Rover P5b Saloon steering help..

[russell1966]

Hi All, I have recently purchased a 1970 Rover P5b saloon, when driving it home from Blackpool to Wirral it was TERRIFYING to say the least. It is literally like driving a boat, i have a quarter of a turn either way on the steering wheel with no response, the car weaves where ever it wants to go. Do i need a replacement steering rack/box ? is there any adjustment on it ? Is there anybody on here who is on the Wirral or close who has a Rover P5 and has more knowledge than me who wouldn't mind having a quick look at it for me to tell me what i need to replace ? Can anybody recomend a garage that has good knowledge of these cars for any repairs ? 
I've also taken the Rover to a bodyshop to get a quote for a respray in its original Zircon Blue, i was quoted £4000  !!! Where do you take your Rovers for resprays/bodywork etc ? 

Thanks in advance

Russell

[Phil Nottingham]

It sounds dangerous and completely unroadworthy but may not need a steering box or adjustment. Has it got an MOT. £4000 for a respray? Depends what needs doing beforehand

[lagain]

Check the tyre pressures and that it has the correct type and size.

Unfortunately a respray on these cars is expensive due to their size and the amount of preperation needed. You are looking at a lot of man hours. If you are able to remove all the bits and pieces it can reduce the cost.
Could a lot of elbow grease with polish and other compounds restore the existing paint

[Deleted]

I seem to remember you said all the doors were rotten,if so replacing them would presumably lower the cost of the work/respray.
I would suggest you get someone to have a look at the steering box/joints/linkages before you go any further.If there is as much play as you suggest there is something seriously wrong,if it has an recent MOT I'd be wanting to know how. Bear in mind that the correct way to adjust these boxes is different to more modern vehicles they need a mechanic with some knowledge of them if the job is to be done well.

[cstorey]

Russell : I am on the Wirral  and could come and have a look for you . I am not an expert but I do know how to adjust the steering box. Give me a ring on 0151  342 3175 this evening

    Christopher Storey

[enigmas]

I agree with Kev and the sound advice he's provided. Adding to it, I'd be getting the car sorted mechanically before you spend a king's ransom on the body. If you don't like the way it drives or handles after the mechanicals are sorted you may need to re-evaluate.
With regard to the front suspension have it properly appraised for wear as there are a numerous rubber bushes prone to rotting if they've been subjected to continuous oil leaks. If the car has power steering it's almost a given the the DS lower suspension arm bushes have rotted and the caster is toing and froing under braking and suspension movement. If it's a V8 there's negligible or nil caster ( from the the factory) and this adds to the feeling of vagueness when driving. The top and bottom ball joints may also be 'loose', but fortunately these can be adjusted and are very robust.

[norvin]

Jul 1, 2015 20:18:58 GMT russell1966 said:

Hi All, I have recently purchased a 1970 Rover P5b saloon, when driving it home from Blackpool to Wirral it was TERRIFYING to say the least. It is literally like driving a boat, i have a quarter of a turn either way on the steering wheel with no response, the car weaves where ever it wants to go. Do i need a replacement steering rack/box ? is there any adjustment on it ? Is there anybody on here who is on the Wirral or close who has a Rover P5 and has more knowledge than me who wouldn't mind having a quick look at it for me to tell me what i need to replace ? Can anybody recomend a garage that has good knowledge of these cars for any repairs ? 
I've also taken the Rover to a bodyshop to get a quote for a respray in its original Zircon Blue, i was quoted £4000  !!! Where do you take your Rovers for resprays/bodywork etc ? 

Thanks in advance

Russell

Are you saying that you bought the car without having a test run first.

[Deleted]

According to the DVLA it has a current MOT and tax. I'd have wanted a test run before parting with any money.

[johnwp5bcoupe]

If the steering is that bad? I would take it back to the seller or the MOT station if it has just passed the MOT and complain bitterly!!

I wouldn't try and adjust the box while fitted if you do disconnect the linkages from the Pitman Arm, you cant guess the worm adjustment it has to be correct

4K for a bare metal respray is a good price

[russell1966]

I bought the car off a friend who has just bought a house, he has spent alot of money and effort on the car so far. Its had an engine rebuild, front suspension rebuild, all the floor has been welded up where needed. There is no rust any where on the under side but the door bottoms do let it down. I didn't need to test drive it as i know where it came from. Its gone into a storage area today where i will start to take the chrome off etc in prepperation for its respray. Has anybody ever taken the front and rear screens out of a P5 ? I can get new screen rubbers as the old ones are a bit knackered, do the chrome trims come off around the windscreen easy enough and go back on ? Abit worried about going gung ho at it. 

Thanks

Russell

[Phil Nottingham]

Yes to all everything is possible if enough time and money and all on SEARCH

[Deleted]

The screens are a pain even for professionals. If the front suspension has been rebuilt it seems odd that the steering is all over the place.

[Warwick]

Jul 5, 2015 21:29:43 GMT @kevbacon said:

The screens are a pain even for professionals. If the front suspension has been rebuilt it seems odd that the steering is all over the place.

Unless the nut on the drop-arm has come loose. Have you checked that?

[Steve P5b]

Jul 5, 2015 20:53:07 GMT russell1966 said:

sorry, did say on an earlier post i was new...........

Russell, I can never find anything on this search facility so don't bother. If it's simple then John or Phil would / could provide a link.

This is not a definitive list on how to check your steering but may help a little.
Take a video so we can all see what you are experiencing this may help in a diagnosis.
Then have a look at the steer wheel to column steer column to steer box coupling and the joint with someone wobbling the steering wheel, you are looking for no movement between the relative two half's, then look at the drop arm for the same, and then the steer box mounting security.
This should eliminate some components of the steering assembly and help determine where this massive amount of free play is you are experiencing however it could be an accumulation of a small amount of wear in all the steering components though.
Good luck and tell us what you find.

[enigmas]

Oh, it could also be badly worn/tired/corroded subframe mounts allowing the whole front end, including the engine/trans combo to move about since it's all in unit with the suspension. If I recall you did state the front suspension was rebuilt?

Its had an engine rebuild, front suspension rebuild, all the floor has been welded up where needed. There is no rust any where on the under side but the door bottoms do let it down.

It appears to have had a massive amount of corrosion cut out. Given this extensive corrosion it's perhaps a given that the subframe mounts are well past their use by date.

It may be worth your while reading the link below and taking from it any information that may assist you in clarifying and resolving the steering issue.

roverp5.proboards.com/thread/9050/front-subframe-rubber-mounts-all

[norvin]

As you say you have bought this car from a friend so we assume the car was ok when you left your friend's house or he would have told you not to drive it. So for some reason the steering went at some point on the way home and as you have said yourself it was terrifying so that is rather strange. so what was it please let us know when you find the answer.