Jonah Posted April 11, 2023 Report Share Posted April 11, 2023 Before I put the gearbox back in after finding the culprit of my second gear problem (me), I’m turning my attention to a steering question while the car is jacked up five years ago I had the body off my mk3 spitfire and rebuilt a rolling chassis I rebuilt the front suspension and steering, the only parts not replaced were the vertical links and steering rack, I replaced and greased the rack boots and installed a new all metal coupling, I did remove a shim from the rack to deal with excessive steering wheel play I replaced the trunnions and misguidedly filled them with grease tyre pressures are 26psi and the steering wheel is original, toe in seems ok my problem is the steering is very stiff and heavy at low speeds Could my greased trunnions be causing the problem or perhaps the rack itself? thanks Julian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain T Posted April 11, 2023 Report Share Posted April 11, 2023 (edited) Knowing no better when I first bought my Vitesse I greased the trunnions and the steering was heavy. I subsequently oiled them (but not disassembled) until oil dripped out and it was like having power steering! The difference was huge not only at low speed but in the feel at mid/high speed. Or it could be the rack.......! Try the easy fix oiling first. Iain Edited April 11, 2023 by Iain T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted April 11, 2023 Report Share Posted April 11, 2023 do make sure the rack is centralised before you play with the shims the racks generally have a tight spot at centre , move away from that and you could end up with higher loading grease the trunions ....thats a black house point !!!! and modern tyres need higher pressures than whats in the books and did you load the seats with 150lb to set the static ride height??? more clues to diy tracking Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonah Posted April 11, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2023 Thanks Pete I will need to get my head around that! iain did you force oil through the grease nipple on the trunnions with a grease gun? julian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Posted April 11, 2023 Report Share Posted April 11, 2023 1 minute ago, Jonah said: Thanks Pete I will need to get my head around that! iain did you force oil through the grease nipple on the trunnions with a grease gun? julian I found it easier to remove the grease nipple and use a syringe Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonMember Posted April 11, 2023 Report Share Posted April 11, 2023 15 minutes ago, Jonah said: did you force oil through the grease nipple on the trunnions with a grease gun? I have always used that method and it works well for me. I know many folks agree with Paul on the syringe for normal maintenance but I'm not so convinced that it will allow you to clear the grease out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain T Posted April 11, 2023 Report Share Posted April 11, 2023 (edited) 1 hour ago, Jonah said: iain did you force oil through the grease nipple on the trunnions with a grease gun? Yes I bought two Wanner guns off Ebay, one for grease one for oil. I did exactly that forced the oil in until it came out of all the joints. Be brutal! It hasn't removed the grease but as a quick n dirty fix it is much better and give you an idea of the possible cause of the heavy steering. Iain Edited April 11, 2023 by Iain T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted April 11, 2023 Report Share Posted April 11, 2023 (edited) I agree with NM, With the gun you're forcing it through the nipple, down the centre of vertical link and up the threads till it comes out the top. Dripping it in from the top does not ensure it's going up the centre of the vertical link where there may still be grease. Force is better than dripping Doug Edited April 11, 2023 by dougbgt6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonah Posted April 11, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2023 Thanks everybody I’ve bought a Wanner gun and a syringe so that’s my first line of attack, I assume you’ve used EP80W 90gear oil for this julian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Posted April 11, 2023 Report Share Posted April 11, 2023 40 minutes ago, Jonah said: Thanks everybody I’ve bought a Wanner gun and a syringe so that’s my first line of attack, I assume you’ve used EP80W 90gear oil for this julian Jack each wheel before you start Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain T Posted April 11, 2023 Report Share Posted April 11, 2023 57 minutes ago, Jonah said: assume you’ve used EP80W 90gear oil for this Yes the smelly stuff.....👃 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casper Posted April 11, 2023 Report Share Posted April 11, 2023 Quote Jack each wheel before you start Paul and turn steering lock to lock as you do it, so as to mix the grease and oil C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted April 11, 2023 Report Share Posted April 11, 2023 41 minutes ago, Casper said: Jack each wheel before you start replace each with just the fronts Ha ! Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain T Posted April 11, 2023 Report Share Posted April 11, 2023 2 hours ago, Casper said: turn steering lock to lock as you do it, so as to mix the grease and oil A good idea I didn't do that. Something to put on the list! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonah Posted April 11, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2023 Thanks everyone, as soon as my eBay purchase arrives I’ll crack on and will let you know the outcome julian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Truman Posted April 11, 2023 Report Share Posted April 11, 2023 Here's my bespoke Trunnion Oiler the oil can has a brass pump in it not plastic. I strip the trunnion's down remove all grease, put new rubber top covers on & soldered the steel/brass washer in the bottom of the trunnion to avoid them leaking, ie it keeps a reservoir of oil in the trunnion. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonah Posted April 12, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2023 Now that’s a clever approach Peter julian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonah Posted April 17, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2023 My Wanner 315 grease gun arrived today via eBay, I’m struggling to get it to work with oil, am I missing something or maybe Ive bought the wrong gun? thanks Julian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain T Posted April 17, 2023 Report Share Posted April 17, 2023 Pull the chain out and twist to lock. I greased the inside tube to help seal in the oil (optional). Put some oil in and screw the top on. Release the chain to compress the chamber. Pump and lock in the side screw on the head or it'll come out there rather than the nozzle. It should work🤞 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted April 17, 2023 Report Share Posted April 17, 2023 and with oil refills always pull the chain and lock it off before you unscrew the barrel or you get a very oily shirt most have a bleed valve and another to swap the angle of the nozzle tube , both will release any trapped wind !! you must release the chain to enable a bleed pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonah Posted April 17, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2023 Brilliant thanks Iain and Pete, works a treat now julian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain T Posted April 17, 2023 Report Share Posted April 17, 2023 1 hour ago, Jonah said: works a treat now My left knee could do with oiling! I think I have excessive play...... Iain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted April 17, 2023 Report Share Posted April 17, 2023 one of my local stag owners has had a replacement Knee which has been crippling they (Nuffield) are replacing the ball and socket with a hinged version so think he will only walk dead ahead no left turns available will know more on friday when they do the swap Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain T Posted April 17, 2023 Report Share Posted April 17, 2023 Friend of mine had knee replacement. Didn't work well and the other knee is giving him jip and he's fearful of further surgery in case it leaves him in more pain. I can understand the simpler hinged joint may cause less problems? The joys of getting old.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonah Posted April 18, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2023 Indeed, my late father in law used to say that old age is not for sissies……didn’t understand then but do now! after four back surgeries manhandling spitfire gearboxes and crawling around the garage requires I need a great deal of oiling I’ve oiled the trunnions and grease was forced out, although these were installed new only a few years ago the rubber seals have perished and split. Do I need to disassemble the steering to replace these? Talking of wise old folk, my dad used to say ‘never drink on an empty head’, tonight I intend to disobey and do some oiling of my own! julian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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