The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

The steering on the Sprint hasn't been returning properly from full right lock properly; especially when it's turned there and reversed a bit. It's been getting stiff and lumpy turning back, though that seems to clear after going forward for a bit. Possibly as part of that, the rack needs replacing, and that's being done Thursday.
I've asked them to look and the bushes and such at the front when they're doing the rack, see if there's any obvious wear, but I wondered if anyone has any specific suggestions where they might look, especially if its somewhere less than obvious, etc.

Graham

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The 16v Slant 4 engine is more fun than the 3.5 V8, because you mostly drive it on the upslope of the torque curve.

Factory 1977 TR7 Sprint FHC VVC 697S (Now all of, but still needs putting together)
B&Y 73 Dolomite Sprint UVB 274M (kids!)
1970 Maroon 13/60 Herald Convertable (wife's fun car).

Hi Graham, i had the same on my 1850 and found the u/j on the shaft was partially seized.. I did manage to free it off and it has been fine since.

Tony.

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NOW A CLUB MEMBER 2017057

Thanks Tony, I already looked at the UJs in the column - I have two since the FAM1718 replacement came apart while driving - and they seem to be fine.

I think it's something that gets displaced in how one of the vertical links is mounted when it's at the limit of travel, because it happens just one the end and more when there's an unusual force on it from reversing at full lock. The lumpiness is, I think, in the rack itself, responding to the force needed to return the steering from this displacement. But I also think I don't know enough about the subject for my opinion to matter.

Graham

_________________
The 16v Slant 4 engine is more fun than the 3.5 V8, because you mostly drive it on the upslope of the torque curve.

Factory 1977 TR7 Sprint FHC VVC 697S (Now all of, but still needs putting together)
B&Y 73 Dolomite Sprint UVB 274M (kids!)
1970 Maroon 13/60 Herald Convertable (wife's fun car).

The problem i had Graham was that the steering was not self centering and funnily enough it seemed to stick when reversing. Hopefully a new rack should cure it for you

Tony.

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NOW A CLUB MEMBER 2017057

Hopefully. It's going in for that and Alun's NOS disks tomorrow. I'll report when I get it back.

_________________
The 16v Slant 4 engine is more fun than the 3.5 V8, because you mostly drive it on the upslope of the torque curve.

Factory 1977 TR7 Sprint FHC VVC 697S (Now all of, but still needs putting together)
B&Y 73 Dolomite Sprint UVB 274M (kids!)
1970 Maroon 13/60 Herald Convertable (wife's fun car).

Whilst rack wear can't be ruled out for this symptom, I too would look VERY carefully at the upper intermediate column UJ. You often can't tell, from the feel, if anything is wrong till it's off the car in your hand! Problems here are particularly common on cars that get only infrequent or intermittent use.

Steve

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'73 2 door Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine (The Dolomega)
'72 Triumph 1500FWD in Slate Grey, Now with RWD and Carledo powertrain!

Maverick Triumph, Servicing, Repairs, Electrical, Recomissioning, MOT prep, Trackerjack brake fitting service.
Apprentice served Triumph Specialist for 50 years. PM for more info or quotes.

I got the car back last night, with issues over the wheel nuts. But the steering seems to be entirely fixed by the replacement rack.
I didn't think it was the column as it turns many turns without issues to get to full lock and it was only after going backwards at full right lock there was a specific issue. Also, that was all replaced not so long ago. But I was worried there was an issue with the suspension mountings causing the steering to semi-jam at the end after the unusual force from revereson at lock. But it all seems fine now.
Still needs tracking, cos they ran out of time and I needed it for shopping today. Steering seemed a little heavy at first, but part of the problem was it had gone far too light and sloppy. So it may take a bit of getting used to it now it's fixed.

Only real problem is, I forgot to get them to put the new bulkhead rubber in. So some of it's got to come apart again anyway.

Graham

_________________
The 16v Slant 4 engine is more fun than the 3.5 V8, because you mostly drive it on the upslope of the torque curve.

Factory 1977 TR7 Sprint FHC VVC 697S (Now all of, but still needs putting together)
B&Y 73 Dolomite Sprint UVB 274M (kids!)
1970 Maroon 13/60 Herald Convertable (wife's fun car).