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       #Post#: 92820--------------------------------------------------
       Still not happy...
   DIR By: quattrofoto
       Date: September 15, 2014, 1:59 pm
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       Hey all,
       Well, it was a massive struggle with only one and a half hands
       but I managed to get my steering relay done before I have my
       operation tomorrow. It was a right royal bastard to do too -
       despite putting four (two spare) hose clips of the correct size
       to one side a while ago, they were nowhere to be seen when I
       started the job, as is the way with these things. Managed to
       find one, and held the other pair of split bushes with big fat
       cable ties because I like to live dangerously. It worked.
       However the two replaceable washers that go between the spring
       and the bushes were made of cheese and twisted and chowed up as
       soon as any pressure was applied - after swearing a lot the
       whole lot had to come back out of the housing (which is still
       firmly stuck in the chassis by the way) so I could remove them
       and retry. Second time around it went in after some lovingly
       applied persuasion. The sealant I had for the job turned out to
       be a tube of solid silicone and so it's gone back together dry,
       however it has so far held onto it's oil and not one drop has
       appeared so fingers crossed.
       I went for a drive and.....it's no better. The steering is still
       awful, although it does feel slightly smoother. It's way too
       tight and difficult to turn, so tonight I have backed off on the
       box and it still hasn't made much of a difference. I can't back
       it off much more or the damn screw will drop out! All the joints
       are fine, what could it be? I confess it is years since I drove
       a series motor but I don't remember them being this stupid on
       the steering. I've actually hurt my bloody arm just trying to
       get the thing off the drive.
       :banghead
       #Post#: 92821--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Still not happy...
   DIR By: ashcrroft752
       Date: September 15, 2014, 2:06 pm
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       Top bearing in the column okay? Mine was replaced and when the
       steering wheel was torqued up properly it was way to stiff.
       #Post#: 92822--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Still not happy...
   DIR By: divie
       Date: September 15, 2014, 2:27 pm
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       Have you disconnected a track rod end and had a feel on the
       swivels?
       #Post#: 92824--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Still not happy...
   DIR By: quattrofoto
       Date: September 15, 2014, 2:31 pm
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       Swivels were rebuilt with new everything and they were set up
       using a spring balance as per green bible, admittedly a while
       ago but still, I don't suspect them. The Steering wheel is they
       pinch bolt type, to be honest I hadn't thought about the column
       top bearing. I am thinking the box is goosed though, it's got
       that sort of feel to it... :-?
       #Post#: 92828--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Still not happy...
   DIR By: Sunny Jim
       Date: September 15, 2014, 4:14 pm
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       --- Quote ---
       > Top bearing in the column okay?
       --- End Quote ---
       I have had to free off an early type with the plain bush which
       was very dry and stiff (on someone else's vehicle). I squirted
       it with plus gas a few times and eventually is soaked in so was
       followed by some thicker oil.
       Is it worth disconnecting the steering box ball joint and seeing
       if the column/box is stiff to eliminate one of the major
       elements?
       Sunny Jim
       #Post#: 92841--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Still not happy...
   DIR By: Waldorf
       Date: September 16, 2014, 6:39 am
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       I too have recently rebuilt a steering relay, and after
       assembling the whole thing I found it way too tight. The trick
       is to get oil between the split bushes and the shaft. I pressed
       the bushes inwards to let the oil go between the bushes and the
       shaft. It is fine now. You can check the relay with a spring
       balance.
       #Post#: 93341--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Still not happy...
   DIR By: quattrofoto
       Date: October 3, 2014, 10:18 am
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       Well well well.
       Dave, as much as I am grateful for the loan of the spring
       balance, I think you need to chuck it and get a new one!
       As I said, I shimmed the swivel pins a couple of years ago,
       however either the spring balance was knackered or I had the
       wrong figure or whatever because after putting more shims in
       today the steering is lovely and light but not too light,
       obviously.
       So we're back on track!
       #Post#: 93346--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Still not happy...
   DIR By: urena
       Date: October 3, 2014, 1:29 pm
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       chain chassie down bottle jack the bastard out
       #Post#: 93365--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Still not happy...
   DIR By: quattrofoto
       Date: October 4, 2014, 8:27 am
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       Bottle jack what out? Relay was sorted a few weeks ago. I've
       sorted it all out more or less, the problem was the swivels
       weren't shimmed correctly, either due to a faulty spring balance
       or incorrect figures used originally or something along those
       lines. I've now added some shims and its a different animal. I
       haven't actually measured the preload I just added the rest of
       the shims I have intending to remove some if required but
       honestly its now pretty much spot on.
       #Post#: 93409--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Still not happy...
   DIR By: urena
       Date: October 5, 2014, 4:09 pm
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       the relay out of the chassie
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