I just bought a 1959 Mark 1 at auction and it is a beauty. However, the steering is very stiff. I understand that it hasn't got power steering but I think it should be easier to turn.
Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

The steering should be heavy by any modern standard, but get better above a few miles per hour. It may be worth jacking both front wheels of the ground and trying the steering. If it feels smooth and free, most likely it's OK.

 

As Pete yes the steering on a none PAS car is very heavy when stationary but once you are moving the steering should be firm and precise and yet feel lighter. A good greasing of the ball joints and steering joints might lighten it up a tad. The Mk1 would have had crossply tyres from new which have a stiffer side wall and smaller road to tread contact patch than modern radial tyres which made them easier to turn. Radials are wider generally so provide a greater contact patch and are grippier when stationary. Going back to crossply tyres if you have radials on the car might help.

 

In fact, even though the car is in great condition, a lot of people unfamiliar with old cars (especially British ones) are not aware of the many grease nipples requiring attention. It's a good idea to go around all of them with a grease gun. The Mk1 had a higher geared steering box (fewer tuens lock to lock) than most of the non-PAS Mk2 and S-Type. Though preferable when on the move, it should be even heavier at low speed.

If after greasing, the steering is still stiff with the front wheels off the ground, we can go back to the many long and happy discussions that we've had on what's the best thing to do about it.

 

Thanks Peter. I will try that.

 

I should have welcomed you to our group. If, as I suspect, you're another veteran of oil and gas, make it a double welcome!

 

Thanks again Peter. I am retired from the oil patch, but I still keep a hand in as a hobby.

 

Same for me and also Glynn Ruck who is a regular contributor.

 

I just got the car and admit I am a novice at classic cars. Thanks for being on this site and I'm sure we will be in contact quite often. I'm in Granbury, Texas. If you are close by we can meet up.

 

That would be nice, but these days I've retired to Oxford in the UK. I lived in Houston for a while back in the 1990s.

 

I was in Houston from 1980 to 2003 with a couple of years in Colombia (95 to 97). I was with Amoco and then Veritas (now part of CGG). If you are in Oxford and with a Mark 2, you must be a fan of Morse. I saw the Mark 1 on Endeavor and fell in love with it.

 

Morse has done as much for our cars as Mike Hawthorn and Graham Hill back in the day. My car, which was my daily driver 40 years ago, is still in the early stages of restoration. I have wondered if it might be allowed free parking in the city when (if ever) it's finished. It's not likely as the town hall has become extremely anti-car. I worked a lot with Amoco guys writing ISO standards for metocean and wave forces.

 

Thanks Pete and Cass for the good advice.. I will post the results when I get those things done. I also see that my tire pressure is low...probably the first thing I should have checked.

 

Welcome fellow oilco retiree. Sorry it was remiss of me until I saw Peter's post. I was based in Dallas for a fair time.

I agree. Get the front off the ground & grease everything. Maybe with a 3 to 5% Moly grease.

Heavy steering is why the Mk1 was fitted with a huge steering wheel & skinny Cross Ply Tyres (originally 4.5" rims). Lower-geared steering was introduced in April 1959. Don't know which side of that your car falls or whether it was really a positive move. Steering remained heavy at parking speed. Just more twirling of the wheel.

Enjoy your car!

 

I know there are many older folks here whom are hard core for originality but if you search this forum there are several options to upgrade the old manual to power steering so that it is easier to drive. It will cost some money but for a daily driver it for me was well worth the money spent.

 

See here ~ Some mods required:

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/m...itment-251647/

 

Thanks Glyn!

 

Hi, these cars are front-heavy and they are a workout at low speeds or parking. If you have the dinero, inquire about a EZ Steer electric power steering system, which ideally will require replacing the Generator with an Alternator. In the meantime, raise the front tire pressure to 36 psi which might help a little.

 

The latest EZ Steer has a speed sensor on the transmission output/propshaft so that assistance is reduced with rising speed ~ ideal!. Behaves more like a modern car.

For the rest incl. EZ Steer see my post above.

 

Thank you José. I will follow up on your suggestions.