| Author | Message | ||
     Praveen K (Praveenk22) New Member Username: Praveenk22 Post Number: 21 Registered: 05-2003 |
The steering on my '99 Disco is quite sensitive. I think there are a couple of problems and I'd like some suggestions please on how to fix these issues. 1. The power steering fluid leaks like crazy. Solution: Tightened all clamps on the hoses.This fixed problem of leak to some degree but it still leaks. I keep adding STP's power steering fluid with leak stoppage. Is there a way to know if the pump has gone bad? Also where can I find a not too expensive used pump? 2. Power steering: This thing does not work at low speeds i.e in a parking lot when I need to backup & turn. The steering is mighty hard. Solution: Upto this point I've been giving it some gas to get it to free up a little but still doesn't eliminate the problem. 3. Driving at crusing speeds: The steering is so sensitive and spongy that it almost feels like there is a play in the steering. There's almost around 3-4 degrees of play. How do I fix this? 4. Alignment: Since I go wheelin now, fixing the alignment at the local shop doesn't really help as I would have to do this every week.Is there a way to fix this by adjusting the toe at home? I've never done any auto/truck fixin before and may sound mighty ignorant in most mechanical areas. But I'd really like to learn how to fix my truck. Any suggestions would really help. Thanks. Regards -PGK | ||
| Matt Anderson (Disco01) Member Username: Disco01 Post Number: 66 Registered: 10-2003 |
I am not sure what to say about that stop leak stuff, doubt it would really work, but if you have been adding that stuff is the pump too full? Also I think the Disco is suppossed to use ATF fluid in the steering box. I think one step you could take would be to have someone turn the wheel around and stuff while you look at the box to see where it is leaking. Tell us what you find and we can go from there. | ||
| Bill Collett (Bcollett) New Member Username: Bcollett Post Number: 32 Registered: 07-2003 |
I haven't looked at my lines on my power steering yet, but on most vehicles the lines have fitted ends becuase of the high pressure. This could be your problem. Also, if your pump runs dry and siezes, it will likely shread your belt causing a world of other problems. Like Matt said find out exaclty where your leaks are coming from ASAP and we'll go from there. | ||
| Praveen K (Praveenk22) New Member Username: Praveenk22 Post Number: 22 Registered: 05-2003 |
I'll be fixing my truck this weekend. I normally use the disco as my daily driver but currently using my other car till I resolve this issue. I'll let you know what I find. Thanks. | ||
| Joey (Joey4420) Senior Member Username: Joey4420 Post Number: 459 Registered: 04-2003 |
Item (1) Try some Lucas Power Steering fluid and see (2) below. Item (2) Sounds like pump may be going bad. Item (3) A little play isn't bad, but you can tighten it up by loosening the nut on top of steering gear box, and then tightening the screw in the nut, then retighten the nut....hope that makes sense. Item (4) http://www.sf.hiof.no/~frodehaa/steeringalignment.htm | ||
| Jamie (Rover_puppy) Senior Member Username: Rover_puppy Post Number: 478 Registered: 05-2003 |
I know nothing about leaking stuff, but once you finish tackling those issues - I'd like to offer some input for the future about driving at cruising speeds and steering play. I HATED the play that seems to be inherent in the Discovery steering - I avoided interstates and highways if at all possible (so much so that I would pass up trail rides more than a few hours away). One night, I took a "shortcut" across the state on a single lane highway to avoid the interstate. Unfortunately, this turned out to be a highway that the truckers took at night and the semi drafts were almost impossible for me to handle. I had my first experience (and I pray my ONLY experience) of the rear of my rover fishtailing. Scared the heck out of me in pitch black traveling at 60mph. I KNOW THE ONLY reason I'm alive is because I had gotten some good offroad instruction where I had been coming from - and used that to use ONLY gentle movements in an attempt to get control of my rover. I took about 6 good fishtails thru both lanes before I was straight and level again. I pulled off the highway - shaking and wanting to cry. I was terrified to get in and drive again. Trust me, if I hadn't known it would be more dangerous to sit on the side of the unlit highway, I would have stayed there until morning. The 20 miles west to the interstate was the most torturous drive I have ever had. I felt relief when I got to the interstate to head south, but then had to face the terror of driving high speed interstate surrounded by idiots driving in other vehicles. That is what scares me more than anything, I've seen one too many instances of someone driving along safely(?) along the highway and the next moment in ICU - travel to ICU courtesy of medivac flight. I trust my rover offroad and have ALWAYS enjoyed the handling, steering tightness and response that my rover demonstrates off road. When I started passing up trail rides, I knew I had to find a solution. The smartest thing I ever did was to change out my suspension (OME shocks, springs, lift, AND STEERING damper). If I could only do one mod to my rover, that would be it and I'd give up everything in my entire budget (that's not an absolute necessity) to save for changing out the stock suspension. Doing so, has made such a difference that it is like light and day in my steering. Play dissappeared and my rover became responsive on the highways just like it had in stock condition while offroad. Even my dealership was amazed. Whenever it has been being worked on, they demonstrated that difference to potential rover customers (which did not bother me at all, they are very good to me and they helped to make my mods affordable for me - besides that, if something "might" go wrong, I still prefer the techs run it hard on their off road track behind the dealership - I'd much rather they find out instead of me when I'm on the trail!  To be totally fair to you with my experience, when my suspension was changed out, my 16" wheels and mud tires were added at the same time (they had been sitting in my garage "waiting" since I purchased them when I had saved the money for them and got a good purchase price). Because of that, I never drove my truck with ONLY the suspension changed out and I don't know if (or how much) the change of wheels and tires contributed to the positive changes in my steering. I'm sure that some of the guys here would know for sure about that. I still do not luv the highways, but I am way way much more comfortable on them in my rover. I trust me and my rover. I trust other off roaders on the trail. What I'll never trust are the other drivers on the highway (my highway motto: don't drive defensively, drive paranoid... you've got a better chance of reaching your destination safely BTW, another positive change for my highway driving that you probably won't want to do: Many times on the highway, I'm carrying a heavy cargo load in my tail. (I might break down and buy spacers someday) I just LUV the heavy weight back there on the highways. I don't flop around as much from the passing semi's going way too fast, with the result of their wake turbulence smacking my rover around. With heavy weight, rover feels more grounded and stable. If I need to get on the highway without carrying heavy gear, I just fill my frig with bottled water, gatorade and soda (yeh, I know that weight decreases mpg, but that's way better than me getting killed off on the highway). Hope you find solutions to what ails your rover. My empathy is with you - I am also almost ignorant in mechanical areas. Don't worry, you'll figure it out -- even if you have to sit in your driveway and cry in frustration for awhile... Good Luck, Jamie | ||
| Praveen K (Praveenk22) New Member Username: Praveenk22 Post Number: 23 Registered: 05-2003 |
Joey thanks for that link. Been reading that page very good info. | ||
| Praveen K (Praveenk22) New Member Username: Praveenk22 Post Number: 24 Registered: 05-2003 |
Jamie, took a look at your rig. Looks cool. I just got some 245/75R16 MT's installed last week and noticed that the sway is much more pronounced. Still running with old springs/shocks. Looking to get an upgrade this week obviously used stuff gotta keep expenses in check. Nonetheless you've had quite an experience with fish tailing. So far I haven't had anything like that except in my '97 Bimmer which I lost control on while it was raining. I wanted to push the car to it's limit to know how well the traction control works . Anyways, on long trips I take my GSD who weighs 90lbs and he's got his place in the back of the truck. I guess he really does help in avoiding the sway But I did notice one thing with the new MT's on turning the tires seem to rub on something. Probably the inside wheel wells. Need to investigate on this. So far I'm driving without making those deep turns that you'd make in parking lots. This weekend will be a lot of investigating and leak finding on the disco. I hope I don't have to replace to many things  | ||
| Praveen K (Praveenk22) New Member Username: Praveenk22 Post Number: 25 Registered: 05-2003 |
I just got some 245/75R16 MT's installed last week and noticed that the sway is much more pronounced. Still running with old springs/shocks. Looking to get an upgrade this week obviously used stuff gotta keep expenses in check. Nonetheless Jamie, you've had quite an experience with fish tailing. So far I haven't had anything like that except in my '97 Bimmer which I lost control on while it was raining. I wanted to push the car to it's limit to know how well the traction control works . Anyways, on long trips I take my GSD who weighs 90lbs and he's got his place in the back of the truck. I guess he really does help in avoiding the sway But I did notice one thing with the new MT's on turning the tires seem to rub on something. Probably the inside wheel wells. Need to investigate on this. So far I'm driving without making those deep turns that you'd make in parking lots. This weekend will be a lot of investigating and leak finding on the disco. I hope I don't have to replace to many things | ||
| Joey (Joey4420) Senior Member Username: Joey4420 Post Number: 463 Registered: 04-2003 |
If you are getting rubbing on sharp turns, you probably just need to adjust the bump stops.... http://www.sf.hiof.no/~frodehaa/forandringer/245-75.htm Go about half way down the page till is say radius arms.....look at the bump stop adjustments. | ||
| Praveen K (Praveenk22) New Member Username: Praveenk22 Post Number: 27 Registered: 05-2003 |
Finally got to the ongoing saga of steering issues after it finally stopped raining in Cary,NC. Most of you must have done this when you'll installed bigger tires on the disco. I followed the directions on the posted link for tire rubbing on sharp turns. The right front tire was rubbing the radius arm. All I had to do was adjust the bolt on the left tire essentially loosen it till there was no rubbing on the left. I'm excited that I did save a bunch of $$$ as normally I would have gone to the dealer to get this fixed. Did have to buy 2, 3-ton jack stands & a heavy duty floor jack. I busted the stock jack. The jack just refuses to go down even with the release of the valve. Anybody know how to fix this? Noticed a lot of power steering fluid leaking out of the power steering pump. Also noticed that the serpertine belt is pretty much worn out. So I'll be replacing the belt first then attack the power steering issue. | ||
| Brad Ashe (Vodkaman) Member Username: Vodkaman Post Number: 47 Registered: 10-2003 |
Jamie I don"t want to highjack this thread but could you give the specs on your mods? Looking at the gallery your Disco is my favorite of the bunch. Sorry for the highjack! | ||
| Praveen K (Praveenk22) New Member Username: Praveenk22 Post Number: 32 Registered: 05-2003 |
I checked for leaks from the power steering pump near the radius arm. Tried turning the steering left & right and holding it at full lock to see where the fluid was leaking from. Didn't see anything oozing out. The only thing I did was add power steering fluid with leakage stop. Kind of strange but there seems to be quite a big mess of fluid sprayed onto different parts of the steering components. Probably before I added the new fluid. Nonetheless I'm thinking of replacing the oil seals on the pump. Hope this fixes the leaks. | ||
| Jamie (Rover_puppy) Senior Member Username: Rover_puppy Post Number: 551 Registered: 05-2003 |
Brad, Sorry for the delay in answering, I must have missed your post. TJM Winch Bumper, SuperWinch X9, Rovertym Rock Sliders. LR Skid plates/diff cover. OME Suspension configured by Bill Burke with BFG 265/75/R16 Mud Radials. Home Depot Flourescent Neon Pink Spray Paint. PJK, Continued best wishes on your repairs |
