Suspension problem??

HI All, first post of an oddity I had today..
Landrover 90, pretty standard.
At slow speed, halfway to work, I noticed that the drivers side dips significantly under braking, measured in inches. By slow I mean under 10 mph, higher than that and it's not noticeable. At a crawl its really bad. I guess it could be that nearside lifts (hard to tell!). In reverse it does the opposite, driver side raises (but not as much, although I was only rolling back slowly). There are no noises (other than normal), no clunks, etc.

Quick look in a carpark and it sits level. Cant see anything missing or obviously broken. Nothing missing that I can see, I mean...
Ive been looking online and cant find anything to give me a pointer. Will be 2 weeks before I go home (to a garage), so limited to what I can do here.
Any clues or ideas?
Cheers all
Jim

Shock absorber stops it dipping, might be broken or busted.
Stand on bumper and bounce up and down and see if it is different from other side.

I go with Gmacz, possible dead shock/damper. You may need a friend to help with the bounce test if you are on the light side. If it keeps bouncing more than one rebound after you hop off then likely it's a goner.

tottot said:

I go with Gmacz, possible dead shock/damper. You may need a friend to help with the bounce test if you are on the light side. If it keeps bouncing more than one rebound after you hop off then likely it's a goner.

Click to expand...

Just been out and bounced, all seems fine. Bounced each corner, plus a fair amount of side to side rocking. the dampers seem to damp as they should.
Fair amount of crawling around underneath, all looks fine. Odd, as its a very pronounced dip at slow speed.

Take it you have had a good look at the spring, no broken coil. The only other thing is to try may be to remove the turret ring [ new one is likely needed to replace ] and try shock by hand may move easly in one direction due to valve fail inside.

Remove the spring and damper and check both off the vehicle. Also worth checking brakes on near side.

As I'm away from home a bit limited to what I can do. Took it to a landy specialist I know 30 miles away. He wasn't sure either, but suspects brakes not working on nearside. He did check (bounced) the dampers, and looked at the springs. Not convinced its brakes myself as both calipers are less than 12 months old, also both discs are hot after a drive. Anyway, its booked in for a proper look next tuesday. After a bit more driving it does seem softer on drivers side when turning left, as opposed to turning right - more body roll.

Have you don’t any work on the suspension recently? New springs or anything?

Nope, No changes to suspension at all for several years. Last MOT front discs and calipers (9 months ago).

Problem solved.

Not Springs.
Not Dampers.
Not Brakes.

The Radius arm bracket/Panhard bracket was broken on the axle. Although it didn't look like that could cause the movement I'd seen, as soon as it was welded (temporary fix) the problem was solved. I'd not heard of this, nor had he. But as I found a place that make replacement ones I guess its not unique! Will order one for later. (about £59 for the part, probably lots more to fit!)

"But as I found a place that make replacement ones...."

YRM by any chance?
They do them.

Just had one from YRM, £12 + post. Mine was on the way out and needed doing for MOT. Nice item 5mm steel and just a bit of trimming for a good fit.
OP was lucky pan hard rod did not drop down and dig in, steering would have been rubbish as axle can move side to side only limited by springs contacting the chassis.

Yes, YRM.

Think if I'd known what it was wrong I might have driven more carefully, lol..