Steering issues

I've got a 1600 tintop that's been lowered on adjusters and one spline at the rear, standard shocks front and rear, unknown if and when they were last changed. I use it as a daily and recently noticed that the steering wanders quite a bit and I feel like I'm constantly adjusting the wheel whilst driving. What areas do you think need attention. Steering box, shocks, track rod ends?

Any advice would be helpful.

 

Who lowered it, and how did they do it?

Adjusters/dropped spindles?

 

It's done on adjusters, was done professionally about 2years ago so not recent. When it was first done it cut down the amount of buffeting on the motorway, but that seems to have gradually crept back.

 

Steering alignment issue maybe? You curbed it recently? What are the front tyres wearing like?

Sounds like something is worn/wearing out though if its only started wandering. Worn shocks will cause it to be blown about by the wind a bit more. Maybe take one off and see if its got resistance in both compression and extension. You'd notice it wallowing a bit round corners when theres a bump mid corner.
Tie rod ends do wear so check the dust boots for damage. Maybe they are crumbling away letting water/grit in and wearing the joints?

 

As it's not a recent lowering, then you'll need to get your head under the van and have a look for slack in the steering system...

my money is on the steering idler pin

 

That was my first thought too.

 

I do have some play on the steering wheel, would that be idler pin?
Is idler pin and easy fix?

 

It could be lots of things or a combination of worn bits.Before you start randomly changing things, lie under, get assistant to wiggle the wheel and see what's occurring.

 

Cheers chaps

 

what ya tyres like bruv ???

 

mine are round

 

First off I would just check the obvious like tyre pressures and tracking.

 

Tyres and pressure are fine, no wear on them.

 

Stroke your rubber, ffnar. If you feel it runs smoothly on way than another, think the nap on velvet, chances are track rod ends. But any of the above at the end of the day. Steering box adjusted correctly?

 

If you have play ,get someone to move the wheel while you look underneath ,it might be just the steering box...If they turn the wheel slightly and the track-rods do not move then its the box..

If your steering feels lose it might be little shock absorber [damper]attached to the beam ,when the wheels are in the air when you turn them there should be a bit of resistance..

 

but them bolts are a pain to get to

 

ive bought a rachet spanner with a tilting head to make it a bit easier