I understand Ding that the mass dampers don't make a noticeable difference to ride quality and brake NVH.

What I'm looking at is the fact my struts don't even have the provision for fitting the mass damper (the threaded part the mass damper screws onto)

I'm sure all TDV8s and 4.2 supercharged have those mass dampers on the struts so what I'm thinking is my car has been fitted with struts from an earlier L322 which may not be suitable as the workshop manual states TDV8 cars have different struts to cope with the extra weight.

This is something that could maybe impact my stiffer than usual steering and poor ride.

Tried to find a sticker on the original LR strut so I could look up the part no but there isn't one, maybe it's fallen off as I'm sure the sticker is how I knew the drivers side was an LR strut in the first place.

I believe my theory is correct that these struts are not for a tdv8 car (due to there being no threaded collar to allow fitment of the mass damper weight)

And with the passenger side strut top bearing being so rough to turn in both sound and feel I think I need to fit a pair of new struts.

I'm hoping that either that bearing is binding under the weight of the vehicle causing the stiff steering or if I am correct and these struts are wrong for the car maybe they aren't able to support the extra weight of the TDV8 and are transferring those stresses to other areas of the steering and/or suspension.

The originals are made by BWI and are £360 each from Island 4x4 so I really hope they cure your fault if you're going to drop another £700 into it on the off chance.  2002 4.6 Vogue SE - Alveston Red with Lightstone Leather
2012 Range Rover 5.0 SC Autobiography in Indus Silver with Jet/Ivory Interior
2012 Range Rover 4.4 TDV8 Autobiography in Baltic Blue with Sand Interior
2013 Range Rover Sport SDV6 HSE Black Edition in Santorini Black with Ebony Interior

Yes sadly, this is why I could really use some feedback to see if what I am thinking (binding strut top bearing but only under load? Or incorrect struts for the car causing issues) actually makes any sense.

I am becoming more detatched from the costs now as the ultimate goal is to have an RR that drives as it should.

This quest has been ongoing since 2019 and I would estimate has cost many 10s of thousand pounds so far in purchasing cars and attempting to get them driving as well as the first one.

You'd have had better results getting some psychiatric help in my honest opinion.

Something isn't right and I don't think it's your car.

Sorry if that's offensive, but perhaps you should consider it, your behaviour isn't normal.

Met up with a friend over the weekend who has an l322 and got him to try mine out.

His comments:

'That's not right'
'It feels resistive'
'Mines not like that'

I replaced the front shocks Monday night, made no difference to the steering so my top mount bearing theory is out.

Front end ride quality has improved maybe 10% tops.

i don't suppose it could be a couple of hoses on wrong
the power steering trying to turn left while you are trying to turn right, i know it dosnt work like that but could it be something along that line RR 2005 4.4 petrol
Any spelling mistakes are the fault of spellchecker
Previous MG J2, CITROEN light 15 x 2 gone unfortunately
Present MERC 180e, RANGE ROVER L322, JAGUAR XJS, MERC 280SE, MG F, JAGUAR S-Type 6v 2003, jaguar s-type 8v 2004, Ford Cougar

Yes Knares I agree it might he in the hydraulics after all.

I've replaced most of the pipework and double checked fitment as I go.

It honestly feels like the tyres only have 15-20 psi in them, like the steering cant easily overcome the friction with the ground.

As an example, turning the steering to the right when sat still feels like I've got a big spring hooked to the wheel which I'm trying to stretch out against tension.

I’ve just changed the tyres on one of our L322s.

The old ones were the factory fitment Continentals which had around 4.5-5mm of tread on them and were date stamped 2020/2021, I can’t remember which.

The new tyres that I’ve fitted are LR homologated Pirelli Scorpion Zero All Season tyres and the steering feels totally different. It feels lighter and easier in general.

What tyres are on your car? 2002 4.6 Vogue SE - Alveston Red with Lightstone Leather
2012 Range Rover 5.0 SC Autobiography in Indus Silver with Jet/Ivory Interior
2012 Range Rover 4.4 TDV8 Autobiography in Baltic Blue with Sand Interior
2013 Range Rover Sport SDV6 HSE Black Edition in Santorini Black with Ebony Interior

Yes I read that with great interest in your thread earlier David.

The car came with 255/50/20 Davanti rubbish on it (nearly new though)

It now has 255/55/20 Goodyears.

Yes these are slightly higher profile but I didn't notice any change in steering after putting them on.

It was heavy before and it's heavy still.

any luck, as yet RR 2005 4.4 petrol
Any spelling mistakes are the fault of spellchecker
Previous MG J2, CITROEN light 15 x 2 gone unfortunately
Present MERC 180e, RANGE ROVER L322, JAGUAR XJS, MERC 280SE, MG F, JAGUAR S-Type 6v 2003, jaguar s-type 8v 2004, Ford Cougar

Nope no progress, I've been focused on other non car projects lately.

Nothing has changed in the interim, still absolutely horrible to drive.

i think i would go to the rover dealers and make sure you have the right BCU
just a though,

i might have mentioned this earlier
i had a power steering problem for a long time, 90% of the time it was ok, some times when i started the car, i had no power steering, so, i would turn the engine off and start it again, some times it worked, some times i turned it off and on several times before it would work, and some times i had to drive it without power steering,
i had other problems and because of this, i changed the BCU, it fixed my other problems and the power steering has never failed science.

i know your vehicle is a diesel, mine is petrol and that might make a difference.
if yours was a petrol, i believe the part no would be YWC000922 or YWC000923, maybe because its diesel its different
good luck RR 2005 4.4 petrol
Any spelling mistakes are the fault of spellchecker
Previous MG J2, CITROEN light 15 x 2 gone unfortunately
Present MERC 180e, RANGE ROVER L322, JAGUAR XJS, MERC 280SE, MG F, JAGUAR S-Type 6v 2003, jaguar s-type 8v 2004, Ford Cougar

Completely appreciate where your advise is coming from Knares but as previously mentioned ive tried bypassing the BCM and applying power to the servotronic valve on the steering rack directly.

This should make the steering light if there is indeed a problem with the BCM but it doesn't.

It maybe gets 5% lighter than when the BCM is powering the valve.

This confirms its not an issue on the electrical side of things.

O well
ive tried bypassing the BCM and applying power to the servotronic valve on the steering rack directly.

i wouldn't have a clue how to do that RR 2005 4.4 petrol
Any spelling mistakes are the fault of spellchecker
Previous MG J2, CITROEN light 15 x 2 gone unfortunately
Present MERC 180e, RANGE ROVER L322, JAGUAR XJS, MERC 280SE, MG F, JAGUAR S-Type 6v 2003, jaguar s-type 8v 2004, Ford Cougar