First off I have had a crank seal leaking for 6 months or more (pretty bad). I plan on fixing that at soon as all parts are located. I think that problem may have led to this one?

My front end clacks going down a flat road, and of course when i hit bumps. Now, I have been getting a shimmy while going straight over 50 mph, or if I barely turn the wheel wile going straight. I have read on the forum about people having the same problem, but there are so many different solutions that I am not sure of where to start the fix? (without spending a bundle)

1. Repack hubs
2. Steering dampner
3. Tie rods
Any advice will be appreciated!

 

Should I just do all of the above? any ideas?

 

Check your shock bushings as well. Mine were chewed up from age and almost completely gone. It caused all sorts of front end clunking as the near bushing-less shock mounts clunked around.

 

Fluids dripping onto bushings and other materials tend to accelerate their decomposition leading to failure. Lots of power steering leaks have attributed to suspensions issues due to degraded bushings.

 

Ill look into that. The steering is tight as a drum. That is one reason that I am baffled. The mechanic said "it needs the tie rods replaced. There is only one that looks worn(split rubber). She does have a 190,000 on her though. The whole bottom of Rover is covered with oil.

 

I just checked the shock bushings. They looked good on the bottom, but up top they have deteriorated and rubber clumps have gathered. I was baffled by the whole tie rod end replacement, as there is just one (left hand) that has cracked rubber.

Would the shock mounts make it shimmy? Maybe I have more problems besides the rattle?

 

If you have never had your swivel pins adjusted and you're at 190k it's well past time for that service. You need to either remove shims to tighten it up or replace the bearings, pins, shims etc. The whole procedure is in the RAVE manual