After coming back from the Fulvia meeting I should tell you that several owners complained of excessive play in the steering system and had received all sorts of strange suggestions on how to deal with it. This is a common problem and a small degree of free play is inherent in the particular type of the steering system which of course is not the modern rack and pinion one. However, the steering box and the steering idler box do have adjusters to reduce free play. Here is what to do.
Make sure that the car wheels are pointing ahead; for the steering box (below the brake master cylnder) you will see a slotted stud with a lock nut; undo the lock nut with a long extension socket, turn the stud with a long screwdriver clockwise until some pressure is felt. Tighten the lock nut. Remove the nearby plug and check that there is oil in the box (use a screwdriver to test the level). If there is no oil, top up with gearbox oil until the level is a little below the thread of the plug (don't overfill). I use one of those special bottles with a long extension tube to fill up. Put back the plug (don't overtighten it).
Now to the steering idler box: remove the battery, through the large openings in the battery tray undo the locknut of the adjuster and turn the slotted stud clockwise with a screwdriver in the same way as for the steering box. Tighten the locknut. If excessive play persists, the cause is probably worn bushes in the steering idler box (see my explanations on how to deal with this). If you are lucky to have a car with the idler box with a grease nipple, apply a squirt of grease once every year; this will ensure a long lasting life of the bushes. Ciao, Andrea

Q: I recently bought a 2nd series 1,3S in Italy and have brought her back to Germany for registration there.
To get through the road-worthiness (TÜV) test, the steering needs to be fixed; I checked your Q&A pages and found the comments most helpful (thank you).
My local Lancia dealer, which has restored a couple of Fulvias in the past, has relayed to me a message from the Lancia parts specialist that it is not possible to buy Fulvia steering bushes alone; that the old steering system must be sent in for renovation - probable cost DM 500

I appreciate that you'd need to see the extent of the play in the steering system to judge whether 'bushes only' or 'full reconditioning' is appropriate, but this comment that it's not possible to buy bushes only sounds very curious

My question: fact or fiction ?
Do you know of a parts specialist who can supply steering bushes only (if that is the appropriate mechanical solution)?

Next question: supposing the worst case scenario that the existing steering system (rod, arm, bushes & box) is too far gone to permit re-conditioning, do you have any suggestions as to where I might start to find a new or functioning 2nd-hand replacement?
Any thoughts as to what is a fair price for this ?

A: First of all I presume you already tried to adjust the free play on the steering box as well as on the idler box by turning the appropriate screws after undoing their locknuts. If not, this could save you a lot of trouble and money. Omicron and other Lancia specialists should be able to supply the bushes for the idler box (check first if yours are the plastic type or the phosphor-bronze type to avoid wasting money). Alternatively, these can be easily made by any local machine shop if you give them the right size.
For the steering box bearings the problem is more complex as they are less easy to make and in any case you would probably also need new gaskets and seals (very hard to find). Just fill up the box with suitable oil, adjust it for play and re-test the system. I have yet to see a steering box which needs new bearings although most of them leak oil. If there was no oil in it, this could have caused damage. To dismantle the steering box or the idler box you need a special Lancia tool. Without it the risk of destroying them is real.

Additionally, there might be excessive play due to one (or more) worn track-rods. They cannot be repaired and have to be replaced. Again this needs careful testing of where the problem is. Track rods are usually available from specialist suppliers.
- Andrea -