Amazon: Steering clunk...

[Faust]

Follow up as promised.

Took my Amazon to a local classic specialist today: put the old heap on their shaker plates/went for a test drive.

Their verdict?

Play in the steering box - there was a fair bit of clunking from the bottom of the box where the Pitman arm attaches. This is not what I wanted to hear as I'm led to believe decent used boxes are in short supply. All other steering components were in good order with no play.

'Wanted' post to follow!

[Derek UK]

That bush is available as part of the recon kit. It does have to be reamed to fit the shaft. Don't know who is doing this these days. Simon may have a source. It's a basic engineering task but better done by someone who has done it before. There are steering box specialists out there. Highly likely someone here can suggest someone.
With that much play I would think it's hard to keep any oil in the box even with a new seal. That has probably accelerated the wear.

[Faust]

Originally Posted by Derek UK

That bush is available as part of the recon kit. It does have to be reamed to fit the shaft. Don't know who is doing this these days. Simon may have a source. It's a basic engineering task but better done by someone who has done it before. There are steering box specialists out there. Highly likely someone here can suggest someone.
With that much play I would think it's hard to keep any oil in the box even with a new seal. That has probably accelerated the wear.

Curiouser and Curiouser...

Box does not leak oil... in fact I've only topped it up once (with a few ml of oil) since 2009!

Spoke to Brookhouse this morning: they don't know anyone who refurbs boxes.

Might give the Brookhouse refurb kit a go before I commit to a new box (if I can find one).

[Derek UK]

If no oil leak I think I would take off the two joints from the Pitman arm and recheck just how much play there is. It might turn out to be one of the joints you remove.

[Faust]

Originally Posted by Derek UK

If no oil leak I think I would take off the two joints from the Pitman arm and recheck just how much play there is. It might turn out to be one of the joints you remove.

Really appreciate your help with this Derek.

I'll have a look at the Pitman arm this weekend: any hints or tips on removing the joints & arm (never done one before).

Mike

[ggcton]

http://www.holman-engineering.co.uk/contact.php

http://www.ics-steeringspecialist.co.uk/

Just two of the companies advertising this service on line

[CLIVERALLY]

At least you have tracked it down. The shaker plate would have shown up any lift in the arm. But before you do anything have you checked the steering box to chassis is tight. This can cause a clunk when the nuts have slackened on the fixing bolts
Sadly my clunk is on the passenger side and has shown nothing on the plates.

[arcturus]

Originally Posted by Faust

Really appreciate your help with this Derek.

I'll have a look at the Pitman arm this weekend: any hints or tips on removing the joints & arm (never done one before).

Mike

Make sure that you mark the relative positions of the arm to the spline. has to go back exactly as before. You will need a good puller to get the arm of the spline.

[Faust]

Solved!

Had the steering wheel off after inspecting the various arms under the car, the coupling (again) etc.

I noticed that there was a fair bit of play in the column with the wheel removed and the coupling separated. I re-seated the bearing and thrust washer that sit just behind the steering wheel, put it all back together and the clunk/notch from the steering is gone!

I'm very happy with this result... who'd have thought that a bearing/washer slightly out of position (by literally a couple of mm) would cause a steering clunk?