HELP PLEASE!!! Serious steering issues

**Ace** · 2nd August 2006, 04:25 PM

Ok guys serious issue, and i mean serious.

I ordered a heavy duty track rod from Graeme cooper last week and had it fitted today, before it went in the steering got the wobbles up really badly, twice. Both times on the same piece of road between here and bathurst where some corragations have formed in the road. Everywhere else things were fine. It has now been fitted, a better steering damper has been fitted using DW's kit to relocate it to the drag link and the minute you hit even a slight bump in the road above 70-80 it shakes the steering wheel out of your hands and continues to do so until you stop.

I rang phil and he didnt have this problem when he fitted his, i dont think the damper has anything to do with the problem, but i checked it before i put it in and it felt good, even hydraulic pressure both on the in and the out stroke. Phil thinks its steering geometry, i went back and sure enough they set the wheel alignment at 0 when it should be 2-3 tow out. The wheel alignment machine was tied up so we couldnt do it exactly but i asked them to to it out and i would take it in tomorrow to have it done spot on, they argued that the whole 2 degrees tow out was bull**** but i had them do it anyway. It has improved interms of it happending at a slightly higher speed now but it still wobbles just as bad when it gets going.

Tyre pressures are all good, shocks are fine, and it has only started as a result of fitting the new track rod and aligning the wheels. Stacey drove it home without the damper and it wobbled badly, then after fitting the damper it had absolutely no effect. The mechanic reckons its because the damper is on the drag link now instead of the track rod, but i cant see how that would be a problem (one because GCA do this all the time without a problem, 2 because phil fitted the same set up to his and it was fine, and 3 because it is still within the steeering system.

Please help me i have no idea and its begining to **** me off. Matt

**Sabre** · 2nd August 2006, 04:59 PM

Hi Thread,
What you need to do is remove one or two shims from under the top pin of the left hand side swivel joint. that should get rid of the wobbles.

**Ace** · 2nd August 2006, 05:27 PM

Originally Posted by Sabre

Hi Thread,
What you need to do is remove one or two shims from under the top pin of the left hand side swivel joint. that should get rid of the wobbles.

It hasnt been that long since they were done, besides everything was fine until the new rod was put in.

I just pulled the damper off and it appears it is buggered, has air bubbles through it and some free movement. I will order a new on and do the swivel hub preloads just to be sure. I am still not 100% that this will solve the problem, can anyone else suggest any other things that might cause the problem? Matt

**dullbird** · 2nd August 2006, 05:48 PM

ace you sure it's not because you did your own bodgit job on your safari snorkle

.............

only joking mate sorry thats not very helpful is it

dullbird

**Ace** · 2nd August 2006, 05:53 PM

Originally Posted by dullbird

ace you sure it's not because you did your own bodgit job on your safari snorkle

.............

only joking mate sorry thats not very helpful is it

dullbird

You know dullbird i thought that, but then i realised that i only bodged the inside and that isnt enough to affect the steering the mechanic said.

I am really at a loss, i will order a new damper tomorrow and fit it on friday and then take a shim out of the swivel hubs if that dont fix it i am buggered if i know what it is. Matt

**dullbird** · 2nd August 2006, 05:53 PM

you aid it had a wobble before it went in, have you checked your wheel bearings to make sure they are tight????

**LandyAndy** · 2nd August 2006, 05:57 PM

Hi Ace
My return to centre steering damper was around $145 delivered from 4WD Direct.You are closer so could be cheaper,mention to Terry we want him to advertise on the site,he sells wholesale direct so his prices are very competetive.
Andrew

**Ace** · 2nd August 2006, 06:02 PM

Originally Posted by dullbird

you aid it had a wobble before it went in, have you checked your wheel bearings to make sure they are tight????

Yeah they had some play in them last week so i tightened them on friday last week so that isnt the problem.

I am having the wheel alignment done properly tomorrow and having it set at 2 degrees tow out. Once that is done i will fit a new damper and take a shim out of the swivel preload and see how that affects it.

Hi LA have you got a phone number? Matt

**Ace** · 2nd August 2006, 06:14 PM

Originally Posted by LandyAndy

Hi Ace
My return to centre steering damper was around $145 delivered from 4WD Direct.You are closer so could be cheaper,mention to Terry we want him to advertise on the site,he sells wholesale direct so his prices are very competetive.
Andrew

Dont worry LA, if i wasnt in a rush i would get it from him but i cant guarantee OZ post will get it here over night so i will have to get it from Graeme Cooper so i can be certain it will get here on friday before the BBQ weekend. He is on my list now so will look to him in the future. Matt

**discowhite** · 2nd August 2006, 06:17 PM

are you on your good tyres or your re treads??

there might be a tyre issue,, bubble, tread seperation, MUD IN THE INSIDE OF THE RIM, loose wheel nuts??

swap over to your 2nd set of tyres and see what happens.

parents had a steering wobble in there toyota lexan,, ended up being a dead mouse between the rim and hubcap

as for swivel shims, just take out the thinnest one thats in there. with all the bits detached from the swivel, it should be firm to move by hand.

phil

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