Thread: 110 Puma Defender steering shake

Something has to be loose, cracked or moving.

I agree with Tombie. However, it may not be a single problem, but a combination of several minor issues.

Check the following.

1. Wheel balance, loose wheels, loose wheel bearings. Jack up each side front and see if you can wobble wheels either sideways or up and down.

2. Tie rod ends etc. With wheels on the ground, have someone wiggle steering from side to side. Feel each steering tie rod end for movement, and check where lost motion is - should be a little in the box, none anywhere else, including in the U-joints on the steering shaft and their splines. Make sure the box is not moving on the chassis, and none of the attach bolts are broken.

3. Panhard rod. Have the steering moved from side to side while checking carefully for any movement of the chassis relative to the front axle - there should be none. Movement may be due to the panhard bushes themselves, or the bush not securely held by the clamping action of the bolt, usually due to grooves worn in the clamping cheeks (either axle or chassis end or both). Make sure the chassis end anchorage is not cracked.

4. Toe out. Has this been checked?

5. Front radius arm bushes, both ends, and check the chassis anchorages for cracks.

6. Swivel preload. This has been checked, but if the bottom bearing has grooves worn in it, the preload will vary through the movement of the swivel, and be least in the straight ahead position where you need there to be no play. It is easy to check this - Wheel off, disconnect the track rod and drag link, and move the swivel through its full range by hand. It should move smoothly but stay put in any position. If it is not smooth, needs new bearings, if it 'flops' preload is incorrect.

John

Thanks Tombie and JDNSW
I have had it up on a hoist and cant see anything cracked or loose, but with have another poke around.
All bushes, panhard and radius arms have been changed as have all tie rod ends and ball joints. I will check the steering shaft splines and U-joint today.
The shake is definitely getting worse again and road surface can definitely bring it on

Just a side thought. How are the shocks?

Front shock are good, rear are good too, but could do with new bushes.
I should have mentioned the vehicle has only done 130,000kms and not been worked particularly hard

You dont see too many Defenders that suffer this sort of steering issue, especially at such low km's, personally I wouldnt have changed any of the bushes.

The obvious things that have already been mentioned:
*Steering damper (been replaced).
*Check freeplay in front hub/bearings (done?)

*Have you tried swapping front tyres/wheels to rear (or another set of tyres/wheels on front).

*Shockie rubbers that are flogged out will cause this, but again the flogged out rubbers will be obvious.

*How old are the tyres, while I couldnt believe the tyres are old enough, I have had 2 Defenders over the years that the tyres while not much wear in them, were 8 years old and caused terrible shakes and issues with the vehicles.

*Get someone to move the steering wheel quickly left to right while you look under at all the steering, shock mounts etc etc.

Regards
Daz

Exact same story as you George, (except 130).
Shudder started at 95,000kms, 2 weeks after I bought it, and immediately after I picked it up after the dealer looked at my issues re. brakes.
Changed everything I could think of, new steering damper, all suspension bush's etc.. Shudder always came back.
In my case the front diff was totally stuffed, which was also causing heaps of drivetrain backlash.
Probably worse case scenario, but something else to have checked.
(Replacement was a TJM locker with standard crown wheel and pinion, set up by the local Landy Guru. (Thanks Ivan)).
Rich.

Thanks Rich and Daz
I am beginning to think it could be tire related. The Grabbers have been on there for the 5 years that I have owned the vehicle, but they still have plenty of tread. Would road surface affect it if it was tires though? Apart from a visual inspection is there any other way of checking the integrity of the tires? I dont really want to change, what appear to be, 6 good Grabbers just to find the problem is still there.
I also have heaps of backlash through drivetrain but, again, would road surface affect it if it was a drivetrain issue?
George