I have a 2001 Discovery II that I purchased with steering issues. I cured the steering whine with replacing the pump and helped some of the play in the steering by adjusting the steering box with the adjuster on the top but I can't seem to figure out why sometimes the steering locks when I go into a right hand turn and don't jig the steering. It locks and I have to yank it, I hear and feel a pop/thunk and it releases.
1) only in right hand turns
2) only at lower speeds
3) it feels and sounds like it happens close to the steering wheel
I've spray lubed the u-joints on the steering shaft ( a lot) that I can see in the engine bay with no effect. I've tried driving with the steering wheel in different positions with the tilt with no effect.I ordered a new lower shaft and have a different steering box and pump from a donor Disco but is there anything I might be missing?Is there another joint/link behind the steering wheel in the cabin I can service or change?As I mentioned above... I can prevent it if I jig the wheel in tiny amounts during a turn but if I forget and go into a turn and hold the wheel...boom it happens...
Steering lock?
Any info appreciated.


ps. also replaced the damper with a terrafirma and also replaced the draglink

 

With motor off, remove your black plastic air intake tubing.

Look down on driver's side where your North/South metal steering mechanism is closest to the heat shield that is supposed to go around your motor mount on that side.

That heat shield's metal can lift away from the motor mount with age. If your steering mechanism rubs on that metal heat shield while turning, you'll experience the symptoms that you describe above.

 

Thanks for the tip, pounded the heat shield as far as away from the shaft and it happens...
It feels like the pop/knock is coming from the area of the tilt steering... Is that something I can access and possibly disable or would I have to replace the entire upper column.
It almost feels like the steering lock partially engages. Can I disable that for testing purposes?
Thanks!

 

Hey, did you ever figure out what was going on? Same thing is happening to my 98’ LR Disco.

any insight would be amazing!

cheers,

 

If you have a '98 then it's a D1, not a D2. This is the D2 forum so any advice may not be accurate for your truck.

 

HI Attached is a photo of the steering arrangement on a D2, note item 12, 19 are universal joints , on the column, make sure these are free and not worn out