Loss of Self Centring Steering

[panamacarrera]

Hi folks

Since installing my rebuilt engine the steering has lost most of its self centring.

Has anyone had similar problems? What's the cause? What's the fix?

Thank you

Nigel

[mgcjag]

Hi Nigel....Castor angle....was it just engine you removed and replaced or have you done anything to suspension..Steve

[panamacarrera]

was it just engine you removed and replaced or have you done anything to suspension.

New shocks, that's all Steve

[mgcjag]

I would check that the steering is not rubbing or catching on anything....also check out suspension geometry...just removing or replaceing an engine should have no effect on steering self centering.....double check the shocks..no reason they should cause a problem...but i dont know what they are..replace old if you still have them and see what happens...Steve

[Paul Buckley]

When my car was returned to me after re-commissioning I had the same problem.
I moved the caster angle to maximum as per the Jaguar specs and it improved a great deal.
However, it is still not as it was and I wonder if the problem lies within the steering column, which had been removed.
Something I will have to address this winter.
But the car is now drivable, if not perfect.

[politeperson]

I had this happen once when the lower ball joints were replaced by our local alignment place.

Turned out they had not fitted any shims at all. The 4 bolts were tightening the block against the ball!

Shims reinserted, self centering returned with lighter steering.

[lowact]

My car came with a reco'd steering rack. It was hard to drive in a straight line. I found the piston O-ring had been nicked, tell-tale was hydraulic oil in one of the boots. New seal kit fixed it.