Steering fault

[Galahad]

I have just developed a steering fault on my E reg Transit.

I did a hard turn this morning on full lock round a roundabout, a nasty clanging noise came from the truck around the steering rack area.

Steering wheel still turned the wheels but the wheel was noticeably lighter to turn.

This evening when I went to go pick a car up, I did a full lock in the opposite direction and the steering wheel got stuck, I couldn't turn the wheels right.

In the end I had to get a scaffold bar and move the wheels that way. Oddly though, it appears that the steering still works so long as I don't go for a full lock and keep it within certain boundaries.

Would this be the cylindrical unit on the end of the steering column causing this problem?

[rover]

The most likely cause isnt the rack itself its the UJ on the bottom of the column, they are very cheap from any motor factor and pretty easy to fit too.

If its not that then the rack itself will be at fault, assuming that something hasnt just come loose that is.


Rover.

[Galahad]

Thanks for the reply, the steering has now completly packed up now.

I assume you mean Universal Joint?

Column is still attached to the cylinder 'thingy'. The column on top moves with slight free movement, and I can see the cylinder rotating a little with the turn of the wheel, then it locks up and refuses to steer the wheels in any direction.

[Luke]

Galahad isn't yours a 190?? twin wheeler?? if so on a E reg it wont have a steering rack!! it may be the kingpins!!!

[Galahad]

I keep thinking in Car terms, never had to deal with Van stuff before!

Yes, its a 1988 E reg Twinwheel and it doesn't have a rack. Its definately not the kingpins (if you are talking about the pins that hold the column together before it enters the Cylinder).

Its all nearly off now, just got to wait until morning to beat it off, neighbour across the road moans if I sneeze too loudly, I think hitting the steering cylinder will definately p!ss him off!

Looks like its a trip to United Vans.... again!

Occasionally the wheels will turn left, but they won't turn back again, but then again I did hear a nasty clunking noise before so something inside has obviously sheared off, which I'm not surprised about, the design of the steering on this old Transit means it must put a lot of stress on the internals of the cylinder that transfers direction to the track rods.

[rover]

Well that sheds a little more light on the situation.

When you say 'Cylinder' do you mean the steering box itself? It sounds like the box has gone tits-up, if you have loads of play the tip may have sheared off the 'peg' that sits in the worm gear, or even a piece of the gear itself may have broken, not seen it happen for many years, but its most common when the front tyres are run badly under pressure.

Best thing to do is disconect the column at the UJ and jack up the van till both front wheels are off the ground and turn the wheels from side to side, if its the box it will jam up at certain points, if its the UJ it will be free all the way.


Rover.

[madmark]

it soulds like the box has gone!

[Galahad]

Box has gone, United Vans don't have any, BVR in Bristol wanted £65, I politely told them 'no ta', another place reckons that they have one for £40 which hopefully will be available tomorrow.

I recently found a £10 note, plus I'm being given a nice heavy Carlton to scrap for free, so that will pay for the steering box.

I'm learning more and more about Transits as days go by, a little quicker than I anticipated !