200tdi 90 - steering wobble/loose feeling

Hi all,
Could very much do with some advice please!
My ‘85 defender has developed a steering wobble over a couple of months, first noticed it after replacing the front wheel bearings.
The wobble appears to come on around 60 mph - it’s not uncontrollable but it’s there.
After doing alignment, new panhard rod, wheel weights, swivel preload and full check over by a Land Rover specialist - I’m stuck.
A couple of other symptoms are:
- potholes and undulating roads can make it feel like the car is steering for me a little
- a bit of a clunk from front right
- a shake if you hit a pothole hard

Any ideas are well received! Thanks

Find the source of the clunk first.

Rear trailing arm bushs (triangle ones) can also effect steering.

Swap front wheels/tyres wth rears to eliminate them.

What make/size wheel/tyre fitted?

lynall said:

Find the source of the clunk first.

Rear trailing arm bushs (triangle ones) can also effect steering.

Swap front wheels/tyres wth rears to eliminate them.

What make/size wheel/tyre fitted?

Click to expand...

Bet That clunk is the A frame joint.
Leave handbrake on and rock landrover forward/back to his will soon find the clunk
You can also see the trailing arm bushes moving if there’s a problem

The panhard rod bolts have got to be done up extremely tight, otherwise you get the symptoms you describe. When the bushes go it's like riding a wild horse, but if you've replaced the lot and you've got mild symptoms, my first port of call would be getting the socket back on the bolts.

Al2O3 said:

The panhard rod bolts have got to be done up extremely tight, otherwise you get the symptoms you describe. When the bushes go it's like riding a wild horse, but if you've replaced the lot and you've got mild symptoms, my first port of call would be getting the socket back on the bolts.

Click to expand...

Also you really need to replace the bolts with new ones if you haven't already.

Forgot to mention 85 is not a Defender.
Also I am reasonably sure the preload changed but can't remember which year.

lynall said:

Find the source of the clunk first.

Rear trailing arm bushs (triangle ones) can also effect steering.

Swap front wheels/tyres wth rears to eliminate them.

What make/size wheel/tyre fitted?

Click to expand...

Thank you! Forgot to mention that I swapped them round - really made a difference but I get the feeling they’re only masking the issue for now?
They’re continental cross contacts 235/85. On boost wheels.

Hicap phill said:

Bet That clunk is the A frame joint.
Leave handbrake on and rock landrover forward/back to his will soon find the clunk
You can also see the trailing arm bushes moving if there’s a problem

Click to expand...

Cheers - couldn’t get the clunk to emerge but it looks very worn so wouldn’t be surprised.

Al2O3 said:

The panhard rod bolts have got to be done up extremely tight, otherwise you get the symptoms you describe. When the bushes go it's like riding a wild horse, but if you've replaced the lot and you've got mild symptoms, my first port of call would be getting the socket back on the bolts.

Click to expand...

The next thing I’ll do!

Anaconda said:

Forgot to mention 85 is not a Defender.
Also I am reasonably sure the preload changed but can't remember which year.

Click to expand...

All new bolts but thank you. You're right - got me!

BenF2 said:

Thank you! Forgot to mention that I swapped them round - really made a difference but I get the feeling they’re only masking the issue for now?
They’re continental cross contacts 235/85. On boost wheels.

Click to expand...

Wheel spacers/rings?

lynall said:

Wheel spacers/rings?

Click to expand...

Yes its got spacers but they have been on there long before i had the car. The wheels won't fit on the axles without them.

BenF2 said:

Yes its got spacers but they have been on there long before i had the car. The wheels won't fit on the axles without them.

Click to expand...

I would sweet talk someone and maybe borrow a set of steels for testing purposes.
You could always jack the car up and slowly spin the wheel and see if it is running out of round, might have to jack whole axle to get them to spin.