Hello,

I have a 2009 LR3 with 27k miles that I bought a few months ago and it has been awesome except for a vibration that I'm trying to diagnose. It's a slight steering wheel shimmy that starts up over about 60mph. The funny thing is that it will vibrate and then smooth out in an alternating pattern. For instance, it will be super smooth for 30 sec them shimmy for 30 sec then smooth out again....etc. It's something I can live with but it is kind of annoying.

Here's what's been done since I've owned it:

January: Replaced worn OEM Goodyears with new tires. Road force balanced, 4-wheel aligned, brakes replaced (new pads, existing rotors turned). Vibration improved over stock tires but still present.

2 weeks ago: Took back to shop to re-check wheel balance. Re-balanced with road force and balanced out well. Vibration still present.

Last weekend: Swapped tires front to rear and vibration still there. Also checked for play in wheel bearings, tie rods & control arms and they seem tight.

At this point I'm wondering if something brake related may the the issue? Maybe the rotors weren't turned evenly? Then again, there is NO vibration with the brakes applied.

I wouldn't think that worn suspension components would be the culprit with just 27k miles, but I guess you never know.

Thanks for any suggestions and I will post some pictures soon!


Rob

 

The factory rotors are not designed to be turned, it's too soft of a metal. That said, with no vibration with brakes applied, it's not going to be warped rotors, and with it coming and going, it's not likely to be rotors out of balance.

What kind of tires are on there now?

On a flat road, engage cruise control when it is happening, and see if it still comes and goes, as in not related to throttle input. I have replaced a few steering racks for similar issues.

Does this happen constantly, or say only for the first 15 minutes of driving each day?

 

They are Toyo Open Country H/T's.

I'll try engaging the cruise on the way home today and let you know what happens.

It is more noticeable during the first part of driving after sitting overnight or leaving work. I was assuming the weight of the vehicle causes flat spots? But even after driving on the highway for some time, it is still there.

I may over-thinking things, but it almost seems like it is less noticeable with a higher exterior temperature. For example it seemed worse driving in today at 38 degrees versus Monday morning at about 68 degrees.


Thanks,


Rob

 

Toyo tires are usually a pretty soft rubber, combine that with a nearly three ton truck sitting on them, and flat spots will occur. Generally after driving, and heating the tires all the way up, they will work themselves out.

A proper road force balance includes a 10-15 minute test drive before removing the wheels in order to heat them up and get them balanced as they will be while driving.

I do not like saying anything negative about any techs, but I have seen many 'balanced' tires that are not done properly, there's a lot more then getting the numbers in the green. Any sort of counter balance will show up ok on the machine, but while driving with a load on the tires, you can feel the vibration from it. Take a look at the wheels, make sure there is no more then one wheel weight(multiple are ok if all in the same location) on the inside or outside of the wheels. If they used 'clip on weights' (mount where the tire meets the wheel) make sure there isn't also a 'stick on' weight(on the inside of the wheel, around the brakes) on the same side of each wheel.

Any part of the drivetrain, driveshaft axles or diff, that would cause a vibration should slightly change based on throttle input, as gears and joints will be somewhat different when driven vs 'pulled'.

 

Putting it on cruise doesn't seem to change anything. Like you suggest, it's still probably a wheel balance issue.

 

Yeah, it sounds like tire balance, or small possibility of something internal to the rack. May just be a characteristic of the tires that you'll need to live with...
Did it change at all when you changed the tires?

 

It improved when I got the new tires. It vibrated worse when I bought the LR3, but at the time it had the OEM Goodyears which were pretty worn down. I didn't even bother to have them balanced because I knew that new tires would be coming soon.

Anyway, I appreciate your help and I am excited about being a member on the forum. I'm a big do-it-yourselfer with vehicles and looking forward to learning more about these vehicles.


Rob

 

crtfour, did you check your toe in- (wheel alignment) sometimes this is a cause of shimmy,
but I will insist in your wheels, go somewhere else for balancing, sometimes the way you put the weigts on the rims or the tipe used cause that

 

It was aligned a few weeks ago, but I'm not sure if the toe in was looked at or not.

There is a reputable Rover specialist about 45 min from me so next time I'm in that area I will have them take a look.

With regards to proper road force balancing, I did drive it about 20 minutes down the interstate to get the tires nice and warm and then the shop had it jacked up within 5 minutes of me getting there. Also, the printout showed the road force numbers as 3,6,12,10 respectively, which seems to be pretty good.

In the end if it's just a tire issue to live with, it ok.

Again, thanks for the suggestions.


Rob

 

crtfour, hei rob, forgot to let you know,"if shimmy still there" definitely you have a wheel problem, try as a last resource a "STATIC WHEEL BALANCE", they do it in the spot, with the wheel in place (not taken out) try this and will see.