What's gone wrong now!....

[twice_nightly]

Have been getting a very strange handling issue recently, feel like my wheels are loose! When you go over uneven ground the Disco sorts of shimmys sideways and the front wheel feel like they move but this movement isn't transferred to the steering wheel !

Added to this when I brake I get a pulsing through the brake pedal, rather like when ABS kicks in (I haven't got ABS by the way) The car stops OK but the brake pedal kind of kicks back...

I jacked the front up yesterday but couldn't see anything obvious, only this I noticed was when I gripped the nearside road wheel at the 12 and 6 oclock position there was about half inch of movement? felt like the wheel was rocking on the hub.

I checked all the nuts were tight but other than that I'm a bit stumped?

Thanks for any help with this..

 

[blue beasty]

wheels bearings

 

[discool]

Surface corrosion on the disk can cause a very slight pulsing but should be ok after a few applications of the brakes, I have it as my disco only moves weekends... heavy pulsing then I would say worn disc/s.
And the other, wheel-bearing as stated, worn on may be just requires adjusting.. assuming you have a D1 and "shimmys sideways" I haven't a clue.

 

[blue beasty]

1/2" play is a LOT! Normally when checking bearings you are 'feeling' for a clunk. When the bearings start to go they can deteriorate quickly.......You need to check ASAP!

Swivel pin is another possibility

 

[jamesmartin]

wheel bearings as you said mr beasty thats why brakes kick

 

[DiscoPol]

+ another one for wheel bearings, it can explain the shimmy too, whats it like when you climb a curb? mine used to really show any movement in the bearings then as each wheel has to go up one at a time.

 

[offroadmad]

could it not be swivel bearings too if play is 12 - 6 ???

 

[Paul D]

could it not be swivel bearings too if play is 12 - 6 ???

With that amount of play in one area I'd expect there to be wear or mal-adjustment all over .. it's very unlikely to be just 'one thing' that is wrong ..

 

[gazdav]

Check the preload will tell you if the swivel bearings ar fooked.

But it sounds more like weel bearings IMO and at a half inch movement you may want to put that right at the top of the to do list.

 

[Jongould]

Swivals wouldnt give you the brake pulsing, wheel bearings would. When my bearings go i get alot of pedal travel where the disc pushes back the caliper...

Its an easy and cheap fix, you can do it yourself with basic tools, well make sure you get a socket for the hub nut, apart from that its usual toolkit stuff... (make sure your 13mm socket is a 12pt multi spline and not a 6pt hex socket)