woolly steering

[johnpick]

Hi there.
Has anyoy found a cure yet for wooly steering. I.E it feels rather vague and the steering wheel seems to change its alignment. I know its end float on the rack but has anybody found a cure for it?
Thanks
John

[robv12]

could be a number of things, vee mounts are a favourite failure on these cars, allowing the whole front end to move around, get the car up in the air with the weight off the wheels and check with a pry bar between the front subframe and body shell where the vee mount is situated, if there is any movement then the rubber has debonded from the steel mounts, get them replaced. While the car is up in the air check all the other bushes too

[jBlackwell]

Hi John,
I agree with Rob. I have recently replaced all wish bone bushes, suspension arm bushes, and steering rack dampners on my X300.
So far I have only driven it to the garage for some welding and the car is the most direct, responsive and tightest I have ever known.
Outlay, £70 plus my labour, but the difference is amazing.

James

[johnpick]

Thanks guys.
I cheecked the vee mounts and they appear to be ok. The rack is moving on its mountings. I bought some of them plastic spacers from Black Country Jags they made it better. I may just double the spacers up on one side. Hopefully this will let it pass its MOT. After christmas I planned om re bushing the front end. Is there anything available to stop the rack moving.
Thanks in advance
John.
PS My first Jag so I'm a bit green.

[jBlackwell]

Hi John,
I have put some new steering rack dampners on my steering rack. I bought them from WhatJag (AKA Ken Jenkins).
They have cured any movement what so ever. They are something that you will have to get done at a garage.

James

[johnpick]

Thanks Everybody.
Is there any contact details for Whatjag please.
Regards
John

[J44EAG]

See inside back page of latest magazine for full details.

WATJAG is the correct spelling. 01 629 640081 for Parts Dept.

Mike

[johnpick]

being a pain I know. But, what are steering rack dampers and are they easy to change?
TIA
John

[jBlackwell]

Hi John,
Steering Rack Dampners sit along the steering rack in a horizontal position. These stop the steering rack moving from side to side as you turn the wheel, etc...
I have only become aware of these as I suffered too much movement in my steering wheel before any actual steering took place. So have learnt a lot recently.
Are they easy to fit?
Steering rack must be removed, a simple enough job, but would recommend two people. To remove the old dampners is not easy, my advice would be to take the rack to a garage/engineer and get them to remove the dampners and then replace with the new ones.
Then replace the steering rack.
I was lucky enough to have help from my dad pointing me in the right direction. It is a two man job really, to make it easier.
With regards to the actuals processes on doing the job, I spoke to Keith Parrington and Ken Jenkins to gain the actual details and would point you to their advice.

James

[johnpick]

Thanks very much guys.
I bought this car as it needed some work mechanically. I can do that but,thankfully the bodywork is ok.
I'll be attempting this when the weather gets a little better as I've missed the best bit.
Thaks again
John