Amazon: - Steering - Page 2

Bracpan · Sep 1st, 2020, 13:53

Refilled the steering box and adjusted as the video suggested, took it for a drive and what a difference 100% better... and so far no leaks

arcturus · Sep 1st, 2020, 17:19

This is a question for Derek. Re PV steering, your advice has been two or three inches play either side of steering wheel when you waggle it. On the YouTube video it shows an almost instance effect on the pitman arm.with no side to side play. I am asking because I get free play at steering wheel whilst driving on the road.Should I?

Derek UK · Sep 1st, 2020, 18:03

I'd prefer to get a link to where I said that and the context but here goes. When adjusted correctly this type of steering box always has some play in it. When new it was probably about 1" each side. It doesn't feel like the play you get when you have a very bad flexi joint in an Amazon steering system because the PV is direct and doesn't have one. As wear occurs only a proportion of that can be adjusted out. At about 2" play to each side it'll be apparent to the driver but there still won't be a looseness that feels as if there is a gap in the steering. The driver gets used to it. 3" each side is extreme and will be obvious at all times. Not really safe and wouldn't pass an MOT test or similar . I don't know what your current rules are in Portugal. No legal requirement to have a test now in the UK. Assuming all of your suspension and steering gear joints are good you're left with adjusting the box the best you can. With the front of the car raised with stands under the front suspension. Adjustment is tightened to give only the tiniest amount of noticeable stiffness across a few degrees of the centre point. It should be barely noticeable. If you don't have much wear you can afford to slacken the screw off by a few degrees. Bear in mind that the screw has a very coarse thread and it takes only a small amount of turn to make a big difference. I've not adjusted a PV box but with an Amazon one the wear can be guessed by the the number of threads showing above the lock when tight. 2-3 like new and 1-2 showing some wear. 1 or less close to worn out and you'll likely have a lot of play. This isn't definitive and many have not much showing and are still happy with how the steering feels. They'd be happier with the steering if it was less but now days you have to be happy with what you have a find a better box from the rapidly reducing stock of usable ones.
If your alignment is good and your car will steer hands of on a good road it can be quite revealing how much play has to be taken up to steer right or left. Do that test safely if you try it. Those who have to keep an ounce or two of wheel to one side to keep the car straight should get a good alignment asap along with checking all of the joints. This fault also keeps a slight load on the box and will wear it further. Keep the box full of oil!
Play in the box has to be taken up before the Pitman arm moves but it's not easy to correlate steering wheel movement and the arm. Play is always obvious if you are sitting behind the wheel while stationary if to stick your head out of the window and watch the tyre but it can be subtle and often doesn't tell you much. Starting to ramble now so I'm off...........

Bracpan · Sep 1st, 2020, 23:01

Im not sure if it helps but to get the right feeling and fine adjustment a jacked the front up so the tyres were off the ground... I could then see movement and feel the steering much better and was not fighting the tyre against the road..
Mine know feels so much better. But not over adjusted either..

Derek UK · Sep 2nd, 2020, 11:31

Yes I mentioned that above. If you can arrange it so that the wheels are off the ground with jack stands under the A arms to imitate the suspension position when actually on the ground, all of the ball joints will be in their normal positions. I think this helps you assess the feel when doing the lock to lock testing.

Bracpan · Sep 22nd, 2020, 15:37

Run a couple of times now and steering is much much better, I also spent some time on the Spongy brakes.
I carefully adjusted the rear brakes and bleed the system at the same time, again a massive improvement on the feel of the pedal...
Between the two its feeling like a different car.. I also softened the shocks at the same time..
I'm going to work my way through the rest of the car bit by bit.

Sep 1st, 2020, 17:19	#12
arcturus arcturus Last Online: Apr 10th, 2024 08:21 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sagres Portugal	This is a question for Derek. Re PV steering, your advice has been two or three inches play either side of steering wheel when you waggle it. On the YouTube video it shows an almost instance effect on the pitman arm.with no side to side play. I am asking because I get free play at steering wheel whilst driving on the road.Should I? __________________ life's too short to drink bad wine

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Sep 1st, 2020, 13:53	#11
Bracpan Member Last Online: Apr 14th, 2024 23:20 Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Wales	Refilled the steering box and adjusted as the video suggested, took it for a drive and what a difference 100% better... and so far no leaks

Sep 1st, 2020, 18:03	#13
Derek UK VOC Member Last Online: Today 11:36 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Chatham	I'd prefer to get a link to where I said that and the context but here goes. When adjusted correctly this type of steering box always has some play in it. When new it was probably about 1" each side. It doesn't feel like the play you get when you have a very bad flexi joint in an Amazon steering system because the PV is direct and doesn't have one. As wear occurs only a proportion of that can be adjusted out. At about 2" play to each side it'll be apparent to the driver but there still won't be a looseness that feels as if there is a gap in the steering. The driver gets used to it. 3" each side is extreme and will be obvious at all times. Not really safe and wouldn't pass an MOT test or similar . I don't know what your current rules are in Portugal. No legal requirement to have a test now in the UK. Assuming all of your suspension and steering gear joints are good you're left with adjusting the box the best you can. With the front of the car raised with stands under the front suspension. Adjustment is tightened to give only the tiniest amount of noticeable stiffness across a few degrees of the centre point. It should be barely noticeable. If you don't have much wear you can afford to slacken the screw off by a few degrees. Bear in mind that the screw has a very coarse thread and it takes only a small amount of turn to make a big difference. I've not adjusted a PV box but with an Amazon one the wear can be guessed by the the number of threads showing above the lock when tight. 2-3 like new and 1-2 showing some wear. 1 or less close to worn out and you'll likely have a lot of play. This isn't definitive and many have not much showing and are still happy with how the steering feels. They'd be happier with the steering if it was less but now days you have to be happy with what you have a find a better box from the rapidly reducing stock of usable ones. If your alignment is good and your car will steer hands of on a good road it can be quite revealing how much play has to be taken up to steer right or left. Do that test safely if you try it. Those who have to keep an ounce or two of wheel to one side to keep the car straight should get a good alignment asap along with checking all of the joints. This fault also keeps a slight load on the box and will wear it further. Keep the box full of oil! Play in the box has to be taken up before the Pitman arm moves but it's not easy to correlate steering wheel movement and the arm. Play is always obvious if you are sitting behind the wheel while stationary if to stick your head out of the window and watch the tyre but it can be subtle and often doesn't tell you much. Starting to ramble now so I'm off...........

Sep 1st, 2020, 23:01	#14
Bracpan Member Last Online: Apr 14th, 2024 23:20 Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Wales	Im not sure if it helps but to get the right feeling and fine adjustment a jacked the front up so the tyres were off the ground... I could then see movement and feel the steering much better and was not fighting the tyre against the road.. Mine know feels so much better. But not over adjusted either..

Sep 2nd, 2020, 11:31	#15
Derek UK VOC Member Last Online: Today 11:36 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Chatham	Yes I mentioned that above. If you can arrange it so that the wheels are off the ground with jack stands under the A arms to imitate the suspension position when actually on the ground, all of the ball joints will be in their normal positions. I think this helps you assess the feel when doing the lock to lock testing.

Sep 22nd, 2020, 15:37	#16
Bracpan Member Last Online: Apr 14th, 2024 23:20 Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Wales	Run a couple of times now and steering is much much better, I also spent some time on the Spongy brakes. I carefully adjusted the rear brakes and bleed the system at the same time, again a massive improvement on the feel of the pedal... Between the two its feeling like a different car.. I also softened the shocks at the same time.. I'm going to work my way through the rest of the car bit by bit.

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