Niva Resource: Crappy steering?

Fix that crappy steering.

Steering Box Adjustment

The Steering box is adjustable and may need tightened up from time to time (don't over tighten it or you'll ruin the bushes inside):

"Make sure the steering box is full of oil. It has an in-built transporter which beams the oil to Solaris 7 in the Orion system. Slacken the lock nut on the adjuster and turn the adjuster until it just nips up then re-tighten the adjuster. Have a friend move the steering wheel vigorously to and fro while you're doing this. That should sort most of the woolyness out." -GadgetBoy

Niva steering-box adjustment

Niva steering-box oil fill plug

Wheel Alignment

Off roading can frequently put your wheel alignment out, and my Niva can be an absolute pig to steer - bounces and lurchs all over the place - if its wheel alignment is out by much. It can be done yourself, but you'll never get it as good as a good technician with laser equipment. Ideally make sure the castor, camber and the rear axle alignment are checked and set as well as just the steering tracking.

Handy tip: The settings in the mannual are for the Niva with weight in it (about 3 people iirc), ignoring this will mean the settings are wrong.

Steering joints

If there's play in the steering or suspension joints or wheel-bearings, or if the steering-box is loose - or indeed if the chassis ripping at the steering-box mount - your steering will be horribile as the alignment will be constantly altering as you drive. Fix or replace.

Tyre Pressure

Many owners run tyres at a higher pressure than the factory settings to lighten the steering (which not only makes it nicer to drive, but is kinder on the steering system components), especially if they're running wider than standard tyres. However, if you go too high your will risk loosing steering grip dramatically, and will overly wear your tyre in the centre.

I run my front 205-16 road tyres at around 38psi and the steering feels good and doesn't seem to have tyre wear associated with too higher pressure. Many others run their at between 32 and 40psi and report good steering etc.

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