ady 3 Posted January 17, 2007 ok this started happening a few weeks ago but i had some spares i had bought already so i thought i would try them out before posting. basically the steering feels like somethings loose or somethings kinda binding up as i put lock on. for example turning into the r/h part of a round about it gets quite stiff suddenly and then i have to unwind the lock more than i should be (not self centering very easily) also ocassionally it feels light just in the first 1/8 turn left.. now i have changed the wishbones, checked for ovaling. changed the droplinks. checked for anything obviously loose or worn. apparantly the steering rack was changed before i bought it ? i havnt had the tracking done since i changed the parts although the problem was there before. was thinking track rod ends or the lower UJ on the steering colum? any other ideas would be welcome cheers Adrian Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
t16ryan 1 Posted January 18, 2007 check the UJ had the same problem i reomeved it cleaned it up and soaked in oil over nice and refitted and regreased ands been fine ever since Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
futura 3 Posted January 18, 2007 Not sure if that will help, but I had a stiff spot after changing the lower part of the steering column, it was due to the total length of the steering column (from rack to steering wheel) which wasn't right. I re-adjusted and it was fine. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ady 3 Posted January 19, 2007 cool ill give the UJ a look over the w/e then! hopefully that will help. ill report back when im done cheers! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Anton green 12 1 Cars Posted January 20, 2007 Should the UJ have a boot around it BTW? -I noticed mine last weekend so gave it a nice coat of grease.. Anyone know what sort of mileage a road car might start to need one replacing at and costs by any chance? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
coombsfh 2 Posted January 20, 2007 I had what sounds like a very similar problem and simply changed the UJ and the boot. All was fine after that. Is no uj boot/gaiter an MOT failure? Fred Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hengti 2 Posted January 20, 2007 coombsfh said: Is no uj boot/gaiter an MOT failure? there are no boots on the U/Js - not a problem for the MoT Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jackherer 543 Posted January 20, 2007 hengti said: there are no boots on the U/Js - not a problem for the MoT I agree that there aren't normally boots on the U/Js but I do have a spare one in the garage that DOES have a boot on it... It came in a box of spares with a 205 I once bought so I have no idea where it came from. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Anton green 12 1 Cars Posted January 20, 2007 ..Best thing to do is to keep it well greased up then sounds like a plan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lagonda 42 Posted January 20, 2007 Hi, your problem does sound like it's the lower column u/j at fault. I did a post a few weeks ago which you might find helpful. Just coating the thing with grease will do absolutely nothing to improve matters as the pins/bearings of the u/j have tiny seals there. Obviously the intention is to keep the original lubricant in and dirt out, but unfortunately that means just covering them with grease or oil will do nothing. You need to remove the intermediate shaft, carefully prise back the seals and drip oil in. Check out my post as I haven't got time to repeat the whole thing! My steering has improved immensely, much smoother, but!, as the oil has worked into the rust, the stiffness has been replaced by free play in one plane of the u/j. I've ended up with about 0.25" free play at the steering wheel. It's passed the MoT, and I can't say I notice it while driving, but I realise the play will only get worse, so you need to consider the likelihood of free play appearing & whether you'd be happier saving your time & just replacing the assembly. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Anton green 12 1 Cars Posted January 20, 2007 Thanks Lagonda, I'll look into mine fully Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Retro Pug 0 1 Cars Posted February 5, 2007 I had the same problem, the steering was very stiff then free, then stif etc. New u/j form Peugeot has solved to a degree but the wheel is still quite heavy and does not self centre..... 1991 1.6 GTI non PAS. Any ideas? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hengti 2 Posted February 5, 2007 Retro Pug said: I had the same problem, the steering was very stiff then free, then stif etc. New u/j form Peugeot has solved to a degree but the wheel is still quite heavy and does not self centre..... 1991 1.6 GTI non PAS. Any ideas? did you have the tracking re-set afterwards? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest R3GG Posted February 5, 2007 Like the others, when my steering became heavy it turned out to be the UJ and some greasing sorted it out. It tended only to be heavy at certain points. I have heard of racks being damaged when they are replaced, if either of the rods were bent at all while it was being changed then that would cause it to feel pretty strange - hard to tell while its still in the car though :/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nick 3 Posted February 6, 2007 Get some motorbike chain lube and soak it in that. It comes out of the can like water, then dries like grease. It's designed to get into the bushes on a chain so shouldn't have a problem with a UJ. Did mine a while ago and is still fine. Nick Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Retro Pug 0 1 Cars Posted February 13, 2007 hengti said: did you have the tracking re-set afterwards? No, but I'm going to get it done at the weekend thanks. Also the positioning of the u/j shaft inside the car needed adjusting. That has made a big difference. Cheers Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
