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Steering
Posted: 27 Jan 2025, 16:48
by Jeff9750
Hello all, today I took my Van out on a good long drive, I live in Germany so I took my van out on the Autobahn and she got up to around 105km, but the steering felt like it was loose or like I was ridding on a boat in the ocean and when I went onto the back roads the van drove wonderful. It was a little wind on the Autobahn the steering felt like it had play in it. This is my first time driving a 1992 VW T25 1.6td Hightop Van. Is that common with this type of van? I plan on changing my tire and the front struts and rear shocks. I have replaced all the tie rods, the steering rack, the front bushings, and the sway bar bushings. Any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Jeff
Re: Steering
Posted: 27 Jan 2025, 18:42
by clift_d
A front spoiler can apparently help reduce the tendency for these vans to drift. Also, there's a rubber coupling at the base of the steering column that often gets missed when all the other bushes etc are refreshed at the front end. Tyre pressure can also apparently be a factor as can the profile/height of your tyres. You've already said that you're replacing your front and rear dampers, and this should also help.
The other thing you might need to think about is your speed - in really high winds we find our van is a much more comfortable drive at lower speeds, i.e., circa 80 - 90km/hr.
At the end of the day you've got to remember that you're driving around in a high-sided vehicle and so the wind will always have some impact.
Re: Steering
Posted: 27 Jan 2025, 20:27
by Burtybassett
clift_d wrote: ↑27 Jan 2025, 18:42
A front spoiler can apparently help reduce the tendency for these vans to drift. Also, there's a rubber coupling at the base of the steering column that often gets missed when all the other bushes etc are refreshed at the front end. Tyre pressure can also apparently be a factor as can the profile/height of your tyres. You've already said that you're replacing your front and rear dampers, and this should also help.
The other thing you might need to think about is your speed - in really high winds we find our van is a much more comfortable drive at lower speeds, i.e., circa 80 - 90km/hr.
At the end of the day you've got to remember that you're driving around in a high-sided vehicle and so the wind will always have some impact.
What is this rubber coupling you speak of and is it easy to change ??
I've got front end bushes to change- droplink, anti-roll-bar and steering rack - all for powerflex.....might as well do this too...
Re: Steering
Posted: 27 Jan 2025, 20:36
by R0B
Re: Steering
Posted: 28 Jan 2025, 06:44
by sarran1955
Hello,
On my '81 T3, there are 3 of these couplings to change, the outer one was perished and cracked.
I considered Polyurethane bushesfor the suspension, but found the OE rubber ones just fine.
New drop links will make a difference...
Cordialement,
Re: Steering
Posted: 28 Jan 2025, 07:14
by TwinTurbo
If you have never driven it before how do you know it's abnormal? before ripping it appart feel for any play or slack with it stationary. The t25 is a big brick wich is easily affected bu wide wind on a wide open motorway.
Re: Steering
Posted: 28 Jan 2025, 10:18
by syncroandy
So many things could affect the handling..
Many sensible comments here. Did anyone mention the steering-rack bushes ? A polybush upgrade kit is available to replace the OEM squidgy rubber.
Also tyres, some folks seem to think fitting car-spec tyres to a 2.5 ton van is OK, but really they should have 8-ply sidewalls, which I'm sure will affect stability on the road.
Re: Steering
Posted: 28 Jan 2025, 10:55
by clift_d
The rubber couplings can be seen on this diagram of the steering:
Re: Steering
Posted: 28 Jan 2025, 16:17
by Burtybassett
clift_d wrote: ↑28 Jan 2025, 10:55
The rubber couplings can be seen on this diagram of the steering:
Is this an easy (ish) job or am I gonna regret starting it ??
