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Serious steering issues...Tries to kill me over 40mph!

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Ja1983:
A big hello to those who remeber the guy with the white Taro/hilux from West Yorks.. I'm now in the North East and having BIG problems with my landy..

The PROBLEM:
When travelling between 40 & 50mph, it only takes the slightest mouse turd in the road to set my front axle shaking so violently it lifts wheels off the road, and snatches the steering wheel back and forth. Begins with a light bit of feedback on the steering wheel, and either settles straight away, or just gets worse.. to the point at which its like a tankslap on a motorbike.

The only way to stop is to lock up the wheels and loose speed (whilst trying to aim for grass/someting soft).

-Only occurs 40mph plus (darent drive faster)
-seems to occur under low acceleration/coasting?
-presently feels to originate from the passenger side, and a slight left bend is usually when it does it. Although it has done it on straights and right handers too.

The VEHICLE
'89 90, 200tdi disco engine, 300 transfer box, Late 300tdi front axle (teflon balls), current tyres road biased 235 85 R16, TD5 front springs, procomp shockers.

The things i've tried
now on its 3rd axle - no play whatsoever in swivels or bearings, no loose mount points, slight play in drive flange (tinks now and then when steering on lock)
Standard panard rod bushes seem fine (changed rod with newer front axle)
fitted new uprated steering damper (britpart cellular jobby)
no play on any ball joints
had 3 sets of wheels/tyres on, no difference
replaced steering box (usual bottom oil seal syndrome)
used callipers that came with new axle, as previous one occasionally pulled to one side
discs are worn, but with no defects other than been a tad slim
tried different drivers, just incase the landy hated me.. it hates other people too!
Last night replaced polybushed radius arms with good used rubber type (that was a pain - those holes do not want to line up!)
when we replaced the damper & the panard rod bushes, it did seem to settle for a while...
Its now doing it every journey.

Done a lot of googling, and usually it seems to be either swivels, panard rod bushes or naff tyres. I've ruled these out and am now so sick, i'm considering the dreaded ebay. This is a landy which is in very good condition for its year, has had a LOT of time and money spent, and is once again coming close to costing me my marriage.

Cant afford to keep replacing things, for it to be not too bad for a month, ANY suggestions, anyone offering help (got a friend with a farm, tools & experience with landys, but 20miles away - cant afford the fuel, the full day, the cost of trial bits only to find its no better)

Any thoughts before I go back down the line of replacing every part again? I'm close to calling a priest and having it excorcised!  :evil:

Disco-Ron:
sounds nasty.... have you checked that the tracking is ok..?? and what about the uj's on the steering shaft from the bulkhead to the box..???

Disco Matt:
I'd suggest checking the tracking, steering column UJs and have a general alignment check done too. Failing that you may have to swallow the cost of taking it to a specialist garage to get it sorted out (not your local tyre and brake franchise, they seldom have a clue how to set up Landy steering!)

The problem is that there is so much adjustment in the steering and suspension that you end up chasing the problem around.

Ja1983:
Thanks for the quick reply disco chaps... yesh, very nasty indeed!

Not checked the tracking, as no signs of uneven tyre wear, new axle only has super-market squeal when on full lock - and eyeing up looks close as. cant see it been that far out to cause the issues it is without ripping the edge off tyres or been noisy in the likes of asda carpark.

Not the steering Ujs either, had issues before with them on my disco, always given them a good lube since.. and no stiffness when turning.

It feels as though a wheel has been thrown suddenly out of balance in a huge way..? with a severe wobble been thrown back through the steering.

>>However, i have been out for a stare at it (you know what i mean.. when something wont do wat you want it to do, so you end up stareing at it for 10 mins or so...) and decided that there must be something along the line that was cured, but has returned.. i considered that over the last 12 months, most of the steering componants had been off and on, then off again, so thought i should get the spanners out for one last time, and just check over everything...

 :dance:
bottom bolt on the steering box took a half turn, the chassis end panard rod bolts all seemed to take a quarter turn (noticed in the dampness some rusty coloured residue - a sure sign of moevment!) and 2 turns on the end of the steering damper! (chassis end)

>>does anyone else have the big orange britpart cellular damper? do the bushes seem a little soft to you?

took it up and down the road, and it felt different.. and most importantly, didnt try to fling me off into the unergrowth (yet)
I'm going to take it into work tomorrow, so fingers crossed.. could be the slight play in those few areas was enough to shake things up?! Most of all, is this cause or effect? (few loose bits causing steering shake, or shaking causing bits to loosen?)


will let you all know (feel a bit silly if this was it!) :doh:

mass199:
I get the same issues with my 90 from time to time, tightening the panyard rod bolts sorts it out.

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