Shaking

[merlinpjl]

Some time ago, I was driving along a dual carriageway at about 50mph, I hit a large pothole and the steering / front end started shaking like a wheel was about to come off.
I pulled over, had look round, everything looked fine.
It was almost like the shock absorbers were not there when it happened.
I replaced the shock absorbers over the next few days.

This made a difference to the ride quality, but I am still getting the really bad shake when I hit a big enough pothole or bump!
The shake starts small and seems to amplify itself to the point where if I don't slow down and pull over, wheels may fall off etc!
Last year I did all the bushes on the car with yellow polybushes, and they all look fine.
Nothing is loose that I can see, I can't find any movement?
I am stumped!
Any ideas?

 

[odysseus]

Could be something simple like a balancing weight has come off. Get the wheels balanced and see if it improves matters.

 

[wil2813]

:search:death wobble

 

[dove]

Going through the same thing with mine,check panhard rod bushes,top and bottom ball joints on axle,drag link ends,track rod ends,play in power steering box,steering damper,I have replaced all above parts as we're showing slight wear,but problem is still there,going to remove and check dampers next,as it only happens on an uneven surface,dampers are original from new it's a 1996.mine also first started hitting pot hole at about 50,so may have damaged a damper,good luck

 

[Datatek]

Damaged tyre or wheel and maybe the steering damper is fecked.

 

[martynv8]

I had a similar problem on mine. I put on a new steering damper (Armstrong from Island 4x4) & there is a big improvement but not totally gone so could be a combination of suspension components - most of mine are still original so need bushes renewing soon.

 

[Datatek]

I had a similar problem on mine. I put on a new steering damper (Armstrong from Island 4x4) & there is a big improvement but not totally gone so could be a combination of suspension components - most of mine are still original so need bushes renewing soon.

Most often it's a tyre, mine did it when I swapped wheels front to back.
Went away when I put the wheel back in the original places.

 

[kevwill]

+ 1 on tyres. Would get wheels balanced and alignment checked before replacing suspension parts.

 

[martynv8]

I did get a consistent minor shake (mostly through the passenger seat) anywhere between 55 - 65 MPH. A proper wheel balancing at my local tyre centre sorted this out but i still get the steering wheel shake like Merlin when i hit a pothole or on rough roads.
Still think with mine it's either suspension parts or play in steering box.

 

[dove]

I've already tried different wheels on mine and still the same replaced all ball joints ,steering damper,bushes,tightened steering box,etc i reckon it's dampers as it only happens on uneven roads,if it were a wheel it would do it all the time I think,it's like the wheel can't keep up with the damping and bouncing out of control,

 

[wil2813]

firstly get wheels weighted properly pothole could have knocked a weight off,anything over 5gm weight loss will cause wobble at 55mph+.proper wheel alignment is essential & should have been adjusted/reset after any suspension work has been carried out,also pothole could have damaged the tyre casing(out of shape)this will show up when wheel is spun up on a balancer(or slowly run your hand over the tread),fitting a new steering damper will just mask the problem. the damper on my old d1 300tdi is rotton but no wobble due to me setting it up properly but afterall I do own my own tyrebay

 

[kevwill]

+1 AGAIN on wheel alignment and correct balancing.

 

[merlinpjl]

I will get it up on some ramps and get a lever into all the suspension rubbers and joints.

As I said though, I have done all the bushes, I suppose one could have failed.

I'll check the balancing and the tyres etc....

I haven't done the steering damper yet though, that can come off for a check this weekend.

 

[odysseus]

I will get it up on some ramps and get a lever into all the suspension rubbers and joints.

As I said though, I have done all the bushes, I suppose one could have failed.

I'll check the balancing and the tyres etc....

I haven't done the steering damper yet though, that can come off for a check this weekend.

Best of luck and I hope you find the cause and get it fixed.

Once you know what it was please update this thread so the rest of us can learn from your investigations.

 

[merlinpjl]

It's been a while since I posted this, but I have finally fixed it.

I have just replaced the front axle ball joints - top and bottom.

There must have been just enough play in them to start off the vibration which very quickly got worse and could only be stopped by braking and slowing down.

I have a feeling that this is due to "Simple Harmonic Motion", have you ever seen the video of the "Tacoma Narrows" bridge that destroyed itself because of simple harmonic motion, a movement starts and amplifies it's own force until something breaks.

I think the movement in my ball joints given enough shock by a big hole in the road was enough to start the serious vibration - unchecked by braking, I guess something would eventually break or fail.

Anyway, it is now solid as a rock again on the road.

 

[thepipersson]

Am I right in saying, your talking about the steering knuckle ball joints?

 

[merlinpjl]

If you mean the track rod ends, no.
I replaced the big ball joints that hold the hubs to the front axle.
They are very difficult to change, ended up using Oxy-Acetylene to warm them up!
In fact they are an absolute bugger to change, wouldn't be keen on doing that one again!

Track rod ends were one of the first things I changed when the fault showed up.

 

[thepipersson]

Ahh ok, thanks for that where did you get them from, how much was they?

 

[Datatek]

I'm going to check the ecu supplies

Another Spammer

 

[Oldpilot]

I've got the same problem. Once I go above 52 if I hit a pothole I get the wobble/shake on the steering wheel. It sails through the MOT but the problem remains.
Perhaps my wheels need balancing?