P38 violent wheel wobble at 55mph

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cliveisp38mad

New Member
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17
Has anyone any ideas why my P38 develops violent wheel wobble at 55mph.It goes when you increase speed and only started a year ago after new Pirelli 255 55 r18s were fitted.They have been balanced several times and the tracking has been checked. Also it has just past its MOT but an advisary is that the front nearside tyre is now only just legal.That is after just 12000 miles.These tyres were an exact replacement for the old ones and I thought by paying a bit extra it would be worth the investment:mad:
 
I would suggest that where the tyre wear is, indicates a problem, can you jack that wheel off the ground and check for free play in the hub and track rods etc, check through and hopefully you will find something. Good luck.
 
Had same problem, steering damper and tyres....

I changed my 4 near new 18" Pirelli Scorpion STR's for General Grabber AT2's, 80% problem gone. Changed the damper, 100% problem gone.
 
55mph is the dodgy speed for P38s! Most wheel vibrations tend to manifest themselves at this speed.

If you've got non standard wheels on, do you have spiggot rings fitted?

Last time I had my tyres changed (same as Stufer - New Scorpion STRs (utter rubbish on a P38) to General Grabber AT2s) and they managed to lose a spiggot ring in the process.

Just a thought.

Guy
 
Mine was down to a knackered UJ on the front prop. Easy to test. Get under the car and test the prop for play. When I did this the back end of the prop was moving significantly and when I took it off the bearing cups on the UJ were totally shot.

The car runs without the front prop so if it is an issue better leaving it off till you replace which you can do with UJ replacement or just buy a new full prop for £90 and fix the old one in your own time.
 
rangeydave said:
1998 4.0 se p38 with violent wheel wobble when braking replaced hub last year would worn ball joints cause wheel wobble
Click to expand...
'Holy thread resurrection Batman....' :D

:welcome2:

What size rims do you have...the P38's, although came with 16's and 18's as standard...18's never really worked well if the pressures were off...try adjusting the pressures until you get a good ride from them....the book pressures although a good place to start never really worked well...it is a matter of trial and error...

Could check the steering damper and as you say the ball joints and drop arm...
 
Holy necropost batman! If it is under brakes check for run out. If you sit with footbrake holding the vehicle after getting heat in the discs they have a tendency to warp.
 
Hi, a little bit of help please, today out of nowhere the steering wheel started to wobble quiet bad , all the reading I have done call it the death wobble and are saying it's the steering damper,can someone advise if they have had the same symptoms , I have felt a slight wobble previously but this was pretty bad. Thanks for any help
 
Minky111 said:
Hi, a little bit of help please, today out of nowhere the steering wheel started to wobble quiet bad , all the reading I have done call it the death wobble and are saying it's the steering damper,can someone advise if they have had the same symptoms , I have felt a slight wobble previously but this was pretty bad. Thanks for any help
Click to expand...
First step is to check for a damaged tyre, swap the wheels front to rear.
After that, look at the drag link and track rod, only then would I consider the steering damper. It could also be worn swivels.
 
Minky111 said:
Hi, a little bit of help please, today out of nowhere the steering wheel started to wobble quiet bad , all the reading I have done call it the death wobble and are saying it's the steering damper,can someone advise if they have had the same symptoms , I have felt a slight wobble previously but this was pretty bad. Thanks for any help
Click to expand...


cliveisp38mad said:
Has anyone any ideas why my P38 develops violent wheel wobble at 55mph.It goes when you increase speed and only started a year ago after new Pirelli 255 55 r18s were fitted.They have been balanced several times and the tracking has been checked. Also it has just past its MOT but an advisary is that the front nearside tyre is now only just legal.That is after just 12000 miles.These tyres were an exact replacement for the old ones and I thought by paying a bit extra it would be worth the investment:mad:
Click to expand...
Stufer said:
Had same problem, steering damper and tyres....

I changed my 4 near new 18" Pirelli Scorpion STR's for General Grabber AT2's, 80% problem gone. Changed the damper, 100% problem gone.
Click to expand...
tonymccandless said:
Mine was down to a knackered UJ on the front prop. Easy to test. Get under the car and test the prop for play. When I did this the back end of the prop was moving significantly and when I took it off the bearing cups on the UJ were totally shot.

The car runs without the front prop so if it is an issue better leaving it off till you replace which you can do with UJ replacement or just buy a new full prop for £90 and fix the old one in your own time.
Click to expand...
rangeydave said:
1998 4.0 se p38 with violent wheel wobble when braking replaced hub last year would worn ball joints cause wheel wobble
Click to expand...

@Minky111 all above are same symptoms and all in the thread you've jjust asked if anyone has had same symptoms. Read the thread some more you might even see some suggestions to fix it.
 
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