Page 517 of 873
FRONT AXLE AND FINAL DRIVE
1
SERVICE TOOLS FRONT HUB
LRT-54-001 Oil seal replacer non ABS
LST550-5
LRT-99-003 Drift
18G134
LRT-54-002 Hub nut wrench
RO606435A
LRT-54-003 Hub oil seal replacer ABS
LST137
Page 518 of 873
54FRONT AXLE AND FINAL DRIVE
2
SERVICE TOOLS
LRT-99-503 Dial gauge bracket
RO530106
LRT-37-004 Extractor ABS
18G284AAH
LRT-54-005 Bearing installer ABS
LST132
LRT-54-004 Seal installer ABS
LST133
Page 519 of 873
FRONT AXLE AND FINAL DRIVE
3
SERVICE TOOLS
LRT-99-004 Impulse extractor
MS284
LRT-570-024 Torque test adaptor ABS
LST141
Page 520 of 873

STEERING
1
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION DESCRIPTION
The power assisted steering system incorporates a
compression joint in the lower shaft, designed to
collapse on impact and for certain countries, an air
bag located in the centre of the steering wheel.
The mis-alignment of the upper steering column with
the steering box and the inclusion of two universal
joints and a compression joint in the lower shaft, is
also designed to prevent frontal impact moving the
column toward the driver.
The steering box is located behind the first cross
member of the chassis and is connected to the road
wheels by the drag link and track rod. An hydraulic
damper absorbs shocks in the steering, caused by
road wheel deflections when operating on rough
terrain.Power steering system
The power steering system comprises a hydraulic
pump which is belt driven from the engine and
supplied with fluid from a reservoir that also acts as a
cooler.
The steering box houses a self neutralizing rotary
valve which is part of the worm/valve assy and a
hydraulic piston/rack to assist the mechanical
operation.
The rotary valve which is operated by movement of
the steering wheel, directs fluid pressure to the
appropriate side of the hydraulic piston/rack to provide
assistance.
Power steering system
1. Hydraulic pump
2. Fluid reservoir
3. Steering box
4. Upper column
5. Universal joints
6. Lower shaft
7. Compression joint
8. Drag link
Page 529 of 873

STEERING
3
FAULT DIAGNOSIS STEERING DAMPER
The power steering system, as well as reducing the
effort required to manoeuvre the vehicle when
parking, also helps to dampen any deflections of the
road wheels, being transmitted back to the steering
wheel.
When operating the vehicle off road, the road wheels
are often deflected by ruts and boulders causing the
steering wheel to turn left and right. This phenomenon
is known as 'steering kickback'. To subdue the effects
of 'steering kickback', a hydraulic damper is fitted in
the steering linkage between the track rod and the
differential casing. The damper, which offers the same
resistance in extension and compression, is sealed for
life.
Steering damper check
Check the condition operation of the hydraulic
steering damper as follows:
Check procedure
1.Inspect damper for casing damage or leaks.
2.Clamp one end of the damper horizontally in a
vice using soft jaws. Compress and extend the
unit by hand. Resistance should be equal in both
directions.
3.If it is felt that the unit is outside acceptable
limits, fit a new steering damperSTEERING FAULTS
Symptom:-
Excessive kickback through steering wheel - when
driven on rough terrain.
1.Is the steering damper in good working order?
See Steering Damper
NO - Renew unit.See Repair, Steering
Damper
YES - Continue.
2.Is there any looseness or free play in the
steering ball joints and linkage?
YES -
See Steering Linkage Inspect
NO - Continue.
3.Is there any looseness or worn bushes in front
suspension?
YES -
See FRONT SUSPENSION, Repair,
Radius Arm
NOTE: When replacing suspension bushes
ALL bushes and fixings must be replaced.
NO - Continue.
4.Is the steering exceptionally light/sensitive when
driven on good road surface?
YES - See fault symptom -Steering
excessively light/sensitive and
freeplay at steering wheel.
NO - Suspect axle swivel resistance.
5.Check the resistance of the axle swivels.
See
FRONT AXLE AND FINAL DRIVE, Overhaul,
Front Stub Axle, Constant Velocity Joint and
Swivel Pin Housing Non ABS See FRONT
AXLE AND FINAL DRIVE, Overhaul, Front
Stub Axle, Constant Velocity Joint and
Swivel Pin Housing ABS
Page 530 of 873

57STEERING
4
FAULT DIAGNOSIS Symptom:-
Fluid leaks from steering box seals.
CAUTION: The steering wheel must not be
held on full lock for more than 30 seconds
in one minute, as this may overheat the
fluid and cause damage to the oil seals.
1.Check fluid level.
See Repair, Power Steering
Fluid Reservoir
Check fluid pressure.See Power Steering
System - Test
2.Is pressure high?
YES - Renew pump.
See Repair, Power
steering Pump
If oil seal leaks persist after renewing the
pump.
See Overhaul, Power Steering
Box
NO -See Overhaul, Power Steering Box
Symptom:-
Insufficient power assistance - castor return
action normal.
1.Are tyres correct type and pressure?
NO -
See GENERAL SPECIFICATION DATA,
Information, Wheels and Tyres
YES - Continue.
2.Is fluid level correct?
NO - Check fluid level
See Repair, Power
Steering Fluid Reservoir
YES - Check system for air locks.See Repair,
Power Steering System - Bleed
3.Is pressure correct?
NO - Check fluid pressure.
See Power
Steering System - Test
If pressure is not correct after bleeding
the system, renew pump.
See Repair,
Power Steering Pump
YES -See Overhaul, Power Steering Box
Symptom:-
Steering heavy - stiff, poor castor return action.
1.Are tyres correct type and pressure?
NO -
See GENERAL SPECIFICATION DATA,
Information, Wheels and Tyres
YES - Check universal joints for seizure and
correct alignment.
See Repair, Lower
Steering Shaft and Universal Joints
Check power steering box adjustments.
See Overhaul, Power Steering Box
2.Is the power assistance satisfactory?
NO - See fault symptomInsufficient
assistance, (castor return action
normal).
YES - Disconnect drag link from drop arm and
check steering column and box for
stiffness.
See Repair, Drag Link and
Drag Link Ends
3.Is the steering stiff with the drag link
disconnected?
NO - Check steering ball joints for seizure and
axle swivels lubrication and resistance.
See Repair, Drag Link and Drag Link
Ends See FRONT AXLE AND FINAL
DRIVE, Overhaul, Front Stub Axle,
Constant Velocity Joint and Swivel Pin
Housing Non ABS See FRONT AXLE
AND FINAL DRIVE, Overhaul, Front
Stub Axle, Constant Velocity Joint and
Swivel Pin Housing ABS
YES - Disconnect the lower steering shaft and
check the column and box for stiffness.
See Repair, Lower Steering Shaft and
Universal Joints
4.Is the steering column stiff to turn when
disconnected from the box?
NO - Remove and overhaul box.
See
Overhaul, Power Steering Box
YES - Adjust steering column.See Stiff
Steering Checklist
Page 531 of 873

STEERING
5
FAULT DIAGNOSIS Symptom :-
Steering excessively light/sensitive. Excessive
freeplay at steering wheel.
1.Are steering box adjustments correct?
NO -
See Adjustment, Power Steering Box
WARNING: Adjustments of steering box
should not be required while in warranty
period. If box is within warranty, it must be
returned to manufacturer. No attempt must be
made to introduce backlash.
YES - Suspect worn panhard rod or radius arm
bushes Check condition of ball joints and
the lower steering column shaft universal
joints for wear.
See Repair, Lower
Steering Shaft and Universal Joints
Symptom :-
Steering vibration, road wheel shimmy - wobble.
Vibration through the steering linkage powerful
enough to induce high frequency oscillation of the
steering wheel, is generally caused by out of balance
road wheels. However there are a number of other
possible causes of this symptom which if severe, may
be described as shimmy or wobble. Regardless of the
terminology used by the owner/driver to describe the
symptoms, the following diagnostic checks should be
carried out in the order presented.
1.Check the tyres and balance of the road wheels.
See GENERAL SPECIFICATION DATA,
Information, Wheels and Tyres See
WHEELS AND TYRES, Fault diagnosis, Fault
- Symptoms See WHEELS AND TYRES,
Repair, Wheel Balancing
2.Check the steering hydraulic damper function.
See Steering Damper
3.Check steering column universal joints for wear
and correct alignment.
See Repair, Lower
Steering Shaft and Universal Joints
4.Check steering linkage ball joints for wear,
correct alignment and security, including steering
box and tie rod.
See Steering Linkage Inspect
5.Check all front suspension rubbers for wear.
Check all fixing torques, including radius arm
bushes, panhard rod and anti-roll [sway] bar.
See FRONT SUSPENSION, Repair, Panhard
Rod See FRONT SUSPENSION, Repair,
Radius Arm See FRONT SUSPENSION,
Repair, Anti-Roll[Sway] Bar Assembly See
FRONT SUSPENSION, Repair, Front Shock
Absorber
6.Fit new radius arm bushes using NTC 6860. Fit
harmonic damper if vehicle has air suspension.
Fit new nuts, bolts and washers.
7. Coil spring vehicles only- If problem persists
fit damper kit STC 241 (2 off front) and STC
1474 (2 off rear). Road test vehicle.
8.Check the power steering box adjustments and
operation.
See Overhaul, Power Steering Box
9.Check the hub bearing end floats and determine
the condition of the hub bearings. As applicable.
See FRONT AXLE AND FINAL DRIVE, Repair,
Front Hub Assembly
10.Check the resistance and condition of the
swivels.
See FRONT AXLE AND FINAL
DRIVE, Description and operation,
Description
If problem is not diagnosed: Repeat
checks starting at 1.
11.Carry out a full steering geometry check.
See
INTRODUCTION, Information, Steering
Page 532 of 873

57STEERING
6
FAULT DIAGNOSIS STEERING STABILITY AND VEER UNDER
BRAKING
Possible cause:
Incorrectly set, swivel pin bearing preload. There are
three different settings for these bearings dependant
on model year and if fitted with ABS brakes.
Remedy.
1.Establish model year of vehicle.
2.If fitted with or without antilock brakes.
3.Follow instructions to overhaul front stub axle,
constant velocity joint and swivel pin non ABS,
or with ABS as appropriate.
See FRONT AXLE AND FINAL DRIVE,
Overhaul, Front Stub Axle, Constant Velocity
Joint and Swivel Pin Housing Non ABS See
FRONT AXLE AND FINAL DRIVE, Overhaul,
Front Stub Axle, Constant Velocity Joint and
Swivel Pin Housing ABS
1. GENERAL STEERING
1.Carry out visual and safety checks.
See Visual
and Safety Checks
2.Road test vehicle.See Road Test Procedure
3.Is problem resolved?
YES - end
NO - continue
4.Is problem stiff steering?
YES -
See Stiff Steering Checklist
NO- Goto6.
5.Is problem resolved?
YES - end
NO - go to 8.
6.Is problem steering niggle ?
YES - Replace radius arm bushes, arm and
axle.
See FRONT SUSPENSION,
Repair, Radius Arm
NO - go to 8.
7.Is problem resolved?
YES - end
NO - continue.
8.Centralise steering box.
See Adjustment,
Centralise Steering Box
9.Is problem resolved?
YES - end
NO - continue.
10.Check, adjust if necessary, steering geometry.
11.Is problem resolved?
YES - end
NO - continue.
12.Categorise the remaining problems into one or
more of the following descriptions:
See 2. Steering Veer
See 3. Veer Under Braking
See 4. Directional Stability