Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Uneven steering feel

I was on the lift with the 4/4, we blew the brakes.
I noticed that the steering with the wheels in the air is alternately heavy and light.

And only afterwards I had the sensitivity for the fact that it is also like that on the road.
When parking, for example, if you steer fast and a lot, it seems lighter and then again with more resistance.
It's not edgy or scratchy. It is rather a soft but persistent resistance when turning the steering wheel.

Is it normal but did I notice it now? Or do I have to change something (the Garage, not me), maybe a joint?
The steering has more than one of them, I think?

I think that this is likely to be a "they all do that, sir". Certainly all of my Morgans have done it but it is only noticeable when the wheels are off the ground and you use a wheel to reposition the wheels to get access to the grease nipples.

I think it's non servod?

It's the same as on my Morgan and tmy old Mini (and the Minis of my friends). If I lift them for to grease the front suspension,I can turn the wheel by hand from totally left to right and back.

If they both are standing on their wheels my girls aren't able to turn the steering. I think it's about the physical forces. And normal.

René

René, yes of course it is lighter to steer the wheels in the air. What I mean is the unevenness of the steering force during the turning of the steering wheel in the air. And after that experience I also noticed it now with the weight loaded on the road when manoeuvring.

I guess the steering rack is nicely full of grease, just an idea.

I think so, yes. I had to replace one steering gaiter this summer and there was plenty of grease (within both gaiters). The one cross joint can be seen directly in the engine compartment. That one has also new lubricating grease. Is there another cross joint that you can't see directly?

Ah I see, there are two or so more joints.
http://www.gomog.com/allmorgan/steeringr&p.html

May be it makes sense to look at those cross joints which are more below, further away from the steering wheel according to the drawing in the link...perhaps some grease may help. I have not greased that joints before...

That's good, it might be worth checking this plate for peace of mind Heinz.

Thanks for the tip, Richard, I will do so.

I have felt a VERY slight “ notchiness” as Max5 describes when the car is on stands and off the ground. I have done checks on the whole steering system and not found any problems though. I put it down to the teeth engagement in the rack/pinion.

Reversing the steering system with wheels off the ground by moving them from side to side always seems to thow up small variations in stiffness through the lock to lock range. On my 53 year old Land Rover with a steering box there is also a friction damper in the linkage to contend with. On my Roadster the mechanical effects of electric assistance on the column may be a cause, or just the rack and pinion working in reverse. In any/either case I would only worry if excessive.

ETA: Heinz also mentions steering joints. Individual universal joints do exhibit angular acceleration/deceleration when transmitting a turning force through an angle (hence adoption of CV joints on FWD vehicles) which may also contribute to the observed effect.