Thread: Scary wobble in Discovery 1 steering

Steering dampener maybe worth a look at.

Dave

Hi Dave and thank you for replying so fast :-) How can I tell if the damper is fingered or not? Just taken it out now and I can push/ pull the damper but it doesn't move on its own (after being compressed ) like a regular shock absorber - I'm guessing that's because it's oil filled and not gas?

Yep its just a double action shock, there should be a lot of resistance when compressing or extending it. You could take it to a 4x4 place and compare it to a new one maybe?

Dave

the best way to test if it is the damper is to take it off and drive it..if everything in your steering is OK then you techincally dont need it anyway..I doubt its the damper.

I would check your panhard bushes...

also check you havent lost any wheel weights and one of your tyres is out of balance or out of rounds.

also is it def a wobble or vibration...UJ's can cause big vibs if they are worn..at high speeds

the biggest I issue I had with steering and heavy wobble was due to the combination of two things wheel bearings and swivel preload. and most recently when I changed panhard bushes steering was odd and unpredictable nd that was because the bolts on the panhard were a tad loose and litterally only a quarter of a turn made a massive difference so shows how important having your panhard bushes in tip top shape can be..

I'm sure some of the more experience blokes will chime in soon

If there is nothing obviously loose or worn get your alignment done

Mine did this once when I had it, no warning just started shaking at higway speed.

Got an alignment and all good, as smooth as a limo.

Alignment mob said it was not out by much.

The reason I suggested damper was that mine did it if I hit a bump mid corner it would start a wobble, changed steering damper and cured the problem.

Dave

Originally Posted by dullbird

the best way to test if it is the damper is to take it off and drive it..if everything in your steering is OK then you techincally dont need it anyway..I doubt its the damper.

I would check your panhard bushes...

also check you havent lost any wheel weights and one of your tyres is out of balance or out of rounds.

also is it def a wobble or vibration...UJ's can cause big vibs if they are worn..at high speeds

the biggest I issue I had with steering and heavy wobble was due to the combination of two things wheel bearings and swivel preload. and most recently when I changed panhard bushes steering was odd and unpredictable nd that was because the bolts on the panhard were a tad loose and litterally only a quarter of a turn made a massive difference so shows how important having your panhard bushes in tip top shape can be..

I'm sure some of the more experience blokes will chime in soon

Definitely wobble :-) thank you for suggesting that I check the panhard bushes - I'll go and have a look now. I've seen some really reasonably priced rubber kits (for the whole vehicle) on eBay UK in recent times, so I'm thinking that I may as well do the lot.

Incidentally, I replaced my rtc steering damper with one off my v8 disco and have just gotten back from a highway drive - brutal wobble has all but disappeared. Should I still take it out with the damper off?

A huge thank you to everyone who has posted info and things to check so far... it is very much appreciated. :-)

I added a front bar a couple of months ago and perhaps the additional weight has caused issues. New springs and shocks were done a year ago. An alignment is going to be done this week at the same time that the wheels get a balance. Thank you for the heads- up :-)