90 Front Axle Movement

Ive got a 90 200tdi with discovery axles. put some new wheels and tyres on recently at which point i noticed (because they are bigger) that the front axle sits 1-1.5" further out towards the passenger side. i've had a weird click/knock noise over bumps for weeks but couldnt pin down the cause, but im guessing this is the problem.

So now ive had a good butchers ive also found that the drivers side radius arm chassis mount is buckled so it sits approx 1" further back than it should. I think the radius arms bushes are shot too. I havent checked the panhard rod yet.

So, can a buckled radius arm mount or knackered bushes cause the axle to sit wrong? surely the panhard rod controls sideways movement?

also, it drives OK actually, but should i be driving it like this? will it be causing damage to my diff/transfer box?

You should include some photos as its hard to see the extend of the problem without them. I will try my best to help if you show some

The chassis mount/bushes is your problem, the front to back geometry being out will effect the side to side position of your axle.If one thing is bent then its worth a very good check of all other mounting points.You are right panhard rod controls side ways position of axle but only if every thing else is correct. Vehicle will crab along the road but there should be no problem with diffs or transfer box.Hope this helps.

tottot said:

The chassis mount/bushes is your problem, the front to back geometry being out will effect the side to side position of your axle.If one thing is bent then its worth a very good check of all other mounting points.You are right panhard rod controls side ways position of axle but only if every thing else is correct. Vehicle will crab along the road but there should be no problem with diffs or transfer box.Hope this helps.

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it does, thanks muchly.

asked the bloke with a big hammer what he thought; and he reckons to just hammer it back into position (i.e the buckled underside hammered straight). think this will be OK if i keep an eye on it? or should it be plasma'd off and a new one welded into place.

ill also take some pics.

mikeh501 said:

it does, thanks muchly.

asked the bloke with a big hammer what he thought; and he reckons to just hammer it back into position (i.e the buckled underside hammered straight). think this will be OK if i keep an eye on it? or should it be plasma'd off and a new one welded into place.

ill also take some pics.

Click to expand...

Depends how bent it is as what to do, will advise after seeing pics

Bend it back then weld in some extra supporting webs so it wont bend again. It must have taken a good old wallop to have bent in the first place. Its not something you could have done without noticing.