the design is the inclusion of rubber washers between the parts and these perish and break up allowing movement in the column. I'd recommend checking it soon as the bolts can work loose.
There are two options to fix this.
1. Replace it with a new part
or
2. Weld the thing solid.

Trouble with welding it is that everything has to be in perfect alignment or you'll end up with tighter steering and stresses on the welds that could cause fractures later.

I welded mine.
Guy

[Chris J]

Panos

Here's a previous thread with photos of old and new joints with the rubber parts that Guy has described:

http://www.stratossupersite.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1708&highlight=triumph+joint

[Sptwoman]

Panos, There is another option if it's that lower u/j. I've upgraded mine to a proper universal joint, which only adds approx 5-10 mm to the overall length. I believe it's off a Triumph GT6. If it does turn out to be the issue and you decide to upgrade then PM me if you require further info.

[Sptwoman]

An example U/J upgrade (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TRIUMPH-Spitfire-Herald-GT6-STEERING-JOINT-Upgrade_W0QQitemZ190045417190QQihZ009QQcategoryZ27 383QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

[PANOS]

Thanks guys, all very usefull info and I will get on it right away and I will keep you informed of the outcome...

CIAO PANOS

[Arthur]

Thanks guys, all very usefull info and I will get on it right away and I will keep you informed of the outcome...

CIAO PANOS

Panos,

I've only had those symptoms one time, on a Renault 5. Turned out that the splines on the universal at the rack had been too-lightly clamped. Splines themselves had worn away - not good - the U/J cost bugger-all from the breakers, but it cost me a new rack as well as the splines were gone. Could have been worse - could have been the steering column splines.

Good luck.....

[Chris J]

On the way back from the Silverstone Classic, anyone following me up the M1 might have thought I was drunk. It was a little bit windy, but there was some serious unintentional weaving going on! It wasn't much fun.

It seems the Hawk I have now has the same free play on dead ahead that once afflicted the blue car I used to own.

I remember slightly shifting the location of the split ali block bearing to cure the steering play on blue car, but I'm seriously thinking of fitting the Triumph U/J upgrade (as recommended by Allen earlier in this thread) and getting rid of the split block for good on this car. I'm tempted to do a 'Pim' too (column and inter shaft in a straight line). I'm not sure it would work on a RHD though?

[strat6v]

My gallery :)

[chris.richard]

Thanks guys, all very usefull info and I will get on it right away and I will keep you informed of the outcome...

CIAO PANOS

So what happened Panos?

I've got a similar problem, but a quick inspection seemed to show that the pinion would move without the rack moving. Does this mean a rebuilt rack, or just a little tweak to tighten something up?

[AndyR]

Hey Panos,
It's warmer now, I'm out of hibernation. I'll give you a call today and arrange to sort you out again ! The brake bits arrived by the way.
I'm now on the phone and internet at home I've just emailed you info.
Andy

[Chris J]

On the way back from the Silverstone Classic, anyone following me up the M1 might have thought I was drunk. It was a little bit windy, but there was some serious unintentional weaving going on! It wasn't much fun.

It seems the Hawk I have now has the same free play on dead ahead that once afflicted the blue car I used to own.

I remember slightly shifting the location of the split ali block bearing to cure the steering play on blue car, but I'm seriously thinking of fitting the Triumph U/J upgrade (as recommended by Allen earlier in this thread) and getting rid of the split block for good on this car. I'm tempted to do a 'Pim' too (column and inter shaft in a straight line). I'm not sure it would work on a RHD though?

Forgot to update this story. My problem was with the flexi joint. The joint rubbers were completely shot. I did fit one of the Triumph U/J upgrade joints before Chatsworth last year, and the steering is perfect now. The U/J is longer than the flexi joint, so there is some rejigging needed to fit it.

[Sptwoman]

Chris, I'd check the adjuster on the underside of the pinion housing. There's a shimmed spring affair which applies the pressure to the rack / pinion union...

[chris.richard]

Thanks for that.
Has anybody got the haynes manual for a herald? I could use a scan of the appropriate pages.

[Chris J]

Is this any good Chris?:

http://www.canleyclassics.com/images/catalogueviewer/cropped/small/vitesse1600_steering.jpg

[chris.richard]

Thanks Chris, but no! I was wanting the description of how to aset up the shimming/torques or whatever you have to do to adjust the play.

[Chris J]

Thanks Chris, but no! I was wanting the description of how to aset up the shimming/torques or whatever you have to do to adjust the play.

Ah?,

I'm pretty sure Peter (mudhut) has some previous with Spit/GT6/Herald etc. I do know someone else who has a Herald convertable (and workshop manual).

[BAS]

I had a look at adjusting my old rack but once done it was tight at the ends of the travel, gave up & got a quick rack. :D

[Matt No VAT]

Brent,

Out of curiosity which quick rack did you go for?

My current build has a rack fitted already, but its been exposed to the elements and has suffered a bit. (movement seems very rough, like internals are rusted a wee bit)

Rather than overhaul it I might fit a quick rack instead.

cheers

[BAS]

Hi Matt

I got it from Moss Europe Ltd

Part No 305932XNF

128.53 inc VAT & Delivery.

It's worth noting that there are two rack lengths, think I got the longer one but it needs cutting down a bit. Other wise all ok.

Rob Sanderson had to do the same.

[Sptwoman]

I thought that certain Triumphs shared the same rack?? I've got a Spitfire installed but am considering replacing it for a high ratio.. These are cheaper than Rimmer Bros offering. Never heard of 2 sizes and cutting them down!!!

[BAS]

I think the lengths may differ for a change in design in the trackrod ends but don't know. I think the one I got was for a spitfire.

With the Hawk lock limiter in place it's about 2.3 turns lock to lock. My old rack was 3.3

I thought that certain Triumphs shared the same rack?? I've got a Spitfire installed but am considering replacing it for a high ratio.. These are cheaper than Rimmer Bros offering. Never heard of 2 sizes and cutting them down!!!

[chris.richard]

Looks like it might be the lower U/J. I'll put a new one in and see if that sorts it before attacking the rack.

[chris.richard]

Looks like it might be the lower U/J. I'll put a new one in and see if that sorts it before attacking the rack.

It was, I did and it did, so I didn't. :)