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HJ Stato Steering

Started by _toddy_ , May 19 2006 07:24 PM

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12 replies to this topic

#1 _toddy_

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Posted 19 May 2006 - 07:24 PM

Hi guys, I own a HJ Statesman with power steer.
My problem is that it is very hard to drive, as I travel along the road it vears left to right all the time. I think it has something to do with the toe in-out???
It is a constant problem and I have replaced the drag link? and the control arm, is it possible the power steering rack may be stuffed or would it be something else???
I have got no idea what is wrong but I really would like to be able to fix it as it makes driving the statesman a chore and I am all ways correcting the steering as I drive, I do not feel safe driving the car over 60 because of this

Any help you guys can give me will be greatly appreciated.

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#2 smeer

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Posted 19 May 2006 - 07:32 PM

If you are unsure about your driveline, especially steering, take it to a qualified mechanic immediately. It's just not worth the risk of any misfortune.

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#3 _Oldn64_

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Posted 19 May 2006 - 08:22 PM

I agree with smeer. However there are things that you can do in your driveway to pin point the issue. Most cars have teh steering wheel inside the car and the steering components out side the car. So forget about being in the car get a mate to sit in the car. and you look out side for the "slop". I suspect that a tierod end or something like that might have the slop but you need to look for it. get them to move the steering wheel left to right a little and see what is not moving in relation to what is moving. From memory the HJ ran a steering box that was power assisted and thus means that there is no rack. In a steering box there are a number of ball joints, anyone one of these might be the issue.

The other thingis if you run really wide rims on teh front you might find this exaggeratres the issue of slop due to teh car wanting to follow the road.

Have a good look. But if you cannot find the area then take it somewhere and get them to find it.

Cheers

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#4 _toddy_

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Posted 19 May 2006 - 09:20 PM

I took it to a mechanic and they checked the ball joints and tie rods and said they seem ok. they told me to replace the drag link and the rod that comes off the steering box which i did straight away.
In my opinion I think the wheels have a differant measurement if measured between them (like measuring track) I think the front of the tyres point in (towards each other and are not quite straight)
I have checked for looseness (slop) in all of the front end and cant work it out...
There are no real steering specialists here so I need to drive it at least 100 ks to get it looked at, thats why I want to have a go myself first.

The car seems to drive like its on a tram line and I have to steer it to keep it straight.
It is of major concern to me because it is the only way I can get my kids around

Edited by toddy, 19 May 2006 - 09:23 PM.

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#5 _Oldn64_

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Posted 19 May 2006 - 09:37 PM

Tram linign sounds tyre related but have a bloody good look at the steering linkages. replacing stuff here and there is not your answer. forget having the car runnign either as this will mask the issue (if it has one), go over thinsg with a fine tooth coomb. Anyway, when you replaced draglink and pitman arm are your sure you tightened the nuts up 100%???

Cheers

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#6 _toddy_

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Posted 19 May 2006 - 09:47 PM

Thanks Oldn Yes I am shure the bolts are tightened corectly, I didnt think of looking at the steering column.
Looks like a job for the morning...

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#7 rodomo

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Posted 19 May 2006 - 10:32 PM

Toe-out would cause your fault rather than toe-in unless it is excessive. By the sounds of things you have something tight. Have you had the steering box recently reco'ed? Is the idler arm free? Does your stereing column make scraping noises as you turn the wheel?

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#8 _1QUICK LJ_

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Posted 20 May 2006 - 01:20 AM

the caster settings have alot to do with high speed stability, i would book it in for a wheel alignment , that way if anything is wrong they will pick up on the prob then.
by the way dont run any bigger than a 7 inch rim on the front or they drive like crap.

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#9 _toddy_

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Posted 20 May 2006 - 10:26 AM

Im running the 205s of the hatch on it at the moment but it did it with 225s as well

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#10 _CHOPPER_

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Posted 20 May 2006 - 12:00 PM

I have seen HQ - WB's with power steering do some strange things over the years. If you weren't so far away, I'd have a look because some checks are impossible to describe over the internet.