violent shaking

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If the steering is binding up like that then something is badly wrong.

Things to do next:

- run it without front propshaft to see if it’s an axle problem

- run it with the PAS belt off (unassisted steering) and see if it still does it - if it does you can rule out the pump

- steering arms - are the straight?

- take the defective steering damper off and drive without it fitted to see if it still does it?

Have you checked your wheels are true and no weights are missing etc
Everything is straight and no weights missing I’ve got HD steering arms but I will put a straight edge across them and check for straightness.
I’ll run it as you say without pas belt off and see how it goes. I’ve got another brand new steering damper but will try without one first then if ok I’ll fit new damper and see what happens.
 
Is the steering box all bolted up tightly and the drop arm to the drag link all secured? If it only goes in a straight line then it sounds like something moving when not under load.
I went round everything with torque wrench yesterday checked everything all bolts clicked out as should I even slackened them back a bit and retorqued them just to be double sure that nothing was bolt bound.
It’s getting really frustrating now. Think I made mistake of boasting the other day to my brother about how well the Defender was going and how I’ve actually got workshop tidy because had nothing to do to it and it’s decided to give me something to do lol
 
I would say power steering fluid low or wrong grade or wheel balance, those are the only things that have caused shaking like that in my experience, I ran without a steering damper for a while and made no difference so wouldn't be that, damper to protect your thumbs off road I would say.
I once had wheels balanced and a new tyre but found it was low fluid level causing the problem:rolleyes::rolleyes:
 
I went round everything with torque wrench yesterday checked everything all bolts clicked out as should I even slackened them back a bit and retorqued them just to be double sure that nothing was bolt bound.
It’s getting really frustrating now. Think I made mistake of boasting the other day to my brother about how well the Defender was going and how I’ve actually got workshop tidy because had nothing to do to it and it’s decided to give me something to do lol
Did you check the pivot bearing bolts? They can get tricky to torque up because the brake pipe can make access with the socket awkward and the heads can get rounded. I've still got a slight wobble on mine and so need to check the preload and shims again. I've bought new bolts for when I do as the heads on mine are passed their best.
 
I went round everything with torque wrench yesterday checked everything all bolts clicked out as should I even slackened them back a bit and retorqued them just to be double sure that nothing was bolt bound.
It’s getting really frustrating now. Think I made mistake of boasting the other day to my brother about how well the Defender was going and how I’ve actually got workshop tidy because had nothing to do to it and it’s decided to give me something to do lol
if wheels shake theres play somewhere or tracking is out ,steering box not centered, tyre out of shape
 
I'd be looking at wheels/weights too, plus steering box.
Did you check the function of the shock absorbers? Any doubt at all, take them off and check the full range of movement, should be nice and consistent
 
Something else then; extreme wear on the end of your half shafts/drive members. I'm scraping the barrel here. I've had a resonance at 55 that was driving me mad. Also exhibited as feeling slightly slack in the steering.
 
I was also thinking about something like this. Is the circlip on the end of the drive shafts? Is a CV on the way out? Grabing at straws here, but got to be worth a check.
 
I'd be looking at wheels/weights too, plus steering box.
Did you check the function of the shock absorbers? Any doubt at all, take them off and check the full range of movement, should be nice and consistent
Checked all that inc the function of shocks had top mount off and worked them all good. No sign of missing weights on wheels or any deformities of the tyres
 
I was also thinking about something like this. Is the circlip on the end of the drive shafts? Is a CV on the way out? Grabing at straws here, but got to be worth a check.

The cvs are brand new when done the axle rebuild. I’ll check the float on the end of the drive shaft that’s about only thing not checked.
 
Do you have grease in the swivels? Clutching at straws here.
I definitely put grease in when I did rebuild and everything is dry no sign of leaks.

It’s like banging my head against brick wall now checked everything at the back end today and everything was as should be.
 
Thanks everyone for there suggestions it’s frustrating I’ve been front to back double triple checked everything. Starting to think it maybe drivetrain related?? :(:(:(
 
When you check the steering, first with the engine off is there much free play you will see any dodgy uj's, then start it up and go from lock to lock slowly, does it it feel smooth all the way?
I had a steering wobble some years ago that was indeed a worn panhard rod bush, but I only found that out after I replaced it anyway as a last resort, the old bushes didn't look bad at all but new ones sorted out the problem.
 
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I’ll need to get the Defender back together before I can do anymore test runs etc. Had a nightmare doing the water pump. One bolt sheared so took front cover off and welded a nut on but just sheared again :mad::mad::mad: removed timing belt and gears to get back cover off but the bolt was seized in to housing FML!!! Drilled out bolt and eventually managed to prise cover
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once all that’s back together next week I’ll continue investigating the steering
 
I went round everything with torque wrench yesterday checked everything all bolts clicked out as should I even slackened them back a bit and retorqued them just to be double sure that nothing was bolt bound.
It’s getting really frustrating now. Think I made mistake of boasting the other day to my brother about how well the Defender was going and how I’ve actually got workshop tidy because had nothing to do to it and it’s decided to give me something to do lol
Ahh theres your problem, complacency Big issue with defender owners. All goes well for a couple of weeks then you get a bit complacent and BOOM, something goes wrong.
Do hope you find problen though. Mot centre rolling road would be a help or Dyna centre? think thats whats its called where you can get ecu chipped. Least there they can strap car down while getting up to speed,
 
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