New steering rack - geometry

[benjj]

Hi all,

I've just had a new steering rack fitted to my car (2004 Range Rover) and the steering feels a little bit out.

Can a new steering rack affect the geometry/balance/tracking? There is a very slight judder at c.50mph that wasn't there before.

Any advice/thoughts appreciated.

[BliarOut]

Absolutely, have you got a printout of the geo? If not it's the very first thing you should check after your tyre pressures

[Parrot of Doom]

It certainly will, the car will need to be fully realigned. I'm surprised the garage haven't already done that.

[benjj]

Thank you both, fortunately the garage is local so I'll drop in tomorrow.

[GKP]

It'll be doubtful if your local garage will be able to do a full geo on your RR. They require the suspension to be set at a certain height via Testbook or similar, before measurements are made.

[ADEuk]

Start with a wheel balance. I've never known tracking to cause judder.

[BliarOut]

ADEuk said:

Start with a wheel balance. I've never known tracking to cause judder.

I have Excessive toe in will cause the wheels to scrub against each other.

[benjj]

Just called the garage and he is saying that it wouldn't affect the tracking or cause a judder.

The piece I've just had replaced is from the steering column down to about pedal level - apparently the wheels didn't come off. I know the guy well so believe him I suppose.

Another question: The reason I had the steering column/rack replaced was the old one was knackered. Could it be that the wheels have been out of balance for ages and I'm only feeling it now as the wheel is relaying everything it should to my hands!?

[chris7676]

Geo wouldn't have changed. It is not that your steering wheel just needs to be centred now ?

[benjj]

Chris, its not the actual steering wheel (I don't think), there is a judder from the front wheels at a specific speed (c.50-60mph) that either wasn't there before or I was but I wasn't feeling it as my steering column was knackered.

[Parrot of Doom]

Maybe before there was a bit more play in your steering column, old UJs "soaking up" the vibration you now feel.

In my experience these wobbles, if not down to damaged tyres/wheels, or imbalanced wheels, are almost always down to worn suspension components.