I maybe wildly off base here so please pardon my ignorance, but isn't the steering damper only there to prevent the wheels from turning the steering wheel violently while off-roading? I was under the impression that the steering damper will not dampen vibrations produced by the front axle or steering mechanism.

At any rate, I'm 100% with you guys when you're saying if there's vibration up front, it's better to find the cause and repair it than to mask it with the damper.

 

you are correct, you are wildly off base

 

X1. if it vibrates so without the steering damper it will no doubt feel worse and then start searching hard for the source of the vibes.

 

Cool! You learn something everyday

 

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wondering if the steering boxes are similar to the old recirculating ball units used in the older Mercedes. You could tighten the adjustment screw and it would improve the slop at the center point,...but once you moved past that worn center point,....the mechanism would begin to bind,....and often would not return to center on its own.

 

Good info here:

https://landroverforums.com/forum/di...ing-box-66302/

https://landroverforums.com/forum/di...upposed-58657/

 

Yes, similar. The workings in the box are like a worm drive and just as a worm drives ware in the most used area (centre) so it is here. The result is that if you remove a lot of the slack in the straight ahead position you could find that at either lock the steering will feel heavy as the mechanism is to tight.

The best thing is to adjust it gradually, loosen off the lock nut and with a 5mm allen key tighten the adjustment screw 2 turns then test it. Repeat as necessary to take out as much of the free play at the centre without compromising the free play at each lock.