Violent shuddering in steering when cold

[twr7cx]

When my truck is cold and I'm driving along at highway speeds and going around a bend, I frequently get quiet a violent shuddering/vibration through the steering wheel - it feels like the wheels are flapping around everywhere! However, the rest of the chasis seems to be sitting well. As soon as I straighten up again. Seemed to be worse tonight after replacing my Ironman Foam Cell steering dampner with a new Bilstein unit. Any ideas on possible causes?

[langy]

Time to look at the other parts of the steering. Usually the preload of the swivels and condition of the tie rod ends is the cause. Also check the steering box bolts and maybe the wheel bearings.

[OffTrack]

Usually the preload of the swivels

On a D1, yes, but the D2 doesn't have adjustable swivels. The steering knuckle ball joints can't be adjusted but it's worth checking them for wear.

[Chops]

This is just a thought, but, what sort of tyres do you have,, used to be a common problem when it was cold to get what was known as "square tyres". I wouldn't have thought this would be a problem now with all the new technology thats gone into them. But, if your running them low on pressure I guess you could feel it and as they warm up it takes out the flat spot.Your new dampner might also be picking it up in a more defined way too.

[twr7cx]

Got the wheel alignment redone today as the steering was out from the last time. On Justin Coopers advice I requested that toe be adjusted to out 0 - 2mm. The tyre man told me that this would cause the inside of the tyres to scrub but I requested it regardless as I trust JC advice. On the drive home the vibrations and shuddering were not present. It's early days, but hopefully this has resolved it...

[goingbush]

Wheel alignment places are ignorant know it alls, ( oxymoron )

The amount of time I tell them that I want 1mm negative toe in (toe out) and they still set +ve toe in. (80 series cruiser same issue) I don't bother getting an alignment when I get tyres now I just set it myself using a stick.

The other thing that can cause tyre wobble on a very cold morning is that green tyre slime (aka snot) that you add to seal or stop punctures. It starts to solidify in the bottom of the tyre when getting close to zero degrees, but becomes liquid goop again as it warms up & the wobbles go away.

[justinc]

Got the wheel alignment redone today as the steering was out from the last time. On Justin Coopers advice I requested that toe be adjusted to out 0 - 2mm. The tyre man told me that this would cause the inside of the tyres to scrub but I requested it regardless as I trust JC advice. On the drive home the vibrations and shuddering were not present. It's early days, but hopefully this has resolved it...

Hopefully they did it as 0 to 2mm total toe out, not 0 - 2 mm each side...:(

This may still be masking a problem, but if the toe was adjusted right and the vibration has disappeared then Excellent:)

JC

[twr7cx]

Hopefully they did it as 0 to 2mm total toe out, not 0 - 2 mm each side...:(

The D2a is back at the tyre shop getting a wheel alignment after fitting the heavy duty solid steering rods. I specified 0 - 2 mm total toe out to them and again the guy looked at me like I was wiered - but it worked to take the vibrations out last time!

[greg smith]

Hopefully they did it as 0 to 2mm total toe out, not 0 - 2 mm each side...:(

This may still be masking a problem, but if the toe was adjusted right and the vibration has disappeared then Excellent:)

JC
I'm heading to Cairns tomorrow will get the wheel alignment done, what does it mask and how can I check for the problems that maybe present??
thanks GS

[justinc]

Factory spec is total toe out 0 to 2mm. IE 1mm either side of vehicle centre line if you like.

Setting it to max factory values with a lift and possible castor problems will help steering feel and self centering to a degree.

MOST tyre shops still have toe in as a Landrover spec on their machine databases, this is wrong and will make it drive poorly.



JC