URGENT WORK

[chris.hunt22]

Just had the wife come into work demanding the Audi keys as the discovery (that piece of s**t she actually said) has nearly killed her on the motorway!!  She said that it was wandering and swaying all over the place and she nearly tipped it over.  I think she is exadurating a bit but the vibration from the prop (I hope) and the play in the steering box is noticable over 60mph and at 75mph it does get quite frightening, I have had 85 out of it (on private road obviousley) before I went off roading and it was fine.  At least she will let me work on it peacefully tomorrow!!  Might put my alloys and road tyres back on it incase there is a problem with the tyres and wheels, might have buckled a wheel or something, whatever it is the shaking affects the whole body but not the steering, any suggestions (will check steering joints and tighten steering box up)

[SnakeLogic]

Well, I'm no mechanic, so I can't help you there.  MY suggestion would be to go buy your wife some jewelry!

[wheeler]

my mate had this on his 90 after offroading all it was was mud stuck to the wheel and throwing ballance out but same symptions all over the road at 50mph he thaught he bent stearing arm etc

[Budgie]

Check the Panhard rod bushes and make sure the securing bolts are tight. This cold be allowing the front axle to 'float' from side to side.

Also check the bushes on the rear axle chassis mounts, if these are worn then you could be getting rear axle steering.

If you can't find any movement in the propshaft then the best thing to do is take off the front propshaft, engauge difflock and take it for a drive. If you still get the vibration then put the front prop back on and remove the rear propshaft and try again.

Remember to chock the wheels and release the handbrake before you check for movement in the rear propshaft U/Js.  

[Horness]

A guy here with a 97 TDi Auto had the same problem.  Swapped out the tyres etc., and after multiple visits to the garage one of the mechanics (who'd not been available before) told him it was the ruts on the inner lane of certain parts of some motorways (caused by heavy haulage vehicles).  If you look at the lane after it's rained, you can see water gathering in these tarmac ruts.

He's since looked out for them, and replicated the problem.  Moved to the middle lane, and it's stopped.
His Disco was swaying almost out of control too.

Don't shoot me down with facts - I'm just relaying someone else's experience.  

Hope you get it sorted.

Horness

[skiprat]

mmmm....bloody lorries,

i have been caught out by these ruts on many occasion. you dont tend to notice them in cars because they are to narrow to be affected, but if you catch tem wrong in a disco or something of a simalar width track it can arf put the wind up ya !!!   :shock:

i have even been caught out in my lorry a few times....

i hope you get the problem sorted.

kris

[muddymart]

thats quite true, i had taken parents to  manc airport in the new meriva less than 100 miles on the clock,and that was the same, it gives you the feeling of having loose steering with a very high wind, i also notice it even worse in the work 7.5t van,so i do admit to been a light "truck" driver.

[petergalileo]

Check for play in the steering connection between the bottom of the steering column and the steering box, theres a couple of UJs which wear out, easy to check, open the bonnet, open the drivers side window, move the steering wheel and look at the rods UJs.  Also, check all the ball joints on the steering rods under the car.  If all of those are okay, it might be possible to adjust your steering box to take up any play.

My old discovery had lots of play in the steering which was quite scary at speed.  I replaced my steering box and the lower steering link rod as the UJs were worn AND all the ball joints.  Sorted it out lovely !

[chris.hunt22]

I have dont the front prop UJ's this weekend and tweaked the play on the steering box (fine line between play and stiffness.....ooer missus!!), I took it out yesterday down a green lane and it feels OK, not had much speed out of it yet so can't comment on the vibrations, steering is slightly on the stiff side but it still seems slightly to wander about a bit, had a prod and pry round the above mentioned bushes but they seem ok, if anyone is good on these near to me (to save me some money) PM me as I would like someone with a bit of knowledge to take a look and see what you think, miht just be that its a Disco as I have been driving the Audi a lot lately where there is no comparison!!!  P.S. Snakelogic, my wife thought yours was the best suggestion!!!

[Range Rover Blues]

You can bring it over hear mate, I'll have a look.

Panhard rod, park the car on tarmac, drop the drivers window and stand outside the car.  Wriggle the steering and watch the driver's wheel, if it rotates instantly then good, if it hesitates not so god, if it moves in and out it's the panhard rod.

[chris.hunt22]

Thanks for that Rangeroverblues, probably a bit far though!!  I will try that and see if it does it, I had to jiggle the steering with the window open to adjust the steering box, I take it where you have said 'see if it rotates straight away, or if there is a delay' you mean the actual wheel rotating as if it was going to make a turn?

[Range Rover Blues]

Yes, if there is any delay then you need to re-check the steering box, all 4 balljoints and your swivel bearings.  If the wheel moves sideways check the panhard rod.  For £4 each end I'd polybush them.

[Tyke]

it was the ruts on the inner lane of certain parts of some motorways (caused by heavy haulage vehicles

Yep . . . . I avoid the inner lane whenever I can . . . . the MT's tend to get a life of there own and start crawling up the sides of the ruts.

Used to think the steering was shot, but hey, nothing more than bad road surfacing . . . . cruising down the middle lane don't half annoy some drivers though . . . . . maybe they should all be forced to drive Land Rovers at some time before they are allowed loose on the motorway . . . . then they might understand a little more.


That said, it's worth a check over the mechanics just to be sure there is nothing amiss or possibly downright dangerous