The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

Hi folks . I just need some advice, I heared a knocking nosie from the o/s front suspension, and pushing down on the front wing I hear it.

The cars not long passed it test,it had a new steering rack fitted by the last owner a recon me thinks! I jacked it up looking to see if bolts were tight, they were.
I found it impossible to turn the right hand wheel back from the lock by hand, the left side is okay , it looks like a tight spot on the right hand side inside the rubber gaiter.
On the road it feels okay except for the nosie.

Anyone help

Tony.

I forgot to say I pumped a load of grease into the steering rack, just the same!

to be the top ball joint on that side is stiff...
Does it have a grease plug? If so replace it with a nipple and put some in..
If not (non greasable sealed for "life" type) then find a new one...

Or it could even be a track rod end sticking in one place...
Its unlikely to be the rack...stiff steering is always something else.
Another favourite is the universal joint on the intermediate shaft...lower steering column. That can get stiff on one plane and cause stiff steering.
Again a liberal application of castrols finest will often free them up.

Jonners

Thanks jonners
That would explain the knocking too , I will check that top ball joint out later

Tony

I know exactly what you mean about not being able to turn the wheels back by hand, I have had the same problem the last two years at the MOT with my sprint. I don't think it has anything to do with the knocking you have, Jon is likely on that case.

Check the turns from centre on the steering, I think you'll find one way is fractionally greater than the other. As it only locks when the steering is at full lock AND the suspension is topped out / hanging AND the centralising force is applied to the excessively turned wheel ONLY (none applied to the other wheel or the steering wheel) I've not been worried enough to sort it. If you are going to get the car tracked anyway it's probably worth the couple of hours fiddling to save having to argue common sense at the MOT.

Tinweevil

I took the front wheels off put the car on ramps, the ball joints are sealed types.

I could not see anything wrong all nuts and bolts are tight , the steering rack is the same number of turns each way, so I gave all the bushes a good spay of WD40, and turned the steering wheel from lock to lock for around 3 min, this seems to have worked, I can now turn the road wheel back by hand.

As for the knocking nosie, I could only find a bit of lift in the o/s front wheel bearing, and no play in the n/s. Are these supose to have play in them? Some of Vivas did,

I will give it a good road test next weekend.

Tony.

Ive found that just tighetning the castelated nut enough to get to the next split pin hole is enough to take out the wheel bearing play. Push the pads back so the wheel is free on the brakes...
You can feel it with the wheel on and the grease cap off...(best removed with slide hammer).
I'd be a bit concerned if WD40 had free'ed something off. It will wash off in the first shower of rain...Finger of grease on the column u/j...

Jonners

Thats worth knowing , be the weekend till I can adjust it

Tony.

I was taking the car off the stands that where placed under the anti-roll link to radius arm, when the weight was on the front axel beam, I decided to check if the road wheel would turn on the right hand side, no it would not, back on to the stands then it turns!

Shall replace that top ball joint soon, what do you think?

Just spoken to a member on the phone, its because the wheels at a angle and all the trackrod joints are staight, and wont turn it back.

Theres nothing wrong,however may cause problems at the Mot, just tell them to jack it up in another place!

Tony.

Hello.

I have just had this problem at the MOT, and consequently failed on it.

It was the drivers side wheel which would not turn in one direction by hand.

Any tips?

I need it through

How would I convince the examiner that this is ok?