steering u/j

hi all..

ive got a huge ammount of bump steer goin on.. checked all track rod ends and drag link ends.. replaced one of each..

still got scary bump steer, even in a straight line..

had the mrs wiggle the steering wheel while i checked all linkeages.. cant see any play, but if i put my hand on the steering arm on the steering box, i can feel a slight click as steering wheel is wiggled back and forth...

had a search on here hoping to find something other than a new steering box and someone mentioned u/j's on steering column..

so up with the bonnet and had a shake and twist of the column between the two u/j's...

bottom one is fine, but the top one has some lateral movement up and down.. no rotational play.. is this normal as there is some sort of flexible coupling below the top u/j...

would someone have a shake of there steering column and see if they have any play?

cheers..

check A frame mounts

thanks mhm...

how would i do that?

erm and where is it?

do you mean the a frame on the rear axle?

i do - especially the ball joint that attaches the a-frame to the rear axle.

but being at the rear would that cause the violent shakin in the steering wheel?

it realy feels like somethin loose in the steering.. but i will go have a look at the a frame...

back in a tick....

no play in ball joint on a frame or where the a frame attaches to the chassis..

so back to the original question, should there be any play in the top u/j nearest the bulkhead on the steering column.. its not rotational movement its lateral movement, but there is a flexi joint next to the u/j that could be allowing the movement...

had a similar problem with mine, after replacing swivel bearings and doing the preload on them correctly , which did help somewhat , then changed tyres which completely got rid of it due to a collapsed band in the tyre

Im suffering violent shake between 40 and 50 mph.

I do have negative offset wheels which doesnt help, but I too think it is swivel preload that needs resetting. I rebuilt front axle probably a year ago with new bearings, it has been shakin for 6 months but I've not figured out what the problem is. I now guess the swivels are most likely to blame, maybe a new steering damper required too.

Either way, I have just fitted a new lower steering column - the part with 2 ujs and the rubber joint.

Mine had substantial play in the bottom joint, and both had seized badly. My steering is SO much lighter now it's got new joints in it. Hasn't cured the shaking though, not even slightly.

Check your swivels i say.

Some say panhard rod bushes can cause violent shake. Mine are a little worn also but im saving for an adjustable panhard rod.

Basically my car needs a bit of a suspension tune up so it's not suprising I have wheel shake!

Interesting you mention A frame bushes, mine have play in them at the minute too. I've got a pair of new bushes sat on the bench waiting to go in when I have time!

Cheers!

do the damper first

Check swivels, damper and tyres all can effect the 'shake' at 40 - 50 MPH.

well i whipped a shim out of the swivel and its loads better now..

been avoiding doin it as i'd not done it b4...

now i've got a bit of a whine/rumble so think wheel bearing needs doin too..

Well i reshimmed my swivels this evening. They had gone from 'nicely firm' when first set (over a year ago) to quite loose. They are now nicely firm again, so hopefully my shake will be cured!

nick2303 said:

well i whipped a shim out of the swivel and its loads better now..

been avoiding doin it as i'd not done it b4...

now i've got a bit of a whine/rumble so think wheel bearing needs doin too..

Click to expand...

Mr Noisy said:

Well i reshimmed my swivels this evening. They had gone from 'nicely firm' when first set (over a year ago) to quite loose. They are now nicely firm again, so hopefully my shake will be cured!

Click to expand...

Told ya...