Urgent Advice - Car Crabbing

[CraigE]

Hey guys,
After some urgent advice. This morning the Defender TD5 started behaving weirdly and dangerously.
I initially thought maybe steering issues, but seems to be something else.
Under load everything fine, but when taking off load or foot off accelerator it seems to lurch and pull right, almost feels like the rear end is being pushed sideways.
A little bit the same when accelerating as well.
I have recently fitted an ATB to the front and new ball joints but has been fine for well over 1500kms with no issues.
I have noticed what I believe to be the transfer case bearing getting a little noisy.
Is it likely this would be a transfer case / centre diff issue or rear diff issue / axle?
Have also rocked the wheels to check for any play in the wheel bearings and none. Steering itself feels tight.
It is a really disconcerting feeling and dangerous so will be getting parked up when I get home tonight.
It almost feels like you lose steering for a second or maybe losing drive / getting drive.
[bawl][bawl][bawl]

[harro]

Sounds a bit like the centre diff is locked and you have transmission wind up.

[MLD]

Have you checked your rear trailing arm bushes? If they are flogged the rear diff will torque on acceleration and un-torque on deceleration which feels like rear steer. It's too early on a Monday to mentally work out which way it will steer the truck but to the right is my vague recollection.

[Markf]

A very long time ago I had the misfortune to own an Alfa 1750 Berlina money pit.

At one stage it did the same thing and it was some of the rear suspension bushes. With the rear jacked up by the body I could push and pull the rear wheels back and forth and with LOTS of pushing the whole rear axle could be moved sideways. The hand induced movement was only a few mm or so. A new set of expensive and hard to fit bushes and all was well again.

And if you think a Land Rover can be a money pit try an Alfa on for size.[bigwhistle]

[AK83]

Yeah, first things I'd look at are for play in the trailing arm bushes.
Chassis end are notorious for wearing. check nuts for tightness.
Also check rear balljoint for wear/play too. But if it is worn, they usually clunk/thunk before they get badly worn.

[CraigE]

Sounds a bit like the centre diff is locked and you have transmission wind up.
I dont think that is the problem, have had diff wind up before and quite different. This almost feels like you lose drive & steering. A bit disconcerting. Started suddenly this morning.
Cheers
Craig

[CraigE]

Yeah, first things I'd look at are for play in the trailing arm bushes.
Chassis end are notorious for wearing. check nuts for tightness.
Also check rear balljoint for wear/play too. But if it is worn, they usually clunk/thunk before they get badly worn.
I will check them, have a spare set if required, but onset was quite sudden. I would have expected gradual issues.
I do know the trans case bearing has started to make noise.
Only thing different is I changed the rear diff oil day before yesterday.

[CraigE]

Yeah, first things I'd look at are for play in the trailing arm bushes.
Chassis end are notorious for wearing. check nuts for tightness.
Also check rear balljoint for wear/play too. But if it is worn, they usually clunk/thunk before they get badly worn.
I have an adjustable a frame ball joint, so should not be that.
If it was bushes would it not do it all the time? This seems more to be when unloaded / taking foot off accelerator.

[CraigE]

Have you checked your rear trailing arm bushes? If they are flogged the rear diff will torque on acceleration and un-torque on deceleration which feels like rear steer. It's too early on a Monday to mentally work out which way it will steer the truck but to the right is my vague recollection.
Yeah maybe and will check as it does seem to push more to the right and feel like rear steering.
Pretty sure I have a new set of bushes in the shed, so will swap them out.
Just weird that it came on suddenly.
Will have to wait until Friday to repair though. Will park it up tonight as I consider it to dangerous to drive, pushed me over the centre line a couple of times on downhill corners. Slow trip home tonight at no more than 80kms per hour I think.
Could also explain the clunk that does not seem to be the A Frame Ball Joint.
Cheers
Craig

[justinc]

I would also be looking at the rear end steering through trailing arm bushes or upper a frame brackets/bushes.
Exacerbated by the true track no doubt due to a sudden weight transfer when the directional change forces the body sway...

Jc

[CraigE]

I would also be looking at the rear end steering through trailing arm bushes or upper a frame brackets/bushes.
Exacerbated by the true track no doubt due to a sudden weight transfer when the directional change forces the body sway...

Jc

Thanks JC,
Will be looking at them. Have not been changed in a few years so likely by all accounts.
Scared the proverbial out of me when it did it this morning.
I have a new set of front bushes in the shed and will order a rear set today.
Will be Fridays job, looks like I will have to pinch the sons D2 and travel to work in comfort for the next 3 days. LOL.
Cheers
Craig

[CraigE]

Hi Guys,
Thanks for the replies. It is the bushes or at least 1 of them.
Now its daylight here just got underneath and found the front trailing arm bush has shredded on the left passenger side explaining the pushing to the right.
At least its not the transfer case yet, which will be next, but upside of that is an ATB will be going in there as well.
Cheers
Craig
:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[justinc]

Good news Craig!! An easy fix for once!😮

[Tombie]

Had it in the D1 years ago..
Can be very disconcerting at speed!

[CraigE]

Good news Craig!! An easy fix for once!😮
Hey JC,
By the time I hand my Defender on t my son it will be just about fully rebuilt.
TC next with ATB and then Truetrac for the rear.
Cheers
Craig

[CraigE]

Had it in the D1 years ago..
Can be very disconcerting at speed!
Yeah had my heart in my mouth the first time this morning at 5am in the dark on a downhill.
Cheers
Craig

[AK83]

Those annoying "so and so's" were the bane of my existence back in my RRC days.
I'd barely get 6 months to a year (although that was about 75odd K klms tho) out of a genuine set.

When LRA was Rangie Spares back in their early days, they had a much better designed front bush .. not sure if they still sell their type tho. They lasted a bit longer.
Can't remember exactly, maybe 2 or 3 yrs. But when they eventually wore too, I went poly with those specific bushes first .. and never looked back.

I then changed all bushes to polys and never had worn bushes in the 250-300(or so) K klms it ended up doing when it was retired.

[iolaire]

Hey guys,
After some urgent advice. This morning the Defender TD5 started behaving weirdly and dangerously.
I initially thought maybe steering issues, but seems to be something else.
Under load everything fine, but when taking off load or foot off accelerator it seems to lurch and pull right, almost feels like the rear end is being pushed sideways.
A little bit the same when accelerating as well.
I have recently fitted an ATB to the front and new ball joints but has been fine for well over 1500kms with no issues.
I have noticed what I believe to be the transfer case bearing getting a little noisy.
Is it likely this would be a transfer case / centre diff issue or rear diff issue / axle?
Have also rocked the wheels to check for any play in the wheel bearings and none. Steering itself feels tight.
It is a really disconcerting feeling and dangerous so will be getting parked up when I get home tonight.
It almost feels like you lose steering for a second or maybe losing drive / getting drive.
[bawl][bawl][bawl]

I had a similar when the 110 defender Panhard rod threads went: if you have a lift kit, it needs an adjustable panhard rod : the threaded part wears out and can jump in /out. When you stop and look at it it appears fine as it jumps back against the lock nut. Give the whole front end a really good shove left /right and then you see it move.
[bighmmm]