Bent front Axle

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mikescuba

Well-Known Member
Posts
2,731
Location
France, Loire, Rhone Alpes
I think my front axle is bent. The bottom of the front wheel tows out more on one side than the other. Tracking seems to be correct. No vibrations etc but the inside of the tread whears quicker that the outside. According to the LR Manual there is no ajustment so I assum its a replacement job unless anyone out there knows different.
Where the hell do I get one from?
 
have you had tracking done properly or it shouldnt be different either side as track rod sits between the two steering arms,and acts on both equally ,is steering box centered properly and adjusted with draglink adjuster,are all radius arm and panhard bushes good,and there bolts not worn,cases can be bought from alot of breakers ,disco one would fit if your is 300 if not you would need radius arms as well,to some extent fronts do wear unevenly
 
Measure your wheelbase and closely examine all your axle, suspension and steering bushes and components first. An axle is a pretty hefty thing to bend so I'd have thought it unlikely, more likely you've got wear or play in something else. Have you taken it to a proper wheel alignment centre and had laser guides fitted to it yet?
 
All the bushes and wheel bearings have been replaced. I am having new track rod ends replaced next week and tracking checked. It has always looked as if the front wheels were doing a bit of the spilts if you know what I mean. I have just had the wheel camber checked. The bottoms of the wheel bow out 1.10 degree on one side and 1.16 degree on the other side.
I will have to check out the steering box and the other stuff you mentioned. Thanks for the info.
 
in the 90s we checked alot of cases new and used as mod had some bent ones and wanted away of checking any we reconditioned ,none were perfect but bent was allways obvious,with 2 x 2ft rules held across end machined face of case and measured between,in different planes
 
Sorry can't help but I have the same problem with a Disco Td5 wearing the inside of the tyres, tracking has been checked, re-checked & checked again with lasers, string, even made my own device to measure and set toe in/out. No joy :mad: keep us posted how you get on :)
 
I know it's a mute point, but a wheel has to be in line in two planes. Toe in/out is only one plane. Check the camber ( the vertical component).
 
Jack the vehicle up and check that the wheel with the worn tyre has no play in it, hold it at 12 & 6 and rock it, then again at 9 & 3 is there any play? It could be worn wheel bearings or swivel pins.

There is no camber adjustment on a LR axle. There are shims that go between the stub axle and axle available for some vehicles with solid axles to allow some adjustment if there is something not quite right. I have never seen one for the LR.

It could also be that the stub axle etc is improperly fitted putting it out of alignment.
 
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Bearings were renewed and checked again for play, all OK.
Two track rod end ball joints were replaced as there was some play.
The steering bar was checked and straightend.
Tracking checked.
Front wheel camber still out 1° on one side and 1.15° out on the other side which still leaves me to think the axle must be bent.
 
What state are the swivel pins / baerings in?
If one side is slightly more warn that the other it may account for 0.15' of camber difference .
 
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