Triumph Repair: 1977 Spitfire steering, dry rack, upper ball joints

Question
Howard,

When turning the steering wheel while driving my 1977 spitfire the wheel has a tendency to remain in the turned position and needs to turned back to the neutral position. In fact when approaching the full left or right it will turn  even more by itself. All cars that I have driven always seem to want to return to the neutral position. I am in the process of replacing very worn lower trunion bushings hoping this might solve the problem. Is there anything else you can recommend.I read something about steering lock stops but I cannot locate them on my 77 spitfire.
Regards, Pat

Answer
Hi Pat,

You need to jack up the front of the car and disconnect the steering rubber coupling from the steering rack. Then move the steering wheel to see if the bind is in the steering shaft or in the steering rack itself. If the binding is in the rack. If it seems to be in the rack it still can be in the lower trunions or the upper ball joints although the upper ball joints are the least likely cause. If it seems to be in the rack the most likely is the rack itself although the lower trunions can cause it. The only way to check that is to undo the tierod ends.

A more common cause is a dry rack or a bent rack shaft. To check for a dry rack, remove the rack boot on each side and move the rack shaft all the way to each side and look at the shaft to see if it looks dry. The shaft should look wet with grease when extended out to each side.

Howard