Puma steering wheel shudder

[nugge t]

Not sure if I am getting a bit over sensitive in the Puma but 3 times now after the vehicle being idle for 3 to 4 days when I first drive it, I get steering wheel wobble at around 80 to 90 kms/hr for about 20 minutes and then it goes away.

Because the wobble it not consistent day after day, it would not appear to be balancing....it only happens after more extended periods of being left idle. It is strange how it goes away, almost like something has heated up. Rims and tyres are new with under 2,000kms on them.

Just wondering if this is another quirk of Defenders or if I am getting over twitchy.

[alittlebitconcerned]

I'm interested in this as well as I have the same issue.
I can drive up to 85k'ish for any length of time no problem but when I hit highway speed it all starts to wobble and then in time settles down.
If I'm doing daily highway runs no issue, only when it's been awhile since getting to highway speed does it happen.

[Allan]

I had hell with mine with the 8 inch rims and 265/75 16 Toyo M/T's. It just felt horrid to drive. The speed it would happen at, seemed to change. I got so fed up with it I swapped back my old rims and standard size tyres ( A/T's ) which cured the problem. The odd thing is, is that I put these rims and tyres on the wife's 2004 90 and it drives like a new one, no wobble at all. Odd.

Allan

[nugge t]

I'm interested in this as well as I have the same issue.
I can drive up to 85k'ish for any length of time no problem but when I hit highway speed it all starts to wobble and then in time settles down.
If I'm doing daily highway runs no issue, only when it's been awhile since getting to highway speed does it happen.

Sounds exactly like mine! I am really glad to hear it isn't just me. I have a birthday coming up and I was starting to worry it might be one too many for the grey matter:o

Are you on original rims and tyres?

[P38ace]

..it only happens after more extended periods of being left idle. It is strange how it goes away, almost like something has heated up.

What you are describing sounds like the rubber taking a compression set. All tyres form a flat spot after standing for a while under the weight of the vehicle. This usually disappears in use when the tyre warms up but depends on the time taken to acquire the set. The more rubber, the more set and the longer it takes to recover. To reduce this effect you can either move your car more frequently, increase tyre pressure or lift the wheels off the ground.

I've not experienced any problem with the standard tyres even after being idle for 2 weeks over xmas so a simpler solution may be to put the standard tyres back on.

[alittlebitconcerned]

Sounds exactly like mine! I am really glad to hear it isn't just me. I have a birthday coming up and I was starting to worry it might be one too many for the grey matter:o

Are you on original rims and tyres?

Yep. Both tyres and rims original.
Grey matter I can't help you with; too much trouble getting mine working properly.

[alittlebitconcerned]

What you are describing sounds like the rubber taking a compression set. All tyres form a flat spot after standing for a while under the weight of the vehicle. This usually disappears in use when the tyre warms up but depends on the time taken to acquire the set. The more rubber, the more set and the longer it takes to recover. To reduce this effect you can either move your car more frequently, increase tyre pressure or lift the wheels off the ground.

I've not experienced any problem with the standard tyres even after being idle for 2 weeks over xmas so a simpler solution may be to put the standard tyres back on.

Very interesting! Although I have both standard tyres and rims, my mechanic did point out to me recently that one of my tyres definitely has a flat spot. My car is my daily drive so it's not from resting too long but must be instead be just a faulty tyre.

[nugge t]

Mine are brand new MTZ's on steel rims. Never had the problem before with other trucks which are heavier than the Defender. Last time I noticed was after being interstate for 5 days.

I drove the H3 the other day which had not been used for 4 weeks, also on new MTZ's and no sign of wheel wobble.

[aew849]

The 6 month old Puma 90 doesn't have this issue. But, it will be parked up for a 4 week break, so now that I'm warned out for it, I shall observe if the standard wheels/tyres have wobbleness/flatspots!!

In the meantime its time for the 130 to have a fling!!

aew849

2010 Puma 90 (Lewis)
2004 Deefer 130 DCPU (Truck)