death wobble ???

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Seems to me that many 'death wobbles' are simply a combination of different parts wearing out. The trick to not having the wobble, I guess, is to replace bits before they're fecked .. but there's no hard and fast rule that says if you have the wobble it's 'cos 'this particular part' is broke.

The Landrover steering train is huge with lots of links and bushes to it .. and any of them can cause it, and any of them can be heavily influenced by other worn parts. I have a mate who got the wobbles 'cos his A-frame at the rear was worn ...

I'm perhaps lucky, my Disco doesn't get the wobble even without the steering damper fitted ... but then, it shouldn't ... ;)

oi thats wot i sed in post 3, u is just copying me:mad:;)
 
I have had a similar problem, which I only noticed last week. The wobble comes on at about 60mph if I hit anything like a manhole cover or grid etc. Discovery (300tdi) is still under warranty and garage is fitting a new steering damper on Thursday. Mechanic had a Range Rover that did the same and is sure this is the problem. I will report back...
 
I have had a similar problem, which I only noticed last week. The wobble comes on at about 60mph if I hit anything like a manhole cover or grid etc. Discovery (300tdi) is still under warranty and garage is fitting a new steering damper on Thursday. Mechanic had a Range Rover that did the same and is sure this is the problem. I will report back...

I can pretty-much gttee that it's not, but what a damper does do in the short-term is to mask the problem.

This sort of wobble can be caused by many things, worn bushes in the Panhard rod, the front or rear tie rods/hockey sticks, worn wheel or swivel bearings etc etc. He needs to find what is worn and replace it.
 
I can pretty-much gttee that it's not, but what a damper does do in the short-term is to mask the problem.

This sort of wobble can be caused by many things, worn bushes in the Panhard rod, the front or rear tie rods/hockey sticks, worn wheel or swivel bearings etc etc. He needs to find what is worn and replace it.

I'll bear that in mind. But the damper has been fitted this morning and it is now driving fine with no play / wobble whatsoever. The old damper was shot and leaking fluid, so there was definatley an issue there. If it is not the total answer in the long-term, it is one less item to be replaced later (some small consolation in Land Rover world....)
 
Hi I have just rear through this and there is a lot of good info but one thing that ahsn't been mentioned is caster. I have worked at several LR main dealers since the 80's and we used to get this death wobble on D1's when they were relatively new for which Land Rover put out bulletins and on of the fixes was to remove the dowel bolt from the swivel housing to axle case, it should be the top one (it has a fatter shank) chuck this bolt away and fit an ordinary bolt then turn the swivel to give max caster angle and tighten up. Just another thing to try but we got good results.
We also tried several different steering dampers but the standard seemed the best.
 
Mine has developed the wobble since putting a replacement track rod on with new ends,new end on the steering arm and new damper. wheels were balanced a few months ago.
I replaced the track rod as my old one was bent from dropping onto a rock months ago,but didn't have a wobble after. It only became apparent after I changed everything. I set the track rod length to the same as the old one too. Poly bushed all round too.
I have also noticed that a couple of times the steering wheel has gone off centre when going straight,so thinking steering box?!
Will keep posted if I cure it.
 
Mine has developed the wobble since putting a replacement track rod on with new ends,new end on the steering arm and new damper. wheels were balanced a few months ago.
I replaced the track rod as my old one was bent from dropping onto a rock months ago,but didn't have a wobble after. It only became apparent after I changed everything. I set the track rod length to the same as the old one too. Poly bushed all round too.
I have also noticed that a couple of times the steering wheel has gone off centre when going straight,so thinking steering box?!
Will keep posted if I cure it.

you do need to get tracking done as well, and have steering box set central
 
Hi I have just rear through this and there is a lot of good info but one thing that ahsn't been mentioned is caster. I have worked at several LR main dealers since the 80's and we used to get this death wobble on D1's when they were relatively new for which Land Rover put out bulletins and on of the fixes was to remove the dowel bolt from the swivel housing to axle case, it should be the top one (it has a fatter shank) chuck this bolt away and fit an ordinary bolt then turn the swivel to give max caster angle and tighten up. Just another thing to try but we got good results.
We also tried several different steering dampers but the standard seemed the best.


Really old post I know but I've just fitted different wheels with larger tyres now I have this issue between 35mph and 50ish mph.

Owl if your still about can you or anyone else explain or post a picture up of the LR main dealer update regard s the location of the dowel please as mentioned above.

Many thanks
 
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