Thread: Steering wheel wobble.

Are u sure the tyres are within 15g of balance, and are the radius arm bushes OK?

JC

Just had a look. Bushes at the chassis end are fine, as in not cracked or fraying.

At the diff housing end they do seem a little soft when moved side to side with a pry bar. However they dont look too bad from what little I can see.

I'll order some new ones now anyway just to be sure.

Wheels could be balanced better, but hey they're 35" simex. They've never balanced up perfect.

Is it reasonable to assume the preload in the swivel pin bearings is OK if there is no play in the bearings?

Originally Posted by D110V8D

Is it reasonable to assume the preload in the swivel pin bearings is OK if there is no play in the bearings?

no....they need to be a little bit tight......but get your tyres properly balanced first......
even try swapping front to rear tyres to see if it makes any difference.....
they are big wheels and have a greater effect if they are out of balance.....

35's, centipedes, you'll have to live with constant balance issues. worse especially if they are left overnight sitting, they do end up with slight flat spots(' thumping' )first thing in the morning sometimes i've heard.
JC

Thanks Tony.

I'll get them balanced again tomorrow and replace the radius arm bushes and see how I go.

If it persists after that I guess I'll have to do the swivel pin preloads.

Generally the panhard, on a rover, to check properly (rocking the vehicle, is no good) you need a friend to move the steering wheel side to side and you to peer under and check for movement

Funnily enough its usually the bolts are worn, not the bush

its hard to determine what you mean by a wobble but and the simexs make it a joy to

Experience suggests that the problem is almost certainly the swivel preload - although if the preload is only a little bit low, checking everything else and fixing any problems may fix it - for a while.
John

Thanks guys.

I have had the simexs' on for 12 or so months now and am well used to the flat spots syndrome. It's not that. The wobble could be better explained as the steering wheel moving violently from side to side when the vehicle reaches approx 60 kmh. By side to side I mean I cant hold the wheel still and it feels as if the front end of the car will just shake itself loose!

My reasoning for thinking the panhard is fine is I replaced one with another I had there with good (not new) bushes in it. Prior to replacing it I did the "rock the vehicle from side to side" technique and a very noticable knocking could be heard (and seen) from the panhard rod. It was moving in the chassis end mount. It's not doing this now.

I think after I get the wheels balanced again and change the radius arm bushes (chassis end and diff housing end) I have no other option than to check and re-set swivel pin bearing pre load.

If it still persists.............I'll buy another bloody car!