Steering suddenly went extremely light.
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Steering suddenly went extremely light.
Cabby 216. K reg.
Just pulling into driveway and turning to park up, the steering wheel went extremely, overly light. While still turning the wheels.
Stationary , it is the same. There is no noise or clunking.
My Mechanic is a bit flumuxed so any help would be appreciated.
Maybe nothing to do with it but i had two new front tyres fitted the day before.
Many thanks
Just pulling into driveway and turning to park up, the steering wheel went extremely, overly light. While still turning the wheels.
Stationary , it is the same. There is no noise or clunking.
My Mechanic is a bit flumuxed so any help would be appreciated.
Maybe nothing to do with it but i had two new front tyres fitted the day before.
Many thanks
- RoverRevival
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Re: Steering suddenly went extremely light.
Steering rack on its way out
Pastor @ Rover Revival NFP Garage
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220 Coupe turbo K785OAT
218 VVC Cabriolet R220OVR
Mercedes C270 diesel P80CJM
For Sale:
75 1.8 auto Connie 70k copperleaf
216 ronda coupe
& C3
- Johnny 216GSi
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Re: Steering suddenly went extremely light.
Either that or your new tyres have been extremely over-inflated. That makes the steering light - but you'd have to have them seriously over-inflated to feel it - say 10psi-15psi over the recommended pressure at least. I suppose if your old ones were under-inflated by 10psi (never attended to or never checked, the pressure will easily drop 10psi over time) and your new ones are over-inflated by 5-10psi you'd feel the difference.
Rover 216GSi K reg. Flame Red over Tempest Grey



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Re: Steering suddenly went extremely light.
Honda steering racks on 827s are prone to this - and as an early 216, it will have a Honda engine and Honda steering rack
Out in the desert with 2 old Jeeps and a Saab 9-3 cabrio
Back home: wife's 1993 216 DOHC Cabriolet, daughter's R100 and my 1969 MGC GT
Back home: wife's 1993 216 DOHC Cabriolet, daughter's R100 and my 1969 MGC GT
Re: Steering suddenly went extremely light.
The steering rack on Honda-engined R8 200s, 400s and Concertos is exactly the same part.
The problem usually causing the steering to go light instantly is the breakage of the internal 'C' spring at the top of the steering pinion that gives the rack its 'Positive Centre Feel' feature.
Unfortunately it means a replacement rack...
(Richard is correct in that 800s suffer from the same problem but not that it was on 827s, that had Honda's speed proportional system)
The problem usually causing the steering to go light instantly is the breakage of the internal 'C' spring at the top of the steering pinion that gives the rack its 'Positive Centre Feel' feature.
Unfortunately it means a replacement rack...
(Richard is correct in that 800s suffer from the same problem but not that it was on 827s, that had Honda's speed proportional system)
I like Twin Cams.... and Single Cams
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Re: Steering suddenly went extremely light.
Thanks for the correction - I'm a bit out of touch after 10 years without a Rover of my own :(
Out in the desert with 2 old Jeeps and a Saab 9-3 cabrio
Back home: wife's 1993 216 DOHC Cabriolet, daughter's R100 and my 1969 MGC GT
Back home: wife's 1993 216 DOHC Cabriolet, daughter's R100 and my 1969 MGC GT
Re: Steering suddenly went extremely light.
I have history with these systemsrichard moss wrote: ↑Sat Nov 23, 2019 9:00 amThanks for the correction - I'm a bit out of touch after 10 years without a Rover of my own :(

I like Twin Cams.... and Single Cams
Re: Steering suddenly went extremely light.
Thank you for all that information
Yes it has Honda engine etc.
I know it isn't the tyre thing as they are at correct pressure and it was quite a dramatic shift in steering.
So Steering rack looks like the problem. At least now we have experienced knowledge to work with. I shall pass this onto my mechanic.
Many thanks, it is very much appreciated
Destiny

Yes it has Honda engine etc.
I know it isn't the tyre thing as they are at correct pressure and it was quite a dramatic shift in steering.
So Steering rack looks like the problem. At least now we have experienced knowledge to work with. I shall pass this onto my mechanic.
Many thanks, it is very much appreciated

Destiny
- RoverRevival
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Re: Steering suddenly went extremely light.
Now the hard part, finding the replacement.
Pastor @ Rover Revival NFP Garage
220 Coupe turbo K785OAT
218 VVC Cabriolet R220OVR
Mercedes C270 diesel P80CJM
For Sale:
75 1.8 auto Connie 70k copperleaf
216 ronda coupe
& C3
220 Coupe turbo K785OAT
218 VVC Cabriolet R220OVR
Mercedes C270 diesel P80CJM
For Sale:
75 1.8 auto Connie 70k copperleaf
216 ronda coupe
& C3