Help - Dodgy Steering after P&P

So normal off roading today, nothing to note in terms of bumps etc. Prob is that when leaving site I notice steering wheel not aligned (a quarter turn to right more than earlier). Not to worried about that but when travelling at bout 50mph, car had massive shudder that felt like a whelk was coming off, but vibrated alll through car. Checked car but nothing obvious to see. Did another couple of miles and it was ok - steering a bit light but thats all - but then it happened again. I also noticed that when stationary and I turn the steering wheel, the whole car moves. Any ideas please

kwhajh said:

So normal off roading today, nothing to note in terms of bumps etc. Prob is that when leaving site I notice steering wheel not aligned (a quarter turn to right more than earlier). Not to worried about that but when travelling at bout 50mph, car had massive shudder that felt like a whelk was coming off, but vibrated alll through car. Checked car but nothing obvious to see. Did another couple of miles and it was ok - steering a bit light but thats all - but then it happened again. I also noticed that when stationary and I turn the steering wheel, the whole car moves. Any ideas please

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bent track rod arm.

bent steering arm or panhard rod

Thanks...but. Help me understand why this would be intermittent - Apart from the 2 mental car shakers - it was ok ish. Ta

was the steering out of straight ahead position intermittant?

kwhajh said:

Thanks...but. Help me understand why this would be intermittent - Apart from the 2 mental car shakers - it was ok ish. Ta

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Major shakes could be anything form tracking out caused by bent trackrod to worn bushes or bent raidus arm. or knackered damper or swivels. I had intermittant death wobbles and changed almost every possible component before it went away.

it went away to Reading , dint it?

the mad hat man said:

it went away to reading , dint it?

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sniggers

The Mad Hat Man said:

it went away to Reading , dint it?

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Nope cured it before xmas. had noo

swivels
swivel seals
swivel pins
swivel bearings
wheel bearings and seals
steering damper
front radius arm bushes front and back
rear radius arm bushes
rear wheel bearings and seals
new rear brake cylinder cuase I discovered it was leaking whilst fixing everything else.

Cost me a bloody fortune.

Lol,
My (death woble) was a dodgy stering damper that caused a "death wobble" after a certain speed with huge tyres fitted. If you have bent a track rod (very common) out of alignment could cause the above described problems. Although I would be concerned that the steering is out of straight ahead position by as much as you have said which would cause me to lean towards the steering rod from the drop arm being bent (shorter in distance) so the steering will have to be turned to make up for this. Saying that because you state that you turn Right a quater of a turn that would suggest its not that one out because if you shorten that rod you would have to turn left to make up for the shorter rod.

Now to the Panhard rod. If you have moved the axle across by bending this suspension component (not very likley but have seen it before now). you would indeed have to turn right slightly because the axle would have moved (sitting in the car) to the right making the steering rod at the front too long and pushing the wheels left resulting in you needing to turn slightly right hand down to keep the straight ahead position.

maybe it would help if the OP told us if he got stuck or explained what sort of 'bumps' he experienced it may help.

Ratty - what is OP ? Assuming it is me....for better or worse!!!
Always get stuck - often several times. In terms of bumps, nothing that you would not expect from bombs, axle twisters etc, but nowt major or out of the ordinary...ta

did anyone try to recover you sideways? ahile you were stuck in ruts? Did you belly out and get stuck?

There was a bit of that, what are you thinking Jai

kwhajh said:

Ratty - what is OP ? Assuming it is me....for better or worse!!!
Always get stuck - often several times. In terms of bumps, nothing that you would not expect from bombs, axle twisters etc, but nowt major or out of the ordinary...ta

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OP= Original poster

Just wondering if you either bellied out on yer track rods or if you were yanked out of a hole with a strap pulling across the front of one of your wheels. This can cause the track rod arms to bend.

The same can be said for hitting the side of a rut with your tyres on full lock.

i smacked my steering out big style on Salisbury plain about 18 months back.

if you sat on your track rod stuck on a hump 90 percent that its bent slightly but would be checking every steering suspension component up front with special regard to track rod panhard rob and drop arm to hub rod

Makes sense, will get rid of some mud 2moz and look for some signs that support your view. **** happens !!! , thanks all for views

Daylight brings the answer - I found that the actual bracket connecting the pan hard rod to the axle had sheered (the weld). A reweld, tracking, and me £50 lighter and we are sorted. Does make the day a bit expensive but it could have been worse.

can i have a star for correct diagnosis? Only joking well done mate atleast you found it and you got home safe