So you have Loose Steering, Death Wobble?
#1
01-04-2013, 05:24 AM
So you have Loose Steering, Death Wobble?
Applies to all Discovery 1, Defender & Range Rover Classic.
Worn or missing steering damper is not the problem. Replacing/installing a damper merely masks the problem.
You should be methodical in your diagnosis.
With the wheels on the ground have someone move the steering wheel back and forth.
While they are doing that start with the steering wheel to steering gearbox shaft and find where there is movement on the steering wheel side of a connection and none, or less, on the road wheel side of the connection.
It could be (probably is) any combination of:
Other worn suspension bushings will contribute, as will unevenly worn tires.
Check everything in the list and make sure they are all up to par. If the problem persists then you need to adjust the swivel pin preload. I didn't include it in the above list because it's not typically visually detectable.
If you have ABS then I strongly suggest a rebuild of the swivel pins, or at the very least new bearings. Because of the design of the ABS swivel pins the upper thrust bearing tends to get crushed and just removing shims is, at best, a very temporary fix.
For non-ABS just removing shims should suffice, unless it's a high mileage vehicle.
edit - Once you find a problem and correct it, continue the diagnosis to see if there are further issues that need correcting.
Worn or missing steering damper is not the problem. Replacing/installing a damper merely masks the problem.
You should be methodical in your diagnosis.
With the wheels on the ground have someone move the steering wheel back and forth.
While they are doing that start with the steering wheel to steering gearbox shaft and find where there is movement on the steering wheel side of a connection and none, or less, on the road wheel side of the connection.
It could be (probably is) any combination of:
- Steering shaft u-joint loose on shaft or steering gearbox (least likely)
- Internal play in steering gearbox (adjusting nut on top)
- Loose pitman arm
- Loose steering box mounting bolts (or any other loose bolts in the steering system)
- Ball joints
- Panhard rod fixings/bushings (Not directly connected to steering, but centralizes axle with chassis to prevent relative side to side movement)
- Loose wheel bearings
Other worn suspension bushings will contribute, as will unevenly worn tires.
Check everything in the list and make sure they are all up to par. If the problem persists then you need to adjust the swivel pin preload. I didn't include it in the above list because it's not typically visually detectable.
If you have ABS then I strongly suggest a rebuild of the swivel pins, or at the very least new bearings. Because of the design of the ABS swivel pins the upper thrust bearing tends to get crushed and just removing shims is, at best, a very temporary fix.
For non-ABS just removing shims should suffice, unless it's a high mileage vehicle.
edit - Once you find a problem and correct it, continue the diagnosis to see if there are further issues that need correcting.
Last edited by antichrist; 09-01-2015 at 07:52 AM.
The following 2 users liked this post by antichrist:
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#2
01-04-2013, 12:18 PM
Rock Crawling
#3
01-04-2013, 03:14 PM
I'd probably take anything on the list except the 97 disco.
Reg.... not sure about that. I'm guessing it's not a station wagon?
NADA means North American Dollar Area. I think these are usually series iia 109" with a 2.6L six instead of the 2.25L four banger.
R380 means his disco and Defender 90 have a 5 speed manual.
ZF means his other disco has an automatic.
Air portable is a special series model that was lightened so that it could be... you guessed it... air portable.
#4
01-04-2013, 03:54 PM
Drifting
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#5
06-13-2015, 12:11 PM
hey hey !
Hey fellas ! Haven't been on in a while, hope everyone is doing well.
I also have acquired the death wobble, ive checked balance all bushings and rod ends, checked axle play and whatnot, My wobble is intermittent. The only addition ive done to the front end lately is added a new steering stabilizer, The old one was shot. Sooo im thinking that the stabilizer might have caused this in some way ? Also Wilma has the 3" RTE lift, with camber adjusting bushings up front. Unfortunately I didn't put the lift on myself do to location. I noticed there is no spring retainers front OR rear. And my drivers side suspension, will pop, during braking or accell, occasionaly and over bumps and turns. This seems to get more prevelent during warmer weather. I would be a happy man indeed if ya'll have any suggestions or experiance with this kind of issue/s. Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions !!
I also have acquired the death wobble, ive checked balance all bushings and rod ends, checked axle play and whatnot, My wobble is intermittent. The only addition ive done to the front end lately is added a new steering stabilizer, The old one was shot. Sooo im thinking that the stabilizer might have caused this in some way ? Also Wilma has the 3" RTE lift, with camber adjusting bushings up front. Unfortunately I didn't put the lift on myself do to location. I noticed there is no spring retainers front OR rear. And my drivers side suspension, will pop, during braking or accell, occasionaly and over bumps and turns. This seems to get more prevelent during warmer weather. I would be a happy man indeed if ya'll have any suggestions or experiance with this kind of issue/s. Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions !!
#7
06-13-2015, 04:13 PM
#8
06-14-2015, 12:32 AM
actually Anti i was pretty darn thorough. The popping noise Has been going on for quite some time, ive checked EVERYTHING, i can feel it in my feet when it does it. Unfortunately it only does it while driving. It Feels like the radius arm, bushing where it connects to the frame, but its snug and i get no play when i lift it and check or turn lock to lock while weighted. I see no loose bolts cracks or anything of that nature anywhere. As for the death wobble from hell its intermitent and only started after i installed the new terrafirma steering stabilizer.
#9
08-23-2015, 07:47 AM
Applies to all Discovery 1, Defender & Range Rover Classic.
Worn or missing steering damper is not the problem. Replacing/installing a damper merely masks the problem.
You should be methodical in your diagnosis.
With the wheels on the ground have someone move the steering wheel back and forth.
While they are doing that start with the steering wheel to steering gearbox shaft and find where there is movement on the steering wheel side of a connection and none, or less, on the road wheel side of the connection.
It could be (probably is) any combination of:
Other worn suspension bushings will contribute, as will unevenly worn tires.
Check everything in the list and make sure they are all up to par. If the problem persists then you need to adjust the swivel pin preload. I didn't include it in the above list because it's not typically visually detectable.
If you have ABS then I strongly suggest a rebuild of the swivel pins, or at the very least new bearings. Because of the design of the ABS swivel pins the upper thrust bearing tends to get crushed and just removing shims is, at best, a very temporary fix.
For non-ABS just removing shims should suffice, unless it's a high mileage vehicle.
Worn or missing steering damper is not the problem. Replacing/installing a damper merely masks the problem.
You should be methodical in your diagnosis.
With the wheels on the ground have someone move the steering wheel back and forth.
While they are doing that start with the steering wheel to steering gearbox shaft and find where there is movement on the steering wheel side of a connection and none, or less, on the road wheel side of the connection.
It could be (probably is) any combination of:
- Steering shaft u-joint loose on shaft or steering gearbox (least likely)
- Internal play in steering gearbox (adjusting nut on top) NEW
- Loose pitman arm Will check
- Loose steering box mounting bolts (or any other loose bolts in the steering system) Tight
- Ball joints NEW
- Panhard rod fixings/bushings (Not directly connected to steering, but centralizes axle with chassis to prevent relative side to side movement) Will check
- Loose wheel bearings NEW
Other worn suspension bushings will contribute, as will unevenly worn tires.
Check everything in the list and make sure they are all up to par. If the problem persists then you need to adjust the swivel pin preload. I didn't include it in the above list because it's not typically visually detectable.
If you have ABS then I strongly suggest a rebuild of the swivel pins, or at the very least new bearings. Because of the design of the ABS swivel pins the upper thrust bearing tends to get crushed and just removing shims is, at best, a very temporary fix.
For non-ABS just removing shims should suffice, unless it's a high mileage vehicle.
Thank You
George P.
